Useful Information for Volunteer Teaching: Cape Verde

Come with an open mind and realistic expectations. Life on a volunteer project is simpler and slower than at home: shared rooms, basic facilities, heat and humidity, and a culture with its own customs. Everyone feels a little out of place at first, and that is normal.

Before you travel, read the programme information we send you. When you arrive, the local team introduces you to the project, the house rules and local customs, and they are there to talk to if you feel homesick or unsure. Most volunteers find the first few days are the hardest, and the rest flies by.

We accept participants aged from 16 and above. Participants under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or legal guardian. There is no upper age limit however, we recommend participants to check with the program options that are available.

We should always be healthy and maintain our fitness. However, it depends on the project you choose and you should always be ready to work.

Nothing formal. Pack modest, practical clothes that you do not mind getting dirty. On teaching and kindergarten projects, wear neat, casual clothes that cover your shoulders and knees. On construction and conservation projects, wear hard-wearing clothes and closed shoes you do not mind ruining, plus a hat and light long sleeves for the sun. Vest tops and short shorts are not allowed while you are working.

Away from the project, dress with respect for local customs, especially in villages and at religious sites. Your coordinator will tell you about any local rules when you arrive.

Your arrival transfer is included. You will be met at the airport and taken to your accommodation, so there is nothing to arrange for the journey in.

The departure transfer at the end, from your accommodation back to the airport, is not included. You can add it as an optional extra in your account, or make your own way.

Once you have booked your flights, log in to your account and add them under Flight Details so we know when you are landing.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. You’ll need to show proof of your policy to your group leader upon arrival (on your phone or printed). You can get a quote and purchase your travel insurance here.

We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.

We recommend using a Wise travel card. It works in most places and supports Apple Pay and Google Pay. ATMs are widely available, but some places may accept cash only, so it’s good to carry some local currency.

Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.

Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.

Cape Verde is warm and dry for most of the year, with daytime temperatures in the mid-20s°C and plenty of sunshine. The short rainy season runs from about August to October, bringing occasional heavy showers and more humidity. From roughly November to March the trade winds blow strongly, and dusty winds from the Sahara can bring hazy days. Turtles nest on the beaches from around June to October.

See our Cape Verde weather guide for month-by-month detail.

The currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), which is fixed to the euro at about 110 escudos to €1. You can withdraw escudos from the Vinti4 cash machines outside most banks with a Visa or Mastercard, and Visa is the more widely accepted card. Cards work in larger hotels and restaurants, but small shops, markets, local buses (alugueres) and taxis are cash only.

Euros are sometimes accepted, but you get better value paying in escudos.

Cape Verde is one of the calmer countries in West Africa, and crime overall is low. Petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching does happen, particularly in the capital, Praia, so keep valuables out of sight and avoid unlit areas after dark. The sea is the bigger risk: currents around the islands are very strong, so swim only where it is safe, ideally where there are lifeguards, and respect the warning flags.

Check the latest UK government travel advice before you go.

Portuguese is the official language, but day to day almost everyone speaks Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu). English is not widely spoken outside hotels, so learning a few words helps a lot: bom dia (good morning) and obrigado or obrigada (thank you). Your coordinator will teach you some basics when you arrive.

Possibly, depending on your vaccination history and your plans. See your GP or a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before you travel, and check the Cape Verde page on TravelHealthPro. The World Health Organization certified Cape Verde malaria-free in 2024, but mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue still occur, so pack insect repellent.

There is one entry requirement to be aware of: you need a yellow fever vaccination certificate only if you are arriving from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission.

Roaming can be expensive, so for a longer stay a local SIM is the best value. The two networks, CVMóvel and Unitel T+, sell prepaid SIMs in their shops in Praia and other towns; take your passport to register. An eSIM bought before you fly is an easy alternative. Coverage is good in towns but can drop in the mountains.

Tipping is not compulsory, but it is appreciated. In restaurants, around 10% for good service is a kind gesture if no service charge has been added, and rounding up for taxi drivers is common.