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|  | CAPE VERDE COUNTRY SNAPSHOT AND INTERESTING FACTS | Cape Verde is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, 600km (450 miles) west-northwest of Senegal. It comprises ten volcanic islands and five islets in two groups: the Balavento (Windwards) and the Sotavento (Leewards). There are many superb diving sites around the islands, several of which have shipwrecks dating back to the 16th century. Windsurfing opportunities are also excellent. Many of the islands have spectacular mountain scenery and beautiful deserted beaches, such as Tarrafal on São Tiago. San Filipe has a spectacular volcano and fine beaches. There are good markets on some of the islands, and a number of colourful festivals. Mindelo on São Vincente, with its Portuguese-style buildings, is worth a visit. The main local culinary speciality is cachupa, a mix of maize and beans. Fruits include mangoes, bananas, papayas, goiabas (guavas), zimbrão, tambarinas, marmelos, azedinhas, tamaras and cocos. Beer, wine and local spirits are commonly available and punch is a popular beverage. The nightlife is mainly centred around the discos in hotels and several nightclubs. The uninhabited islands were discovered and colonized by the Portuguese in the 15th century; Cape Verde subsequently became a trading center for African slaves and later an important coaling and resupply stop for whaling and transatlantic shipping. Following independence in 1975, and a tentative interest in unification with Guinea-Bissau, a one-party system was established and maintained until multi-party elections were held in 1990. Cape Verde continues to exhibit one of Africa's most stable democratic governments. Repeated droughts during the second half of the 20th century caused significant hardship and prompted heavy emigration. As a result, Cape Verde's expatriate population is greater than its domestic one. Most Cape Verdeans have both African and Portuguese antecedents. This island economy suffers from a poor natural resource base, including serious water shortages exacerbated by cycles of long-term drought. The economy is service-oriented, with commerce, transport, tourism, and public services accounting for 72% of GDP. Although nearly 70% of the population lives in rural areas, the share of agriculture in GDP in 2004 was only 12%, of which fishing accounted for 1.5%. About 82% of food must be imported. The fishing potential, mostly lobster and tuna, is not fully exploited. Cape Verde annually runs a high trade deficit, financed by foreign aid and remittances from emigrants; remittances supplement GDP by more than 20%. Economic reforms are aimed at developing the private sector and attracting foreign investment to diversify the economy. Future prospects depend heavily on the maintenance of aid flows, the encouragement of tourism, remittances, and the momentum of the government's development program. | Open here a detailed map in a new window. Map Server Travel-Island.com. | 
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| RESORTS AND EXCURSIONS | The Cape Verde islands count as Africa's most westerly point. First discovered by the Portuguese in the fifteenth century, they have featured since then on the routes of seafarers and traders sailing between Europe, Africa and Latin America, and their culture today reflects this mix. The climate is mainly dry (especially in the Leeward Islands) and years of deforestation, overcultivation and rather unpredictable weather have left the country's economy relatively fragile. Evidently, the islands are no longer as verdant as they were when the Portuguese named them, but they offer much to interest the traveller: long, white sand beaches, a vibrant creole culture and good conditions for watersports. Their isolation has left them unspoilt and comparatively undiscovered. The Government is now trying to develop the tourist industry, and the infrastructure is being expanded to accommodate the increasing number of visitors attracted to this unusual but attractive destination.
Cape Verde has nine inhabited islands. Santiago, the largest and most populated of these, has a mountainous, lush interior fringed by small sandy beaches. The island's capital, Praia, is a lively, pleasant town with a good nightlife. Other attractions include Cidade Velha, the first Portuguese settlement on Cape Verde. There are ruins and old buildings, and, on the hill above, the Fort Real de San Felipe, an old Portuguese fort. The attractive fishing village of Tarrafal features one of the island's best beaches andcontains the old colonial prison where the Portuguese dictator, Salazar, held dissidents from all over his empire in the first two-thirds of the twentieth century. This is currently being restored. The island of Sal, characterised by its fine white sand beaches, attracts most of the package tourists. There are three dive schools, and windsurfing conditions are excellent. The famous salt pits, after which the island is named, produced salt for much of the former Portuguese empire. São Vicente is home to the deep-water port of Mindelo, a lively town with old colonial buildings and a thriving local music scene. Cape Verde's most famous daughter, Cesaria Evora (an internationally-known singer who performs in the traditional style), hails from the island, as do many other leading local musicians. São Vicente's carnival is the liveliest in Cape Verde, while the traditional Baia das Gatas festival, which usually falls in August, has become internationally-renowned for the standard of its music. The other islands in the archipelago are quieter and more appealing to nature lovers. Boa Vista features shallow seas and the 16-km (10-mile) pristine Santa Monica beach. Sao Nicolau has a dramatic landscape of steep rocky peaks in its interior with black sand beaches around its edge. Maio is isolated and quiet with simple fishing villages, white sand beaches and sand dunes. Sea turtles lay their eggs on the beaches. Brava, a lush island with more rainfall than most, offers beautiful views of the coast from its plateau and an abundance of unique plant life. There are no facilities for watersports. The mountainous island of Fogo features an active volcano and black sandy beaches. Coffee, grapes and local wine are amongst the island's produce. Santo Antão's spectacular scenery and rugged coastline attract mainly walkers and climbers, especially given that there are no beaches. It is one of Cape Verde's greener islands and its interior contains forested hills. Many of the deep flat-bottomed valleys are the craters of extinct volcanoes, long overgrown by trees and tropical vegetation. Visitors should make sure they sample Cape Verdean rum or grog, produced on Santo Antão. | PASSPORT AND VISA APPLICATION Furthermore, in order to get into many countries on the stay abroad you will require a visa of some type, even if you are just visiting. This is usually an insert, stamp or sticker which is placed in your passport and the duration of its validity varies from place to place. If you do intend to work or study in the country to which you are traveling, however, you should organize your visa even further in advance as this can take longer to process.
As well as your passport you should ensure that you have at least one other form of identification with you. This may be a driver’s license, birth certificate or any other form of ID which is acceptable worldwide. As with passports, bring at least two copies of all forms of identification in case of loss or theft.
Help to Passport and Visa Application Forms. How to find the right one(s)?
A passport is issued to you by your home country as proof of citizenship. Visas are stamped into your passport to allow you entry into other countries. Although there are exceptions, you are usually required to display your passport when entering or leaving a country. Once you arrive at your destination, carry a photocopy of your passport and keep the original in a safe place.
A visa is an endorsement or stamp entered into your passport by a foreign government. It allows you to enter that country for a specific reason and period of time. Start applying for visas as soon as your passport is available so that all your documentation is completed well before your departure date. To receive a visa you need to send your passport to an embassy or consulate of the country you want to visit. Most countries have embassies and consulates worldwide, and travel agents can usually tell you where the nearest ones are located. Keep in mind that your passport may be tied up for days or weeks until the paperwork is done, so plan accordingly. In addition, some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination before they will issue you a visa. The amount of time spent mailing your passport to the various agencies involved can really add up if you are visiting several countries. Plan ahead if possible. If you only have a few weeks to prepare, a commercial visa service can often speed up the process. |
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