Frequently Asked Questions

If you prearrange your visa with us, your details are logged electronically so passport control can access it on your arrival. If you have already given us your passport details but are asked to pay for your visa on arrival, please request the assistance of a Barracuda Tours Representative.

You can choose to apply for a visa yourself on arrival in Sal or Boa Vista however this will delay you. You will also be asked to pay directly to the authorities a non refundable fee of approximately 25 euros per person. 

As a result of UK Government legislation, we are required to collect Advance Passenger (passport) Information from all customers (including infants) travelling to and from the UK by air. If we do not receive this information, tickets cannot be processed.

When did it start?

• It applies to all flight travel from 1st November 2009.

What information is needed per passenger?

• Full name, as per your passport including any middle names.
• Your date of birth.
• The travel document 'type' eg: passport.
• Your nationality.
• Passport Country of Issue.
• Passport number and expiry date.

When is the information required by

• Either at the time of booking or at least 7 days before travel in order for your tickets to be processed in time. Failure to do so will prevent tickets from being issued. Any API details received within 7 days of departure will result in a Ticket on Departure being arranged, for which you maybe charged.

How can I provide this information?

• Please visit our API page on our website where you can input the information. Alternatively you can call Administration on 0845 330 2068.

What if I book late?

• Our website will not confirm a booking within 7 days of travel, unless you input your API details, so please have them to hand.
• Ticket on Departure information will not be provided until we have your API details.

When you receive your booking confirmation please telephone our Administration Department on 0845 330 2068 to give us the information required to obtain your visa(s). You will need to have all passenger's passports to hand.

This should be done as soon as your booking confirmation has been received and certainly no later than 7 days before departure. After this time we may not be able to obtain your visa before departure from the UK.

You can apply for a visa on arrival in Sal however this will delay you and you will be asked to pay directly to the authorities a non-refundable fee of around 25 Euro per person.

A normal tourist Visa is valid for up to 4 weeks

A full British 10 year passport is required for entry into Cape Verde, valid for at least 6 months after your date of arrival back in the UK. All British Nationals require a visa to enter Cape Verde issued on arrival in Sal. Organising your visa is included in your holiday price providing that we receive the appropriate information no later than 7 days prior to departure. We can also arrange visas for flight only bookings at a charged of £15pp if requested. For late bookings made within 7 days of departure our administration staff will try to pre order your visa however if unsuccessful this can also be purchased on arrival and the cost refunded by our representative.

If you have any special requests for your flight, please ensure that they are requested at the time of booking as it is advisable to pass these to the airline with as much notice as possible. Seats together and the carriage of sports equipment are available to book at a supplement on Thomson Airways outside of 3 weeks to departure but are subject to availability. Meal requests need to be advised at least 3 working days prior to the departure date.

We shall be pleased to pass on your requirements to the airline, however we cannot guarantee that they will be met. For post booking requests please contact Administration on 0845 3302068.

These can be expected 2 weeks prior to your date of travel and will include our Cape Verde travel guide (package holidays only), which we hope you will find useful.

This is 5kgs. Dimensions can vary from airline to airline but the maximum size on Thomson Airways flights is 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. Please ensure that you only carry one piece of hand luggage and that it does not contain any sharp objects. Most airlines will only carry one piece of hand luggage per passenger, which includes handbags and laptops. Infants are not entitled to hand luggage. 

Standard luggage allowance on flights is 20kgs. On Thomson Airways flights individual items which exceed 23kgs will not be accepted. Infants are also entitled to 10 kgs baggage allowance on Thomson Airways flights and in addition to an adult's allowance, a pushchair or pram will be carried at no charge.

If you are Island hopping, your internal baggage allowance cannot exceed more than 20kgs.

Inter island flight times are on our confirmation invoice, which is generated once flight times have been confirmed. Even though times have been confirmed they may still change, as TACV sometimes amend their schedule without much notice and flights can be delayed or even cancelled. In circumstances such as this you will be advised immediately and your booking will be amended to the most appropraite alternative flight.

No, there is no malaria present in Cape Verde with the exception of Santiago during September to November. If you are visiting Santiago during these months please speak with your GP for the latest individual advice.

We do recommend that you take insect repellent, to avoid insect bites.

Vaccinations are not required to visit the Islands.  Please, as always, discuss any individual concerns you may have with your GP.

