Cape Verde Travel Guide

Cape Verde — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Atlantic Ocean, off coast of West Africa.
Language: The official language is Portuguese. Creole is spoken by most of the inhabitants. Some English, French, German and Spanish are widely spoken.
Area: 4,033 sq km (1,557 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT - 1.
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz.
Population: 482,000 (2005).
Population Density: 112.5 per sq km.
Capital City: Cidade de Praia. Population: 106,757 (2005).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from Portugal in 1975.
Head of Government: Prime Minister José Maria Neves since 2001.
Head of State: President Pedro Pires since 2001.
Religion: 92.8% of the population are Roman Catholic with a Protestant minority of 1%.

Recent History

The MPD held onto both Presidency and National Assembly in 1995 but lost both to the PAICV in the 2001 elections. The extremely close presidential race was won by the PAICV’s Pedro Rodrigues Pires with a margin of just 17 votes over the MPD’s Carlos de Carvalho. The PAICV also won the most recent parliamentary election in 2006. Cape Verde has pursued a determinedly non-aligned foreign policy, reflected in its being chosen as mediator in the settlement of a variety of international disputes, including Angola. More recently, in 1998, it hosted talks to reach a settlement of the conflict in Guinea Bissau. Cape Verde maintains close relations with Portugal, Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking African countries in the PALOP group (Angola, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé).

A new constitution introduced in 1992 allows for the election of an Assembleia Nacional (National Assembly) with 79 deputies and a president who serves as head of state, both elected by adult suffrage for five-year terms.

Communications

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.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
20 Jan Heroes’ Day
9 Feb Ash Wednesday
16 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

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
20 Jan Heroes’ Day
16 Feb * Carnival
22 Feb Ash Wednesday
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
* Date to be confirmed. Regional.