If you are looking for a workation destination with a nice climate and little time difference, Cape Verde is a good choice. The weather here is beautiful almost all year round, around 26 degrees. There are many direct flights and it only takes 6 hours. This group of islands is located in the Atlantic Ocean, off the west coast of Africa. I went for a workation to the island of Sal.
Essentials: Vitamin D and wifi
To avoid a winter dip, I, like many, had a huge need for nice weather. Just some vitamin D (not from a jar) and being outside a lot. November therefore seemed like the ideal time for a trip to tropical Cape Verde. If you have the freedom to do your work anywhere, this is definitely the time to take advantage of it. I am very curious about the island of Sal. What all there is to do, the culture in Cape Verde and, of course, not entirely unimportant: whether the wifi is good enough to do a nice job there. The latter is certainly the case in the right places. Check! And with only 2 hours time difference, you can stay well in touch with the Netherlands.
What to do on the island?
After your workday, you can get out and about. On the island of Sal there is more than enough to do during your workation in Cape Verde. In fact, I spent a week there myself and I definitely want to go back because I still want to discover so many nice things on the island. Here I would like to share my experiences with you. Island tour
Whether you are traveling alone or with a group, be sure to go on an island tour. A local guide will take you in his pick-up jeep to the best places on the island. For example, I went with guide Olivio to Shark Bay, where you literally stand among baby sharks in the water. Then to Salinas de Pedra de Lume the salt lakes where you can cleanse your skin and float in the water. Through the desert with a mirage to Buracona Blue Eye Cave. Finally, some food at a nice local joint in Espargos. Kitesurfing
On Sal there is a lot of wind, not only is that very nice against the heat, you can therefore almost always kitesurf. It’s a bit pricey, but incredibly cool to learn. I have done it myself at the kitesurf school of world champion Mitu and I am sold! You can also wave surf and windsurf in some places. Quad riding
Because of the dry plains, this island is the perfect place for quad and baby carriage riding. This can be done during the day or on an adventurous night ride. A top activity for the adrenaline junkies.
Cycling through Santa Maria
You’re either a Dutchman or you’re not, so here too I jumped on my bike. Not just any bike, but an electric fatbike. Mega cool! You see Santa Maria, Kite Beach, the local market, salt plains, the beautiful beach at Ponta Preta and occasionally tear across the barren plains at a brisk pace. Meanwhile, the local guide will tell you all about the island. Snorkeling and diving
Of course, you can also snorkel and dive on the tropical island. I went from the pier with a boat into the sea to snorkel and was even lucky enough to see 2 turtles and a shipwreck. Bootcamp on the beach
Looking for some exercise? Then go boot camp on the beach. You can also do boxing. At your own level, you will work up a sweat under the guidance of an experienced trainer. Afterwards you will have earned your beer.
Nice restaurants on Sal
- Palm Beach Sal: right on the beach you will find this super atmospheric beach club with delicious food. Tip: try cachupa, a typical Cape Verdean soup. This is also eaten for breakfast the day after, then the fried variety.
- Angulo Beach: a fun place if you’re looking for a chill beach vibe.
- Odjo d’água: at this beautiful place by the water you can eat delicious food. A place that is sure to impress!
- Simple Grill: if you want good local and approachable food this is a must. No fancy menu, just a chalkboard with the options. Brasa Quente is comparative and also very nice.
- Bikini Beach Bar: feel like partying at the beach? Here the music pops out of the speakers and the party goes wild on a regular basis.
- Esplanada Rotterdam: this Dutchman with Cape Verdean roots in Palmeira is very well known on the island. Straight from the sea on your plate you eat delicious fresh fish here, cozy among the locals.
A glimpse into real Cape Verdean life
When I travel, I want to really get to know a destination. I don’t just go down the tourist hot spots, I want to get to know the real Cape Verdeans and see how they live. Besides the paradise the tourists see, there is always another side, the poverty among the locals. I want to see and hear what challenges they have, but also what opportunities there are in developments. I went out with local Olivio. It turned out to be a special day. He took us to the poor neighborhoods, where people live in shacks, without running water and electricity. They have no work, no opportunities, no prospects.
Then you realize again how good we Dutch have it. So I like to spend my euro on an island like this, where the money from tourism contributes to the development of the country.
The perfect workation location in Cape Verde
There is a new workation project in Sal: Moda Casa. A large accommodation in Santa Maria, which is a new venture for remote workers. The apartments are very spacious, there is a lovely pool, a private workspace, supermarket and it is within walking distance of the beach. What more could you ask for? Oh yes, good wifi, there is! The experience that I described above with discovering the real Cape Verdean life I also want to offer to companies that go on workation here. After all, a trip with your team can be much more than just a fun company outing. You can make a social contribution to the development of Sal. Which is still badly needed in many places. Contribute something nice to the development of the island. From a beach cleanup, helping at turtle sanctuary or giving children a lesson at school or at the youth shelter.
Through Moda Casa’s network, many options are negotiable to make a social impact on Sal. In addition to group activities, you can also contribute yourself by volunteering for an afternoon or a few hours, for example.
Visa in Cape Verde
Up to a period of 30 days, you can simply enter and leave the country as a tourist and do not need to arrange a visa for this. You only have to pay a one-time fee of about €35 for airport tax upon arrival at the airport. You can also arrange this in advance online. Do you want to stay longer? Then it is best to arrange this in advance at the Consulate General of Cape Verde in Rotterdam. You can currently get a visa for a maximum of 90 days. Through my network I know that there are also possibilities to stay even longer, but these developments are still in their infancy.
A unique workation with your team
Working Remotely and Moda Casa join forces and can provide your company with a great workation on Sal. You can make a good combination of working in the sun, doing all kinds of fun activities and contributing something to the development of the island. Want to know more? Send us a message.
