Cape Verde
Geographic & General info
- Capital: Praia
- Population: approx. 590,000
- Languages: Portuguese (official), Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu)
- Area: 4,033 km²
- Time Zone: UTC-1 (CVT)
- Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
- Flag Colors: Blue, white, red, yellow (with 10 stars)
- National Holiday: July 5
- National Anthem: Cântico da Liberdade
- Neighboring Countries: None (island nation in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Senegal)
Top 15 Largest Cities
- Praia
- Mindelo
- Espargos
- Assomada
- Pedra Badejo
- São Filipe
- Tarrafal
- Santa Maria
- Sal Rei
- Calheta de São Miguel
- Porto Novo
- Vila do Maio
- Ribeira Grande
- Picos
- Vila da Ribeira Brava
Top 15 Highlights
- Pico do Fogo (active volcano)
- Santa Maria Beaches (Sal)
- Chã das Caldeiras (Fogo)
- Paul Valley (Santo Antão)
- Kite Beach (Sal)
- Viana Desert (Boa Vista)
- Praia de Chaves (Boa Vista)
- Cidade Velha (UNESCO World Heritage)
- Cultural Capital Mindelo (São Vicente)
- Buracona & Blue Eye (Sal)
- Monte Verde (São Vicente)
- Pedra de Lume Salt Craters (Sal)
- Shipwreck of Cabo Santa Maria (Boa Vista)
- Tarrafal Beach (Santiago)
- Serra Malagueta Natural Park (Santiago)
Climate and Nature
Cape Verde features a hot, dry tropical climate (semi-arid) with minimal rainfall and year-round sunshine. The archipelago boasts dramatic natural diversity: ranging from white sand dunes and salt flats on Sal and Boa Vista to rugged volcanic mountains, lush terraced valleys on Santo Antão, and the black lava fields of Fogo.
Culture and Gastronomy
Cape Verdean culture represents a rich Creole blend of African and Portuguese roots, celebrated globally for its soulful music genres like Morna and Funaná. Culinary traditions center on fresh seafood and local crops. The national staple is Catchupa (a slow-cooked stew of corn, beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, and fish or meat), enjoyed with local sugarcane grog (Grogue).
Economy
The economy relies heavily on the service sector, with beach and windsurfing tourism serving as the primary growth driver. In addition, financial remittances from the expansive Cape Verdean diaspora living abroad and maritime logistics play crucial roles in national economic stability.
Did you know?
- Cidade Velha on Santiago Island was the first European colonial outpost in the tropics and served as Cape Verde's original capital.
- The world-famous singer Cesária Évora, known as the "Barefoot Contessa", hailed from Mindelo on the island of São Vicente.
- High-altitude vineyards cultivated inside the crater of the active Pico do Fogo volcano produce unique local Fogo wines.
- There are more people of Cape Verdean descent living abroad in the diaspora than there are residing on the islands.
- The beaches of Boa Vista and Sal represent one of the world's most critical nesting sites for loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).
Live footage: Discover Cape Verde via webcams and livestreams
Watch the most current webcams in Cape Verde and enjoy real-time footage from beautiful locations. Whether you want to check the current weather, see the crowds at points of interest, or simply want to daydream with a livestream from Cape Verde: our interactive map points you to the best camera viewpoints.
All webcam locations in Cape Verde: Weather & Info
In the list below you'll find all available webcams from Cape Verde in alphabetical order. Click on a city for the full live connection, current temperature, wind speed and local weather conditions for that specific place.