Insurance is a must. We feel it is so important that we insist you either take out our special travel insurance or arrange a policy yourself at the time of booking which must provide cover equal to our own standard policy.

Occasionally, despite the best efforts of all concerned, flights are delayed for reasons beyond our personal control. In the event of such a delay we will always do our very best to provide a snack or meal when appropriate and in the case of an overnight delay, suitable accommodation. Please note that the choice of accommodation for overnight delays is made by the airline and is not part of your original package holiday.

Any amendment will be subject to availability, amendment charges, plus any difference in costs. This is in addition to any carriers' amendment or cancellations fees. Further details should be obtained from our Administration Department on 0845 3302068.

The crime rate in Cape Verde is low although it has increased slightly in the last year. As in all destinations, especially in the larger towns, we advise you to exercise caution and not show valuables or large amounts of cash. For example, taxis are recommended at night on Santiago as it has fewer tourists than other islands. Taxis are available and are generally of a good standard, although it is advisable to check the price of the fare before setting off.

The currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo or CV Esc which can only be obtained in the islands. Euros are widely accepted throughout the islands but be careful as credit cards are not.

Please be aware the charges for changing travellers cheques can be quite high.

We have day trips from Sal to Santiago, Boa Vista, Fogo and São Vicente. You can speak to your representatives in resort about what is available.

You can also register any interest for a particular day trip with us but unfortunately this doesn't guarantee you a place due to limited numbers available, however it does give you a higher priority for places.

This really depends on which island(s) you are traveling to, and when, as some islands have very little building work and on others there is a fair amount.

Our reservations team have details of any current work going on and we will always try to advise you of anything that we know before you travel.

UK mobile phones do work in Cape Verde (except pay as you go) however calls can be expensive. A cheaper option is to buy a pre-paid SIM card for your phone on arrival in Cape Verde and be given a local number.

Times do vary but as a general rule hotel rooms are available from 3pm on arrival, with you being asked to vacate your room by Midday on the day of departure. 

We are working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to do all we can to help British travellers stay safe overseas. Their website at: www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo is packed with essential tips, travel advice and up-to-date country specific information.

Transfers are included if you have booked a package holiday with us, however they are not included if you have only booked a flight. As the Islands are small therefore generally speaking the transfer time from the airport to your hotel will on average take around 20 minutes depending on how many hotels need to be visited.

During GMT the Islands are 1 hour behind the UK. During British Summer Time, the Islands are 2 hours behind us here in the UK.

This does depend very much on the island. In Santa Maria on Sal and Mindelo on São Vicente there are some very good restaurants in and outside the hotels. A selection of Creole, Portuguese, international and seafood will generally be on the menu, however service can generally be a little slow. On other islands such as Boa Vista and Santo Antão, there are only a few restaurants with no specific menu and sometimes only the special of the day is available.

Most hotels and restaurants are fairly informal although some prefer gentlemen to wear long trousers for dinner in the evenings. If it is windy in the evening it can feel quite cool, so taking a sweater or a wrap with you is advisable.

The temperature does not vary much year round and stays between the mid and late twenties. There can be strong winds so humidity is low however severe asthma sufferers should not travel between February and April due to dust in the air from the Harmattan winds.

All prices shown on this site for package bookings include:

• Return flights from the UK to Cape Verde
• Luggage allowance of 20kgs
• Transfers from airport to your accommodation (except flight only)
• Accommodation and meal basis as detailed in our booking confirmation invoice 
• Visa (if we receive your details 7 days before departure date) 
• Inter-island flights, ferries and transfers for twin-centre holidays (as appropriate)
• The services of our local agent or representative
• Airport departure taxes both in the UK and Cape Verde 
• UK Air Passenger Duty (APD of £45)
• CAA ATOL Protection Contribution

We have negotiated reduced rates for our clients on airport hotels, car parking and lounges. To book please contact Holiday Extras on 0870 844 4367 or at holidayextras.co.uk/capeverde.

Conveniently located car parks are available at all airports, which offer a free 24-hour transfer service to and from the airport terminal.

Children are welcome everywhere as the Cape Verdeans love and take excellent care of their young ones. They will love playing on the beaches and some of the hotels have small play areas and sections of the pool for children (mostly unsupervised). There are few organised activities for children.