Cape Verde Country & Tourist Information

Location
Atlantic Ocean, off coast of West Africa.

Area
4,033 sq km (1,557 sq miles).

Population
482,000 (2005).

Population Density
112.5 per sq km.

Capital
Cidade de Praia.
Population: 106,757 (2005).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975.

Language
The official language is Portuguese. Creole is spoken by most of the inhabitants. Some English, French, German and Spanish are widely spoken.

Religion
92.8% of the population are Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority of 1%.

Time
GMT - 1.

Electricity
220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Head of Government
Prime Minister José Maria Neves since 2001.

Head of State
President Pedro Pires since 2001.

Telephone
Country code: 238. Improvements to rural areas are in progress.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone companies, but travelers should check with their service provider. Coverage is variable, but generally good in towns.

Internet
Major hotels offer laptop connections. Public access is available at the offices of Cabo Verde Telecom. Privately-run business centers in the main towns offer e-mail, Internet and fax facilities.

Media
A free press is guaranteed by law, but most media are state-controlled. There are a few private radio stations. Portuguese and French radio are available via FM relays.


Post
Postal facilities can be slow with deliveries to Europe normally taking over a week.

Press
• Newspapers are in Portuguese.
• There are no daily newspapers.
• The weekly newspapers with the highest circulation figures are Horizonte and the independent A Semana.

Radio
• Stations include state-run Radio Nacional De Cabo Verde, as well as Radio Nova in Sao Vicente and Radio Comercial in Praia.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Heroes’ Day. 
19 Feb* Carnival.
1 May Labor Day.
19 May* Municipal Day.
5 Jul Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption (Day of Our Lady of Grace).
12 Sep National Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

2008
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
20 Jan Heroes’ Day. 
Feb* ** Carnival.
1 May Labor Day.
19 May* Municipal Day.
5 Jul Independence Day.
15 Aug Assumption (Day of Our Lady of Grace).
12 Sep National Day.
1 Nov All Saints’ Day.
25 Dec Christmas Day.

Note
* Regional.
** TBC

Contact Information:

CI (Agência Cabo-verdiana de Promoção do Investimentos)
Rotundo do Cruz do Papa, Achada Santo António, PO Box 89C, Praia, Santiago Island, Cape Verde
Tel: 260 4111/0 or 262 1488 or 2689.
Website: www.virtualcapeverde.net

Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Cape Verde in the UK
18-20 Stanley Street, Liverpool L1 6AF, UK
Tel: (0151) 255 1314.
Website: www.capeverdeconsul.com

Embassy of the Republic of Cape Verde in the USA
3415 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 965 6820.
Website: www.virtualcapeverde.net



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