São vicente island Cape vede

São Vicente

São Vicente is located in the windward group, northwest of the archipelago, it is the second most populous island with 75.000 93% are concentrated in Mindelo city, and 3% in rural villages.

The island’s main sources of income are fishing, tourism and the operation of its busy sea port Porto Grande

Its capital, Mindelo, has become an important center of culture and arts with numerous internationally renowned musicians and artists such as Cesária Evora, Tito Paris among others.

For lovers of culture and good music, Mindelo presents a variety of cultural evenings with live music in traditional restaurants and lots of nightlife. If you prefer to enjoy the night, there is always a place where you can have dinner while enjoying a live show of cultural music, nightclubs, or even enjoy the beauty of Porto Grande bay. The best time to visit the island is at carnival in February or at the great Music festival in August.

How to reach the island

Flight

15 minutes from the city of Mindelo is the Cesaria Évora international airport (VXE), which receives national and international flights every day with flights from all over the world.

TAP Portugal offers daily flght from Lisbon to Mindelo

Choose and book your flights here:

TAP Portugal

Skyscanner

Ferry

One of the largest cruise ports in cape verde is Porto Grande in Mindelo, with a weekly frequency of cruise ships such as Meinschiff, AIDA, Europa 2.
Between the islands of São Vicente and Santo Antao there is a daily ferry connection twice a day that allows the traveler to move between these two islands.

Places to visit

Mindelo city center

The entire center of Mindelo ‘Morada’ is referred to as the historic center of Mindelo, characterized by buildings and urban architecture that refer to the colonial era. Morada is an excellent place to walk around, with good places to have a snack and the best, facing the bay of Porto Grande. Once you are in Morada, take the opportunity to visit the Mindelo Cultural Center, a great option to discover the work of local artists.

Monte Cara

Monte Cara is a mountain in western part of the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde, its elevation is 490 m and it resembles a human face looking at the sky, hence its name, which means “face mountain”.

It is a landmark of the city of Mindelo, from which it can be seen across Porto Grande Bay. In the afternoon you can sit in mindelo’s marina and enjoy a beautiful sunset behind Monte Cara while enjoying your drink.

Main Market

Mindelo Municipal Market has a great history behind it. The first stone of its construction was laid in 1874, having been restructured in 1930 – 1933 and the last recovery in 1985 ensures that today it is in a good state of conservation, and is really a great place to visit.

It is an elegant building where you will find a variety of products, vegetables, fruits and various herbs, which fill the environment with bright colors and a pleasant aroma.

Monte Verde

Monte Verde (Portuguese meaning “green mountain”) is a mountain in the eastern part of the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. At 744 m elevation, it is the island’s highest point. The mountain is located 6 km (4 mi) east of the city centre of Mindelo.

As previously mentioned, Monte Verde is the highest point in São Vicente, so if you want to get away from the city, this is a great option. Even if the city is very hot, you are guaranteed to find a very cool and pleasant atmosphere up there. From Monte Verde you can enjoy a beautiful view of the city of Mindelo.

On the slopes of this hill you will find some small green area, with endemic plants and with a magnificent view of the entire magnificent island of Sao Vicente. Still at the top of this hill you can visit a water collection system from the clouds through nilon nets. This water is then used in the irreganations of medicinal plants and small herbs.

Baia das gatas

It is a natural bay, located less than 10 km from the city of Mindelo, which is home to a small community.

The bay is a natural pool, where you can relax in its warm, shallow water. It is also where every year a crowd gathers to enjoy the famous music festival.

Salamança fishing village

A small fishing village east of são vicente. A great place outside the city to swim in the sea, be in contact with people, eat moray eels and shellfish, and even see the island of Santa Luzia on clear days.

On its white sandy beach you can walk barefoot and feel the contact with warm water while enjoying the beauty of your beach.

General Information

Weather

The island has a hot desert climate, wich the average annual temperature in Mindelo is 23.6 °C (74.5 °F), it is very dry with only 127 mm (5 in) annual precipitation in Mindelo and only the higher area of Monte Verde receives more precipitation.

What to Bring

sunscreen
Sunglasses
Mosquitoes repellents
First aid supplies
Extra money (Cash)

Where to eat

On the island there are different restaurants and kiosks that offer food for travellers, in all reataurants in the city you will find food with a similar standard to what is served in Europe, fish and meat dishes and beans are the most prepared, for vegetarians or have a special diet, you can order a special dish in advance or buy it in a nearby supermarket.

Tips: Avoid uncooked foods or vegetables with peel.
Cook it, peel it, boil it or Forget it.

Don’t use household water for consumption or to brush your teeth, you will find a 1 and a half liter bottle of water for a price of 1 and a half euros in any supermarket

Payments

You will need to pay your overnight stay fee which is 2 and a half euros a day for adults over 12 years old.
In supermarkets it is always better to pay cash and small money.
It is almost always difficult to find change if you have big notes.
Credit cards are almost not accepted, only in big hotels.
In cities you will find ATMs with available cash up to 200 euros per day.

Beach

In Mindelo you will find a swimming spot in laginha beach few minutes from the city center, beside it, in the north side you will also find Baía das gatas beach which offers to visitors with a beach of white sand and shallow waters, in addition to the beach of Sao Pedro is considered one of the best snorkeling spots in Cape Verde due to the large presence of young sea turtles that attracts many visitors, it is possible to organize a boat trip with local fishermen to swim with turtles.

Cultural Events

Carnival

Carnival is Mindelo’s high season the most anticipated party during the year that attracts more than 80,000 visitors a year in the city of Mindelo, Mindelo’s carnival is inspired by the highly acclaimed carnival of Rio de Janeiro, which exalts the lifestyle of the people of this island, provides moments of great joy, a lot of partying, a lot of revelry, a lot of samba and drums in the streets, many colors in the streets of Mindelo that lasts the whole month of February.

Tips: those who want to visit the island during these times need to book hotels and flights well in advance.

Baía Music Festival

The music festival of Baía das Gatas is considered one of the best in the country, for 3 days of great music and celebration, national and international music is celebrated, on this occasion the island is filled with visitors from abroad and from other islands.
Tips: those who want to visit the island during these times need to book hotels and flights well in advance.