Cape Verde — Facts
Language
The official language is Portuguese and a patois known as Crioulo.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), broken down into 100 centavos. As this is a local currency it cannot be obtained before arrival and cannot be reconverted outside of Cape Verde. There is a bureau de change at the airport, and local banks will change travelers checks and foreign currency, although there is a high commission on travelers checks. ATMs can be found at the airport and in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent. Major credit cards, particularly MasterCard and Visa are currently accepted in a few main resort hotels and restaurants. Banks will give cash on credit cards but commissions are high.
76.6500
Time
Local time is GMT -1.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Round two-pin attachment plugs and Schuko plugs are used.
Communications
The country code is +238. The outgoing code is 0 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. The archipelago's main cities can be reached by International Direct Dialling. A GSM 900/1800 mobile network is in operation throughout the islands; coverage is good in most towns. Internet is available in the main towns and major hotels offer laptop connections.
Duty-Free
Travelers to Cape Verde are permitted the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol, a reasonable amount of perfume or eau de cologne and some gift items. The import or export of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
Tourist Office
Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697
Embassies in Cape Verde
- United States Embassy, Praia: +238 260 8900.
- British Consulate, Sao Vincente: +238 232 3512.
- Canadian Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 889 4700.
- South African Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 865 1959.
Cape Verde Embassies Abroad
- Cape Verde Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 965 6820.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for the UK): +32 2 643 62 70.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Luanda, Angola (also responsible for South Africa): +9 244 232 1765.
Emergency
Emergencies: 87 (police); 131 (ambulance)
Language
The official language is Portuguese and a patois known as Crioulo.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), broken down into 100 centavos. As this is a local currency it cannot be obtained before arrival and cannot be reconverted outside of Cape Verde. There is a bureau de change at the airport, and local banks will change travelers checks and foreign currency, although there is a high commission on travelers checks. ATMs can be found at the airport and in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent. Major credit cards, particularly MasterCard and Visa are currently accepted in a few main resort hotels and restaurants. Banks will give cash on credit cards but commissions are high.
76.6500
Time
Local time is GMT -1.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Round two-pin attachment plugs and Schuko plugs are used.
Communications
The country code is +238. The outgoing code is 0 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. The archipelago's main cities can be reached by International Direct Dialling. A GSM 900/1800 mobile network is in operation throughout the islands; coverage is good in most towns. Internet is available in the main towns and major hotels offer laptop connections.
Duty-Free
Travelers to Cape Verde are permitted the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol, a reasonable amount of perfume or eau de cologne and some gift items. The import or export of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
Tourist Office
Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697
Embassies in Cape Verde
- United States Embassy, Praia: +238 260 8900.
- British Consulate, Sao Vincente: +238 232 3512.
- Canadian Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 889 4700.
- South African Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 865 1959.
Cape Verde Embassies Abroad
- Cape Verde Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 965 6820.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for the UK): +32 2 643 62 70.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Luanda, Angola (also responsible for South Africa): +9 244 232 1765.
Emergency
Emergencies: 87 (police); 131 (ambulance)
Language
The official language is Portuguese and a patois known as Crioulo.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), broken down into 100 centavos. As this is a local currency it cannot be obtained before arrival and cannot be reconverted outside of Cape Verde. There is a bureau de change at the airport, and local banks will change travelers checks and foreign currency, although there is a high commission on travelers checks. ATMs can be found at the airport and in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent. Major credit cards, particularly MasterCard and Visa are currently accepted in a few main resort hotels and restaurants. Banks will give cash on credit cards but commissions are high.
76.6500
Time
Local time is GMT -1.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Round two-pin attachment plugs and Schuko plugs are used.
Communications
The country code is +238. The outgoing code is 0 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. The archipelago's main cities can be reached by International Direct Dialling. A GSM 900/1800 mobile network is in operation throughout the islands; coverage is good in most towns. Internet is available in the main towns and major hotels offer laptop connections.
Duty-Free
Travelers to Cape Verde are permitted the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol, a reasonable amount of perfume or eau de cologne and some gift items. The import or export of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
Tourist Office
Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697
Embassies in Cape Verde
- United States Embassy, Praia: +238 260 8900.
- British Consulate, Sao Vincente: +238 232 3512.
- Canadian Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 889 4700.
- South African Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 865 1959.
Cape Verde Embassies Abroad
- Cape Verde Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 965 6820.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for the UK): +32 2 643 62 70.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Luanda, Angola (also responsible for South Africa): +9 244 232 1765.
Emergency
Emergencies: 87 (police); 131 (ambulance)
Language
The official language is Portuguese and a patois known as Crioulo.
Currency
The unit of currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), broken down into 100 centavos. As this is a local currency it cannot be obtained before arrival and cannot be reconverted outside of Cape Verde. There is a bureau de change at the airport, and local banks will change travelers checks and foreign currency, although there is a high commission on travelers checks. ATMs can be found at the airport and in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent. Major credit cards, particularly MasterCard and Visa are currently accepted in a few main resort hotels and restaurants. Banks will give cash on credit cards but commissions are high.
76.6500
Time
Local time is GMT -1.
Electricity
Electrical current is 220 volts, 50 Hz. Round two-pin attachment plugs and Schuko plugs are used.
Communications
The country code is +238. The outgoing code is 0 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. The archipelago's main cities can be reached by International Direct Dialling. A GSM 900/1800 mobile network is in operation throughout the islands; coverage is good in most towns. Internet is available in the main towns and major hotels offer laptop connections.
Duty-Free
Travelers to Cape Verde are permitted the following items without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of alcohol, a reasonable amount of perfume or eau de cologne and some gift items. The import or export of narcotics is strictly prohibited.
Tourist Office
Ministry of Tourism, Praia, Santiago: +238 615 697
Embassies in Cape Verde
- United States Embassy, Praia: +238 260 8900.
- British Consulate, Sao Vincente: +238 232 3512.
- Canadian Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 889 4700.
- South African Embassy, Dakar, Senegal (also responsible for Cape Verde): +221 33 865 1959.
Cape Verde Embassies Abroad
- Cape Verde Embassy, Washington DC, United States (also responsible for Canada): +1 202 965 6820.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Brussels, Belgium (also responsible for the UK): +32 2 643 62 70.
- Cape Verde Embassy, Luanda, Angola (also responsible for South Africa): +9 244 232 1765.
Emergency
Emergencies: 87 (police); 131 (ambulance)
