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Cape Verde

Republic of Cabo Verde

Western Africa · CPV

US Advisory: Level 1(Exercise Normal Precautions)

Editorial Snapshot

Why Go To Cape Verde

Cape Verde is best for travelers who want Atlantic island scenery, music culture, and a relaxed pace rather than a packed sightseeing program. It works especially well when you choose one or two islands and let the trip revolve around beaches, hiking, and local life.

Popular For

Island breaksCoastal tripsHiking & outdoorsMusic scenesBeach escapes

Things To See

  • Praia
  • Mindelo
  • Santo Antao
  • Fogo
  • Sal
  • Cidade Velha

Best Months

NovDecJanFebMarApr

Know Before You Go

  • Island-hopping takes more planning than many first-time visitors expect.
  • Choose islands based on whether you want beaches, hiking, or city life.
  • Winter and spring are the easiest broad months for a first trip.

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Flights

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Hotels & Accommodations

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Guidebooks

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Tours & Activities

Country Data

Stats At A Glance

Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Cape Verde.

Quick Facts

Capital
Praia
Population
491,233
Area
4,033 km²
Region
Western Africa

Languages

  • Portuguese

Currency

Cape Verdean escudo (Esc)

CVE

Exchange rate unavailable for USD.

Cost of Living (World Bank)

46.4

Price level index (US = 100)

Groceries
57.2
Restaurants
35.6
Rent
8.8

Safety & Peace

Civilian Safety Index13/100
Intentional homicides7.0 per 100k

higher score = safer everyday environment · derived from World Bank homicide data

Monthly Climate Averages

These weather averages are based on data for Praia (14.92°N, 23.52°W).

TempRainSun
Jan22.0°C1mm9.9h
Feb21.4°C3mm10.4h
Mar21.6°C0mm11.1h
Apr22.4°C0mm11.5h
May23.0°C0mm11.9h
Jun24.0°C1mm11.8h
Jul24.9°C5mm11.2h
Aug25.9°C61mm10.5h
Sep26.3°C100mm10.3h
Oct26.3°C26mm10.6h
Nov25.1°C4mm10.2h
Dec23.4°C2mm10.2h

LGBTQ+ Friendly

24/100

Traveler LGBTQ score

Legal protections
20/100
Lived safety
32/100

This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.

  • Homosexuality legal
  • Relationship recognitionNone
  • Adoption recognition
  • Anti-discrimination laws
  • Employment protections
  • Legal gender recognition
  • Conversion therapy ban

Human Development Index (UNDP)

0.668

Medium human development

5-year change
+0.005
10-year change
+0.008
Trend
stable
Data year
2023
Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
0.964
Gender Inequality Index (GII)
0.298

UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)

  • 🏛️

    Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande

    Inscribed 2009

Natural Beauty (World Bank)

Protected land area
17.6%
Forest cover
11.6%

Source: World Bank.

Wildlife & Birdwatching

Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
4
Threatened bird species (IUCN)
7

Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.

Food & Cuisine

43/100

Food and dining score

Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.

Luxury Infrastructure

75/100

Luxury & premium accommodation score

Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.

US Travel Advisory

Exercise normal precautionin Cabo Verde due to crime. Cabo Verde is generally a safe destination for travelers. Some areas have increased risk.

Read full advisory →

Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data

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