Table of Contents
Introduction
I never expected to make it to Cape Verde solo, but I am so glad that I did. Cape Verde is an Island that doesn’t always come up on my feed, and when it does, it’s usually positioned as a romantic getaway. However, on my mission to travel and taste the world, I knew it was time to visit. If you are looking to do Cape Verde solo on a budget, then this is the guide for you.
I’ve been saying for the last few years that I want to explore more of Africa, and Cape Verde is now my 14th African country! It’s also the first Lusophone African country (Portuguese-speaking) I’ve visited, so I was curious to experience the culture. Many locals impressively speak up to five languages. Including Portuguese, French, Spanish, Kriolu (Creole), and English. I loved being able to practise my French with them. My French teacher would be so proud!
This was a slow travel trip for me. Not like my usual 7 am starts. After several full-on journeys, I needed space to relax. This post is your Cape Verde solo on a budget. I will share everything you can do in Sal, Cape Verde. Honestly, whether you’re travelling solo, with friends, family, or your partner. This guide is for you.
Related – A Fantastic Cape Verde Cooking Class Experience
Before You Even Book
Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for Cape Verde. Please read the reviews before booking!
I used Airlo, an e-SIM card, for data.
You can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279. Worth noting that you can only buy 1GB at a time.
Fun Activities to do in Cape Verde
About Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an island that is all about relaxation. They have a saying they live by: ‘No Stress’ which basically means no stress! I felt very at ease while in Cape Verde.
The official language is Portuguese, a reflection of its history as a former Portuguese colony until independence in 1975.I stayed on Sal Island, one of the most tourist-friendly islands, but Cape Verde actually has 10 islands in total, and I already know I’ll be back to explore more. Sal is full of blue skies, golden beaches, colourful houses, and dreamy sunsets.
Be aware of the following:
- The local currency is called the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE). At least £1 will give you 128.9 CVE. They do accept euros.
- The plug type: Type C and F (European standard)
- The best time to visit: November to June for dry weather
Entry Requirements for Cape Verde
For British, Americans, and Canadians, all can enter without a visa but will need to pay a small airport security fee of around 31 euros. I got my visa on arrival at the airport.
For Nigerian passport holders, all can enter Cape Verde with an online pre-registration (EASE) and pay a small airport security fee. If you are looking to get an visa then you can check via iVisa here. I highly recommend checking the UK FCDO travel advice page before you go.
Cape Verde Solo On A Budget
Cape Verde Accommodation – Where to Stay
To reduce costs and get two different experiences, I stayed in two hotels:
I always recommend trying more than one stay when travelling, because it gives you a broader feel for the area. You can also browse more hotels of your choice here. I have shared a map of other Cape Verde accommodation below for ease:
What to Eat in Cape Verde
Of course, the second-best thing after accommodation is the food. Here is everything I ate:
- Pastel de Peixe, a crispy fish pastry with lots of flavour.
- Cuscuz de Milho is a traditional steamed corn cake, slightly sweet and usually served with honey or butter.
- Bolacha Doce a sweet Cape Verdean biscuit
- Donetes are like a sugary doughnut, sweet in flavour.
I also joined a local cooking class (in true #CookingTravelTalks fashion) where I learned to make Cachupa. Cachupa is the national dish of Cape Verde. It was made with beans, maize, onions, potatoes, carrots and lots of other veg. It was such a warm, hearty, and packed with flavour dish. We were also served Bissap, which I have loved since I had it in Senegal.
In the class, I learned about the cultural roots of Cachupa. There’s a “rich” version with meat and a “poor” version with fish, beans and grains. I learnt where it began from slavery, which made the whole experience even more meaningful. Book the Catupa Cooking Class with a local family here.
If you’ve ever wanted to experience a country through its flavours, this is for you. Grab my Taste the World eBook. The e-book has 59 pages of foodie tips, cultural insights, and itinerary inspiration.
What to Do – A Cape Verde Solo on A Budget Itinerary
Even though this was a relaxing trip, I still did a few things that added excitement and cultural depth to my visit. Below is a Cape Verde solo on a budget itinerary. If you are looking for a tour guide – +238 589 00 35.
- Day 1 – Relax, settle in at your hotel have dinner at your local hotel. Have a stroll at the beach.
- Day 2 – You have three times during the day to go and do zip lining (11.30, 13:00 and 16:30). I would advise going at 16:30 so you can catch the sunset. It is truly beautiful. You can book the tour here.
- Day 3 – Have a slow morning after your life-changing experience zip lining. You can do your cooking class in the afternoon and make Cachupa and have it for dinner. A great way to connect with the locals, also. You can book the cooking class here.
- Day 4 – A city tour of Espargos on the Sal Island of Cape Verde. It offers a glimpse into the history and local life of the island as well as the beautiful street art. You can book your tour here.
- Day 5 – Visit Pedra de Lume Salt Crater. Here you can see the sharks float in the salt lake like you would in the Dead Sea and see the Blue Eye. You can book your tour here.
- Day 6 – The last day – take this day easy, maybe buy some souvenirs and journal the last bit of your trip before you head out to the airport.
More Travel Resources
- My Instagram and TikTok have quick snap videos on the specifics of my visit to Cape Verde.
- Before going to any of these countries, I recommend visiting the Foreign Advice Page for U.K. travellers. Check if you need visas here.
- The tour guide I used was Sal Experiences, which can be contacted here: +238 589 00 35
- Book with Viator or Get Your Guide if you want specific tours for Cape Verde. Please read the reviews before booking!
- I used Airlo, an e-SIM card, for data. You can purchase it here and use the code ADEBOL5279. Worth noting that you can only buy 1GB at a time.
Final Views on Cape Verde
Would I go again? Absolutely. Cape Verde is so chilled, the people are kind, welcoming, and the culture is deep with history and a lot of hidden gems. You can come here and do nothing. And you can also come here and explore. The food is warm, hearty and memorable. The scenery? Dreamy. I love how colourful Sal is. Every building is a colour of the rainbow. And I loved that I could cook with locals and practise my French all on a budget.
This trip reminded me how important slow travel is. It doesn’t always need to be fast-paced or flashy to be beautiful.
Ready for your own solo adventure? The Solo Travel Challenge kicks off this September and will walk you through planning your very first solo trip from scratch or your next one with more confidence.
Grab your boarding pass.
Speak soon,
MBV
