5 things to do to in Mindelo; An insiders guide!

Mindelo is Cape Verde’s second biggest city. The city, known as Cape Verde’s cultural capital  is home to 75.000 people. Mindelo has the qualities of an exiting city but due to its compact size it’s easy to get around.

Although the number of visitors to Mindelo is growing, the city has been able to keep its own unique character.

Here are 5 things you must do if you want to feel like a local in Mindelo:

Go to Laginha Beach

Laginha Beach is located a few minutes outside Mindelo’s city centre, which definitely adds to its popularity. As soon as the sun comes up you’ll see a lot of people doing their daily exercise around the beach. Many Mindelenses love going to Laginha for a quick swim, a walk or to enjoy a beautiful sunset.

The beach has seen some changes in the last couple of years, which have all been for the better. The beach has been expanded, and there are more restaurants and bars around Laginha today. The beach now also has a Beach Club, so you don’t even have to get up if you want a cold drink or a snack. At night, and especially in the weekends, the bars around Laginha have great events with live music.

Take a ‘Hiace’ to the Mindelo villages

One of the best things of the island of São Vicente are the villages outside the city of Mindelo. Mindelo is Cape Verde’s second biggest city and is considered to be Cape Verde’s cultural capital. It is here where 90% of the islands population live. 

Life in the villages outside Mindelo is very different. Most people here still make a living as fishermen, and life overall is traditional. These villages can be reached from the city centre of Mindelo, by using local transportation. The ‘Hiace’, also known as an Aluger drives people to the villages outside the city for €1.

It’s a good idea to visit the village of Calhau on Sunday’s, when restaurant Chez Loutcha has their weekly event with food and live music.

Dance during Carnival

If there is one week a year when the city’s alive, it’s during the week of Mindelo Carnival. As cultural capital of Cape Verde, the city hosts the biggest and most beautiful Carnival celebration of all. Many thousands of Mindelenses and people from other islands come together in the city centre for the parades and (street)parties.

The best part is that this unforgettable event is little known with foreign visitors. For the people who don’t get a chance to be part of the Carnival in Mindelo, the weeks before Carnival you can get a taste of what the event will be like. The Mandingas are one of the most popular Mindelo Carnival attractions, and this parade is organised every Sunday right after New Year’s.

Visit the Mindelo markets

Mindelo has a few very interesting markets where you can buy pretty much anything. These markets are all within walking distance from eachother wich makes it that much easier to do. Visiting these markets gives you a fantastic insight in local live. Most people working at these markets have to work very hard to earn a small income. But you can expect to be received with the Morabeza that Cape Verde is known for.

Make sure you visit these 3 markets:

• Fish Market

A must for anyone visiting Mindelo. The fishing industry is vital for Cape Verdeans, so by seeing the fish market you learn a lot about life in the country.

• Praça Estrela

A large square in Mindelo’s  city centre with two different parts: On one side there is a market for used clothes and fruit & vegetables, and the other side has many little shops with various products.

• Municipal Market

Located on Mindelo’s main street, Rua de Lisboa. A large and colorful market with fruit, vegetables and meat. Also has a few spots where you can enjoy a cold drink.

Think about your accommodation

Mindelo has a few fantastic hotels. But for those looking for a little bit more space and privacy, booking another type of accommodation is a better option. Look for a small apartment, or a B&B with a kitchen. This way, the visits to the different markets of Mindelo are not just part of your sightseeing route, but are actually for doing your grocery shopping.

If you decide to stay in an apartment, it might be a good idea to look for option outside the city centre. Most accommodations are located in the centre of Mindelo, so booking a place in another neighborhood only adds to the local experience. Mindelo has a good public transportation system, and the taxi’s are cheap, so getting around won’t be a problem.

Freddy Gomes is the blogger behind MindeloCaboVerde.com. He loves to write about ‘the other side of Cape Verde’. He also works on Community Development projects through his foundation called Sonvela.

Check out the Travel section for other destinations to add to your bucket list this year, including Europe city breaks, backpacking around Asia and Austrailia.