Praia - Post Report Question and Answers
What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
Getting to visit the other islands as each one is unique. Hiking, fishing, going to the beach, drinking caipirinhas. Enjoying all the sunshine. Friendly locals. - Feb 2024
Any drive into the interior of Santiago during the rainy season is a blessing. Visiting the volcano in Fogo was one of the most unique experiences in my life. Beaches in Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio are perfection. I always love a weekend in Tarrafal, and the Resistance Museum and Cidade Velha are both world-class historic sites worth a visit. Everyone should go to Quintal da Musica for live music during a visit here. - Aug 2023
It's fun to visit the other islands, especially Sao Vicente and Sao Nicolau. The hiking is fantastic and the beaches are great. Easy and short trip. - Jan 2023
We have loved getting out to the other islands and exploring what each has to offer; they are all so different from each other! - Sep 2018
We've loved our time here and have traveled to all nine islands. Each island is very unique: sleeping in a hotel built atop cooling lava in Fogo's caldeira, chilling on the quiet beaches of Maio, celebrating Carenval in Mindelo, trekking in Santo Antao, reaching zombie-like levels of relaxing on Brava, bobbing in the crystal clear waters of Sal, hiking the mountains of Santiago... I can drive home for lunch from work most days. On weekends we walk down to the beach or kayak in the harbor or pitch a tent on a black sand beach. What's not to like? It's been a wonderful place for my family and me to explore. The people are beyond friendly. The music is awesome. The food is great. But the key has been getting out of Praia. The work can be really intense at such a small post, so it's good to play hard on the weekends. - Dec 2017
Going to Fogo Island in Cabo Verde and climbing / descending the Pico de Fogo in the morning. Spending the night inside a caldera.
Going to Maio Island and spending a romantic weekend watching the sunset over the ocean.
Exploring Santiago (Praia) island in the rainy season and seeing the huge green mountains encased in sleepy clouds.
Learning about the amazing local products grown and produced here - wine, cheese, sausage, coffee, bread. All the basic food groups.
The easy access to Portugal (4 hour flight to Lisbon) and exploring Lisbon, Coimbra and Evora.
The many, many weekend trips to the beach. Just pack a small bag and go! - Oct 2016
Seeing the loggerhead turtles lay eggs on the island of Maio. Staying at the lovely resort Riu Karamboa on the island of Boa Vista and playing on the white sand beaches of Sal. There is also a small, but close knit group of non-embassy expats that are a blast to hang out with in Praia. - May 2014
This is certainly "Africa-Lite" or more like the "Afr-ibbean." The people are kind and not aggressive, so it is easy to shop and walk around during the day by yourself. Each island has a unique flavor, some with incredible beaches and more established tourism. This is a peaceful, quiet country with kind people and---for a developing country---a decent lifestyle. - Feb 2011
Seeing the volcano on Fogo, hiking the ribeiras on Santo Antao, off-roading, boat trips. - Sep 2012
Warm sunny days. - May 2012
