Mindelo Sao Vicente Cape Verde Cruise Port Guide

Location:

Mindelo's deep-water port, Porto Grande, is connected to Mindelo Bay, an underwater volcanic crater, and is used for cruise ships and is within walking distance (15 minutes) from town. Shuttles are 5$.

Printable map to take along.

Cruise calendar for this port.

Watch a destination video.

Live Nautical Chart with Wikipedia Markers

Port Location on Google Maps

Monthly Climate Averages for Mindelo Sao Vicente Cape Verde

Sightseeing:

Mindelo is Cape Verde's cultural capital and has, by far, the most attractive city center in the Cape Verde Islands. The charming colonial buildings, cobbled streets, numerous cafés and restaurants and great night-life make Mindelo a great place to visit.

Palácio do Governador (Governor's Palace) has a beautiful colonial architecture. It was constructed with two floors and is well preserved. It used the building style that is represented from India.

Centro Nacional de Artesanato is an exposition which features qualification from Cape Verdean craftsmen. It also serves prominence in workmanship in paintings, ceramics, fabrics of batique and wooden works.

Tours Excursions Transportation:

There is a small tourist kiosk near the harbor, just off Av Marginal.

For panoramic views of Mindelo and all of São Vicente as well as the neighboring islands Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, go to Mt Verde (750m). São Vicente’s highest peak. Take a taxi, as there are no buses. Around 12 Euro return.

It pays to compare your cruise line shore excursions here.

Nearby Places:

Shopping and Food

Fish lovers will be in heaven on Cape Verde. The grilled lobster is superb as are the fresh tuna, octopus and multitude of other delicacies.

There are 2 markets, one selling fresh produce and another, the ‘African’ market, clothing, carvings, jewelry. They are so-called because they were once the site of the ‘African’ slave markets.

Currency:

Cape Verde Escudo (1 Euro= 113 Escudos)
Hotels and banks may charge slightly more.

Credit cards are accepted at an increasing number of up-market hotels, but not all of them. MasterCard and Visa are the most widely accepted so far.

Currency Converter

Communication:

Portuguese.

Nice little internet cafe/bar that you pass as you get off the ship before you exit gate.

Opening Hours and Holidays:

Everything is closed on public holidays and on Sundays, and many shops also close early on Fridays. Opening hours tend to be Mediterranean - that is, Monday-Friday 08:00/08:30 - 12:00/12:30 and 14:00/14:30 - 18:00/18:30; Saturday 08:30 - 12:00. Banks are often shut in the afternoon. Restaurants operate from about 19:00 - 23:00. Nightclubs tend to open at midnight.

Public holidays:
1 January           New Year
20 January         National Heroes Day
1 May                 Labour Day
5 July                  Independence Day
15 August           Nossa Senhora da Graça [Our Lady of Grace]
12 September     Nationality Day
1 November        All Saints Day
25 December      Christmas Day
Mardi Gras and Good Friday are also national holidays.

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