MONEY

Few hotels and even less restaurants accept credit cards so it may be better to pay for accommodation in advance.

You will need either Euros (€) or Cape Verdian Escudos ($/CVE) to pay.

Car hire companies, and those providing excursions do accept credit cards, but for everything else you will need cash. You can change travellers’ cheques at one of the two banks in Santa Maria (Caixa and Banco Atlantico). There are also ATM’s at the western end town.

Commission is approx 500$ and is charged based on the denomination i.e. if you have e.g. €200 and €100 cheques it will cost you 1000$, so try and get one denomination. Also, some branches apply some unfair charges, for example, you will charge again if the serial numbers on the cheques are not consecutive!

Cape Verdian Escudos are only available in Cape Verde. If you bring Euros it is possible to change money at a friendly bar, which may give a better rate of exchange than spending euros in stores.

Banking and business hours:
Banks 08:00-14:00 Monday to Friday;
Shops 08:00-12:00 and 15:00-19:00 Monday to Saturday.