Itinerary Sal, São Vicente & Santiago

Seasonality: November is an excellent time to visit Cape Verde, with warm, dry weather and pleasant beach conditions. The rainy season is over, and tourist sites are lively yet uncrowded.

💰 Budget overview

Category	Amount
✈️ Transport	1600 USD
🏨 Accommodations	1100 USD
🧳 Gear	100 USD
🗺️ On-site	700 USD
Total	3500 USD

🗺️ Activities & landmarks

🇨🇻 Sal - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏖️ Santa Maria Beach ⭐⭐⭐ (~4h)

  • Iconic white-sand beach; perfect for swimming, relaxing, water sports.

• [ ] 🧂 Pedra de Lume Salt Crater ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Unique salt lake inside an extinct volcano. Try floating in mineral-rich water.

• [ ] 🏄‍♂️ Surf Zone Kite Beach ⭐ (~2h)

  • Popular spot for kite-surfing and windsurfing; lessons available.

• [ ] 🦈 Shark Bay ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Walk-in with guides to see lemon sharks (safe and shallow).

• [ ] 🚶 Santa Maria Town ⭐⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Stroll lively streets, vibrant local markets, pastel-colored houses.

• [ ] 🧘 Yoga on the Beach ⭐ (~1h)

  • Join a group or take a private session right by the ocean.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 The Docks Bar & Lounge ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Laid-back spot for cocktails with ocean sunset views.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Restaurante Barracuda ⭐⭐⭐
  • Fresh grilled fish/seafood; oceanfront; 15–25 USD/meal.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🚤 Island Boat Tour (~3h)
  • See the coastline, snorkel, spot turtles and dolphins.

---

🇨🇻 São Vicente (Mindelo) - 2 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏙️ Mindelo Old Town ⭐⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Colorful colonial buildings, cafés, vibrant local atmosphere.

• [ ] 🎵 Centro Cultural do Mindelo ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Local art exhibitions, cultural events, morna music concerts.

• [ ] 🏖️ Laginha Beach ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Best city beach — swimming, paddleboard rentals.

• [ ] ⛰️ Monte Verde ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Highest point on São Vicente; panoramic views; hiking trail (moderate).

• [ ] 🛍️ Mercado Municipal de Mindelo ⭐ (~1h)

  • City market; fruit, spices, handicrafts.

• [ ] 🖼️ Palácio do Povo ⭐ (~1h)

  • Historic palace, interesting architecture.

• [ ] 🚗 Baía das Gatas ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • Picturesque bay, natural pools, music festival site if lucky.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Zero Horas Bar ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Iconic local bar; live music and dance in the evenings.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Casa Café Mindelo ⭐⭐⭐
  • Creative fusion, great fish dishes, morna music nights; 15–30 USD/meal.

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🚣 Boat ride to Santo Antão (~5h)
  • Stunning views, day trip possible if schedule allows.

---

🇨🇻 Santiago Island (Praia & Serra Malagueta area) - 3 days

☀️ Daytime

• [ ] 🏛️ Cidade Velha ⭐⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • UNESCO colonial town: ruins, fortress, old churches. Guided historico-cultural tour recommended.

• [ ] 🏙️ Plateau District, Praia ⭐⭐ (~2h)

  • City centre; colonial buildings, Praça Alexandre Albuquerque.

• [ ] 🏰 Fortaleza Real de São Filipe ⭐⭐ (~1h)

  • Historic hilltop fort with panoramic Atlantic views.

• [ ] 🌳 Serra Malagueta Natural Park ⭐⭐⭐ (~5h)

  • Top hiking area: well-marked mountain trails, endemic flora, breathtaking landscapes.

• [ ] 🛍️ Mercado de Sucupira ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Sprawling open-air bazaar, crafts, local style snacks.

• [ ] 🏝️ Tarrafal Beach ⭐⭐ (~3h)

  • Golden sands, clear waters, palm-fringed. One of Santiago’s best swimming beaches.

• [ ] 🎨 Museu Etnográfico da Praia ⭐ (~1h)

  • Small but insight-rich on Cape Verdean culture and history.

• [ ] 🚶 Assomada Town ⭐ (~1.5h)

  • Typical Santiago market town, blend of rural and colonial.

🌙 Evening & night

• [ ] 🍸 Kebra Cabana Beach Bar ⭐⭐ (~2h)
  • Beach bar with local drinks, sunset and evening music sessions.

🍽️ Must-try food spots

• [ ] 🍜 Quintal da Música ⭐⭐⭐
  • Famous for traditional cachupa and live Cape Verdean music (20–30 USD/meal).

🔁 Optional if time permits

• [ ] 🐢 Eco-tour turtle nesting (Praia Baixo) (~2h)
  • Night tour (seasonal, mainly Oct-Dec), guided sea turtle nesting.

---

🎬 Films & series to watch

🇨🇻 Sal

• [ ] 🎬 Cabo Verde – Um Destino, Duas Realidades (2019) — ⭐ 7.0 — Documentary about Capverdian life. YouTube

🇨🇻 São Vicente

• [ ] 🎬 Mindelo: Cidade da Cultura (2017) — ⭐ 7.5 — Short doc on Mindelo’s art/music scene. YouTube

🇨🇻 Santiago

• [ ] 🎬 Fitzcarraldo (1982) — ⭐ 8.1 — While not filmed in Cape Verde, showcases Atlantic islands mood. Amazon Prime
• [ ] 📺 Noite das Estrelas (2021) — ⭐ 8.0 — Cape Verdean drama miniseries. YouTube

---

🍜 Local specialties

🇨🇻 Sal

• [ ] Cachupa Rica (hearty stew)
• [ ] Lagostada (grilled lobster)
• [ ] Percebes (goose barnacles)

🇨🇻 São Vicente

• [ ] Morreia frita (fried moray eel)
• [ ] Grogue (local sugarcane spirit)
• [ ] Tuna carpaccio

🇨🇻 Santiago

• [ ] Xerém (corn stew)
• [ ] Pastel com diablo dentro (spicy fish pastries)
• [ ] Feijoada (Creole bean stew)

---

📍 Maps - places to pin

🇨🇻 Sal

1. Santa Maria Beach
2. The Docks Bar & Lounge
3. Santa Maria Market
4. Hotel Morabeza
5. Restaurante Barracuda

🇨🇻 São Vicente

1. Mindelo Old Town
2. Zero Horas Bar
3. Mercado Municipal de Mindelo
4. THe Don Paco Hotel
5. Casa Café Mindelo

🇨🇻 Santiago

1. Cidade Velha
2. Kebra Cabana Beach Bar
3. Mercado de Sucupira
4. Pestana Trópico Hotel
5. Quintal da Música

---

✈️ Transport to book

• [ ] ✈️ London → Sal (SID)
• [ ] ✈️ Sal → São Vicente (VXE)
• [ ] ✈️ São Vicente → Santiago (RAI)
• [ ] ✈️ Santiago → London

---

🏨 Accommodations

City	Nights	Accommodation	Price
Sal	2	Hotel Morabeza	320 USD
São Vicente	2	THe Don Paco Hotel	280 USD
Santiago	3	Pestana Trópico Hotel	500 USD
Total	7		1100 USD