When will we travel again? This is the big question we ask ourselves…
It will soon be a year since a distant pandemic began to appear in the media. We saw it as something far away, and we completely ignored the globalized world in which we live. What at the beginning seemed like a nightmare that did not go with us, in a few weeks completely conditioned our lives.
After this introductory drama and a year of living with the virus, let’s take a look at the travel and tourism situation in Cape Verde.
Let’s first look at a quick historical context. When the first Portuguese explorers discovered the Cape Verde Islands in the mid-15th century, they found a totally uninhabited volcanic archipelago.
The presence of flora and fauna on these uninhabited islands in Cape Verde was out of this world.
Is it worth traveling in early 2021?
The answer to when we will travel again is “it depends”. We’re not going to kid ourselves, we recommend the following:
- 2-3 weeks of travel
- A lot of patience
- 0 rush
- Energy to complete an obstacle course
- Flexibility
If you have found a tempting tourist offer where everything is flowers and lollipops without being warned about the situation, at least ask yourself some questions. We explain it to you:
The country currently allows the entry of tourists under certain conditions. An entry PCR and an exit PCR (performed within 48 hours prior to travel) will be required, as well as rapid tests for inter-island travel. To perform an exit PCR, we will have to overcome long queues that can reach 5 hours. The rapid tests can be done by public (about 10 €) or private (about 25 €), and the arrival of results in about 2-3 hours in the second option.
TAP Portugal offers daily flights to Praya and 4 weekly flights to Mindelo. Consult official TAP website for updated information.
And in Cape Verde, how is all this being experienced?
Whenever we see news related to global vaccine delivery, we always hear about the United States and Europe, but what about the rest of the world, it’s nothing new?
Needless to say, the pandemic has had a very negative impact on a country that was experiencing sustainable tourism growth.
"It's like traveling to the Cape Verde of 30 years ago, with a tiny presence of tourism, but in the middle of 2021!"
Despite the difficulties in the West, Cape Verde, together with the collaboration of countries such as Luxembourg, has started to vaccinate the population. In a first phase the elderly / vulnerable people, and in a second phase it is expected that the personnel of the tourism sector will receive it.
The warm climate and the large percentage of asymptomatic people may have caused the pandemic to have a very low number of seriously ill people and deaths. You can consult data on the pandemic in the official website of the government of Cape Verde.
In the archipelago, as a general rule we find the following:
- Free mobility of people and goods
- Tourism businesses can open
- Open restoration
- Curfew at 10:00 p.m.
- Use of masks is mandatory
The government may declare a state of emergency in different zones if it deems it necessary. It is in this context that more severe restrictions affecting mobility and services may appear.
Against this backdrop, we continue to insist that you should consider very carefully whether you want to travel now or wait for a later date. As long as it is allowed from the Spanish State, it is important to assume to travel with time and to have flexibility and a lot of patience. The context can change at any time, and the rules of the game are not the same as before the pandemic.
But if you decide to travel: now comes the good part!
It is difficult to quantify the current presence of tourism in the islands, but it would be close to 5% in reference to before the pandemic.
In addition, Cape Verdean hospitality and “morabeza” is through the roof. If it was already a country with an exquisite treatment towards tourists, now it is undoubtedly a priceless experience.
Between one thing and another, it is like traveling to the Cape Verde of 30 years ago, with a negligible presence of tourism, but in the middle of 2021!
You can generally stay in family accommodations, those that are always ready to welcome travelers no matter what. A unique moment to enjoy the incredible trekking that the archipelago has to offer.
An idyllic setting if you like to explore totally unknown places.
So if you have the flexibility, time and energy to take on this obstacle course, this is your moment. If, on the other hand, you don’t see it at all clear, we recommend waiting a little longer: during the following months the uncertainty will be much less.
Horizon summer 2021
If there is one thing we have learned over the past year, it is that things can change at any time. So predicting anything as of today is practically impossible. However, the news brings us closer to optimism.
It is expected that 70% of the population in countries such as Spain will have received the vaccine before the end of the summer. A somewhat slower pace in the archipelago. If we combine this with the desire to travel, and the already existing capacity to receive tourism by Cape Verde:
With a lot of patience, but we are closer to travel, than far…
This article was written at the end of January 2021. It is possible that at the time of reading, some information may have become obsolete. We always recommend following official information. Thank you for your understanding.
