Is Cape Verde safe to visit? Read my personal verdict if it is!
Cape Verde is a unique vacation destination renowned for its year-round summer-like climate and pristine beaches.
However, those who want to travel Cape Verde must be cautious!
I’ve visited the islands on 4 different occasions, staying there for about a year of combined time.
And when I wondered, “Is Cape Verde safe?”…
Most of the islands seem to be very touristy areas, like the Sal and Boa Vista Islands, but they are prone to petty crime, such as pickpocketing.
Let’s further explore the safety concerns in Cape Verde and how you can counter these concerns with a reliable travel insurance policy!
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Pssst…??!! You can’t get enough Cape Verde posts? Have a look at my other posts:
Top Resources to Travel Cape Verde
⚘ Don’t leave without a travel guide. Be prepared and get the Ultimate Cape Verde Travel Guide Book
✈ Book cheap flights to Cape Verde with Skyscanner
✔ Book the best tours in Cape Verde with GetYourGuide
➳ Find the best hotel deals in Cape Verde with Trivago
❖ Get the best car rental deals with DiscoverCars
☘ Get the best discounted outdoor gear (outlet) at REI.com
✎ Never leave without travel insurance. I get mine at HeyMondo. It’s easy to set up, cheap, and reliable.✔ Skip the queue at the airport and get your Cape Verde visa in advance with iVisa
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Understanding Safety in Cape Verde
Is Cape Verde safe to travel to?
The answer is yes; Cape Verde is generally a safe travel destination. The islands appear well-maintained, and the locals are often friendly and welcoming.
That said, it’s always best to travel to Cape Verde when you’re protected by tailor-made travel insurance options like HeyMondo.
Thanks to 24/7 medical chat support, financial coverage for medical emergencies, and easy claims reporting, you’ll have peace of mind and travel safety. – Get Cape Verde travel insurance here
The U.S. government only assigns Cape Verde a level 1 travel advisory, the lowest level, recommending travelers simply “exercise normal precautions.”
Praia is the only exception with a level 2 advisory, suggesting travelers “exercise increased caution.
Unfortunately, like other tourist destinations such as Portugal and Spain, Cabo Verde experiences petty crime, such as bag snatching and pickpocketing, especially during crowded events like festivals or busy spots like beaches and markets.
Yes, Cape Verde is safe. But it’s only as safe as your level of caution!
Hence, regardless of where you are on the islands, whether you’re wondering things to do in Sal or exploring things to do in Santiago Island, make sure to protect yourself with awareness.
Most importantly, with a reliable insurance policy!
Get Cape Verde health insurance for Cape Verde
Common Safety Concerns for Travelers
“Is Cape Verde safe to walk around? Is Sal in Cape Verde safe?”
Those were just a few questions I had before traveling to Cape Verde.
As a solo female traveler, I was initially worried about the sketchy news and stories I heard about the islands online.
One thing that helped ease my worries was getting covered by HeyMondo, which is known for its efficient service and swift medical assistance. You can get covered per trip.
Or, if you travel frequently like I do, you can purchase HeyMondo’s annual travel insurance to protect yourself all year long. – Get Cape Verde travel insurance here
In addition to having insurance, I also listed the common safety concerns for travelers in Cape Verde. The list made it much easier for me to remember how to protect myself.
Let me share the “wary list” I made during my stay on the islands below:
Petty Theft and Snatching
Perhaps the most important concern you should watch out for when staying in Cape Verde is falling victim to crimes like petty theft and bag snatching.
These situations can be incredibly stressful when you’re in a foreign destination.
After all, your bags will often contain money, crucial documentation, and items like IDs and your phone.
My go-to safety tips to avoid petty crime are to:
- Avoid isolated places
- Avoid wearing flashy jewelry
- Never leave my valuables open in public
- Always ensure that my trusted accommodation is locked
As a second line of defense, don’t bring all your valuables when you leave your accommodation.
Make sure you have extra cash, a credit card, or even a spare phone waiting in your accommodation (if possible).
If you fall victim to bag snatching, you’ll still have some essential items to rely on.
Road Safety
Exercise extra caution when walking or driving on roads.
Though paved, roads in Cape Verde are often narrow. Instances of aggressive driving and drinking cases also occur.
I personally avoid driving on the islands at night due to the low visibility.
Health Risks
Cape Verde isn’t really at risk for diseases and infections. However, you must be cautious with your water intake, limit your sun exposure, and protect yourself with travel insurance!
When I stayed on the islands, I encountered minor medical issues like diarrhea and even non-travel-related problems like toothache.
Fortunately, HeyMondo covered all of my medical expenses. – Check their insurance
Don’t drink tap water; when buying drinking water, ensure the bottle is completely sealed. Also, be aware of consuming ice, as not all establishments use drinking water for their ice!
On top of the drinking water problem, remember that sunlight on the islands can be very intense.
Cape Verde is close to the equator. So, ensure you have enough sun protection when leaving your home, including sunglasses, a hat, and water.
Wear sunscreen even if you’ll just be out in the sun briefly!
My friend’s skin burned on her first two days in Cape Verde, and she spent the remainder of her stay in pain—all because she skipped sunscreen!
Safety During Hiking and Sports Activities
Of course, as a general tip, stay alert when participating in outdoor activities like hikes in Santo Antao and surfing in Cape Verde.
The islands are known for being an explorer’s haven. They offer canyoning and big waves, which are perfect for surfing and even quad biking.
All these activities are relatively safe. But exercise caution to avoid injuries or scams!
Unfortunately, these risks aren’t 100% avoidable, so the best line of defense is always going to be getting travel insurance like HeyMondo.
Health & Medical Safety in Cape Verde
Is Cape Verde safe for families? Is Cape Verde safe for solo females?
