Cabo Verde for digital nomads - pro and cons for each island

Santiago (Praia)

The Capital Island: Best for infrastructure, history, and urban energy.

Pros:

• Best Connectivity: Home to the strongest fiber-optic networks and 4G coverage. Most urban areas in Praia offer broadband speeds ranging from 10 Mbps to 20 Mbps, often reaching higher with fiber,.
• Coworking Hubs: Features established coworking spaces like Workin' CV and Prime Coworking (Palmarejo and Plateau branches), as well as the new TechPark CV,.
• Healthcare Access: Hosts the country's best-equipped medical facilities, including Hospital Agostinho Neto and various private clinics.
• Diverse Lifestyle: Offers a mix of city life in Praia, historic culture in Cidade Velha (UNESCO site), and beach relaxation in Tarrafal,.
• Flight Connections: The Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI) has strong connections to Europe, the US, and Africa, acting as a major transit hub.

Cons:

• Safety Concerns: Praia has the highest incidence of urban crime, including muggings and pickpocketing. It is rated "critical" for crime compared to other islands, and walking alone at night in certain areas is discouraged,.
• Urban Chaos: It is a busy capital city with traffic, noise, and a less "relaxed" holiday vibe compared to the other islands.
• Power Outages: Frequent power cuts have been reported on the island, which can disrupt work if backup solutions aren't available.

São Vicente (Mindelo)

The Cultural Capital: Best for music, arts, and community.

Pros:

• Vibrant Culture: Known as the cultural heart of the country, offering live music, art scenes, and the famous Carnival,.
• Nomad Community: Has an established and social digital nomad scene with events and meetups. Prime Coworking and Don Paco Hotel are popular work spots,.
• Walkability: Mindelo is compact and walkable, with most amenities, cafes, and Laginha beach within 15 minutes of the center.
• Gateway to Santo Antão: It is the transit point for the ferry to Santo Antão, allowing for easy weekend hiking trips.

Cons:

• Street Harassment: Persistent begging in the city center can be an annoyance for foreigners.
• Wind: The island can be incredibly windy, particularly during the winter months (January to April).
• Limited Direct Flights: While it has an international airport (VXE), it has fewer direct connections than Sal or Santiago, often requiring layovers.

Sal (Santa Maria)

The Tourist Hub: Best for beach life, water sports, and ease of living.

Pros:

• World-Class Beaches: Famous for white sands and turquoise waters, ideal for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts (kitesurfing, diving),.
• Developed Infrastructure: Offers the widest selection of international restaurants, bars, and amenities. English is widely spoken.
• Coworking Options: Features dedicated spaces like GoHub Sal and nomad-friendly spots like Surf Hub CV,.
• Flight Access: The Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) is the busiest air hub with frequent direct flights to Europe and the UK,.

Cons:

• Cost of Living: It is the most expensive island due to high tourism demand and reliance on imported goods,.
• Salt Air Damage: The saline humidity is aggressive and can corrode electronics rapidly; working beachfront without protection is risky.
• Tourist Trap Feel: Lacks the "authentic" African/Portuguese cultural feel of Santiago or São Vicente; can feel like a resort bubble,.
• Infrastructure Strain: Rapid tourism growth has led to issues with water supply and power stability in peak seasons.

Boa Vista (Sal Rei)

The Desert Island: Best for dunes, quiet beaches, and relaxation.

Pros:

• Nature & Solitude: Offers miles of untouched beaches (like Santa Monica) and unique sand dunes (Viana Desert), perfect for escaping crowds.
• Productivity: A dedicated coworking space, GoHub, is available in Sal Rei with biometric access and fiber internet.
• Wildlife: Excellent for turtle nesting observation and whale watching,.

Cons:

• Healthcare Gaps: Medical facilities are very limited; serious issues often require evacuation to Sal or Santiago.
• High Costs: Similar to Sal, almost everything is imported, making groceries and living expenses higher than on agricultural islands.
• Limited Infrastructure: Less developed than Sal; roads can be poor, and internet outside the main town of Sal Rei can be spotty.

Santo Antão

The Hiker's Paradise

Pros:

• Spectacular Scenery: The greenest and most mountainous island, offering world-class hiking trails (Cova Crater, Paul Valley).
• Authenticity: Very little mass tourism; offers a genuine immersion into local village life and agriculture.
• Affordability: Cost of living is lower than on the tourist islands.

Cons:

• No Airport: Accessible only by a one-hour ferry ride from São Vicente, adding travel time and logistical complexity.
• Connectivity: Internet can be spotty in mountainous/remote areas; no dedicated commercial coworking spaces (work from guesthouses).
• Language Barrier: English is less spoken here; Portuguese or Creole is necessary for daily interactions.
• Terrain: Steep, winding roads can be challenging for those prone to motion sickness.

São Nicolau

The Authentic Frontier: Best for hiking, immersion, and low costs.

Pros:

• Authenticity: Untouched by mass tourism, offering a genuine look at Cape Verdean life and "Morabeza" (hospitality).
• Low Cost of Living: Rents and local food are significantly cheaper than in Sal or Boa Vista,.
• Nature: Offers spectacular hiking (Monte Gordo National Park) and natural ocean pools,.

Cons:

• Poor Connectivity: No dedicated coworking spaces exist. Internet speeds are lower, and 4G can be patchy in mountainous areas,.
• Isolation: Harder to reach; relies on domestic flights or ferries that can be unreliable.
• Language Barrier: English is rarely spoken; knowledge of Portuguese or Creole is essential for daily life.

Fogo (São Filipe)

The Volcano Island: Best for adventure, wine/coffee lovers, and dramatic scenery.

Pros:

• Unique Landscape: Dominated by the active Pico do Fogo volcano, offering world-class hiking and the experience of living in a crater (Chã das Caldeiras).
• Local Produce: Produces its own high-quality coffee and wine, which are affordable and delicious,.
• Colonial Charm: The town of São Filipe features well-preserved colonial architecture (sobrados) and a pleasant atmosphere.
• Coworking: Surprisingly, there is a professional workspace, GoHub Fogo Innovation Lab, in São Filipe.

Cons:

• Accessibility: No international airport; requires a domestic flight or rough ferry ride from Santiago.
• Connectivity in the Crater: While São Filipe has decent internet, the crater area (Chã) often has poor connectivity unless using satellite solutions like Starlink.
• Limited Beaches: As a volcanic island, it lacks the white sand beaches of Sal or Boa Vista; swimming is mostly limited to black sand spots or hotel pools.

bo Verde for digital nomads pro and cons for each island