The answer to both is yes.
However, I only really felt safe on the islands when I got covered by HeyMondo’s travel insurance. Hence, it’s crucial to purchase travel insurance when you’re planning to travel to Cape Verde.
If you’re traveling as a group, with your friends or family, you can purchase HeyMondo for everyone in a single purchase.
Trust me, it’s better to be safe than sorry! Especially since medical facilities in Cape Verde can be quite limited in emergencies.
Popular cities like Praia in Santiago and Mindelo in São Vicente have the most prominent hospitals.
However, clinics can be short on supplies in other areas and may not even have resources for medical emergencies.
When I got lightly injured doing adventurous things to do in Boa Vista, for example, there weren’t enough staff in the clinic.
Fortunately, HeyMondo, who quickly collaborated with the local healthcare facilities, covered me. I was transferred to a better facility and treated even when I had zero cash in my pockets.
That said, one of the best things to do in Cape Verde is to get travel insurance even before you reach the islands!
You don’t know what emergency you’ll encounter, whether that be a food allergy, reactions from mosquito bites, or minor injuries like I did.
In Cape Verde, hospitals operate on a cash-first basis: pay first, before treatment—unless you can have your insurance provider like HeyMondo sort it out for you. – Get Cape Verde travel insurance here
As someone who travels a lot, you can’t guarantee that you’ll always have money available at any given moment.
Shoutout to HeyMondo for always having my back during my travels!
How HeyMondo Travel Insurance Can Help
Now, on to the specifics: how can HeyMondo’s Travel Insurance actually help?
This policy doesn’t just financially protect you during medical emergencies and hospital stays.
With HeyMondo, you’ll also get insurance coverage for the following:
- Trip Delays
- Cancellation & Interruption
- Loss of baggage
- Traveling with specialty Items
- Intense adventure sports
Even more important, you’ll also have up to $10,000 of search & rescue coverage if you or your loved ones were to go missing.
Plus, your evacuation will be covered if any natural disasters occur, such as storms or floods, which sometimes happen in Cape Verde.
With HeyMondo insurance, you can have all the fun you want, exploring things to do on Brava or checking out what to do in Sao Vicente without worrying about financial emergencies!
How to Claim Insurance Policy
Claiming coverage from HeyMondo is as easy as using its application and tapping the “Claims Reporting” button.
You can send all your supporting documentation in the app and even call or chat with a representative to help you through the process.
Based on my experience, HeyMondo has never failed to pay for my emergency bills upfront.
However, if you need to cover expenses yourself, HeyMondo will reimburse you within 14 calendar days.
Tips for Staying Safe in Cape Verde
I’ve already mentioned some tips for staying safe in Cape Verde. But let me give a small recap and even extra tips to stay safe in its islands!
This way, whether you want to enjoy things to do on Maio or things to do in São Nicolau or any other island, you’ll be able to stay safe!
More safety tips when staying in Cape Verde:
- Don’t let your valuables “show” when you’re in public
- Only book reputable accommodations and tours
- Always be wary of beach regulations
- Install the HeyMondo app to access emergency contacts and request assistance easily
- Avoid secluded areas, especially at night
- Don’t risk getting too intoxicated when you’re alone
If you love joining adrenaline-inducing adventures, I wrote activity-related safety tips in the next section!
Adventure Activities & Travel Insurance in Cape Verde
For adrenaline-seekers like me, hiking, windsurfing, and diving are essential to vacations.
Although I’ve had these adventures countless times, I’m still not 100% sure I’ll never get injured riding waves or hiking mountains.
I’m sure, to some extent, you also feel the same.
That is why it’s crucial to stay protected by travel insurance like HeyMondo’s travel insurance plans if you’re an adrenaline-seeking traveler.
While other travel insurance providers don’t cover accidents induced by extreme sports activities, HeyMondo’s travel insurance plan covers activities like backpacking, snorkeling, and rafting!
Even unqualified divers are covered by insurance for depths up to 30 meters.
You can enjoy your favorite summer activities without worrying about the financial burdens of unexpected accidents.
Explore things to do in Mindelo or any other island to your heart’s content!
Is Travel Insurance Really Necessary for Cape Verde?
Not gonna lie; during my first year of travel, I also didn’t bother getting travel insurance.
Surely, nothing bad will go wrong in your must-awaited vacation, right?
But that mentality all changed when one day, my flight got delayed, and I lost all my luggage within 24 hours.
I had to cover my financial losses out of my pocket.
If I had HeyMondo back then, all my expenses would’ve been compensated. I would’ve skipped all the stress, financial strain, and worry!
So, yes, travel insurance is necessary for Cape Verde. It covers medical emergencies and common travel inconveniences that arise anywhere!
To enjoy your well-deserved peace of mind while you’re in Cape Verde, make sure to get HeyMondo insurance.
Final Thoughts: Is Cape Verde Safe for Your Next Trip?
Is Cape Verde dangerous, or is Cape Verde worth visiting?
Well, Cape Verde can be slightly dangerous, especially if you’re staying in Sal or Boa Vista. However, all of these islands are 100% worth visiting!
Remaining cautious and getting travel insurance is the key to protecting yourself, your wallet, and your peace of mind while traveling in Cape Verde.
Hence, before you pack your bags and fly to this stunning archipelago, explore HeyMondo’s travel insurance options here!
Skip worrying about “Is Cape Verde safe to visit?” and enjoy your trip with peace of mind!
Hola! I’m Paulina, a seasoned travelette who crossed the Atlantic Ocean by Boat HitchHiking. On my blog, find expert insights for an extraordinary holiday through outdoor and sustainable travel like hiking, cycling, and sailing. Let’s embark on unforgettable journeys together! 🌍🚀