Is Cape Verde safe for Black travellers?
Low-crime Creole islands; mainland West African migrants face prejudice
Vibe check
Essentials
- Currency
- CVE (Escudo)
- Language
- Portuguese + Crioulo
- Best time to visit
- Nov-Jun
- Visa
- Visa on arrival for most nationalities.
- Health
- No specific vaccines required.
Community warnings
- Pickpocketing, bag snatching and muggings concentrate in Praia, Sal and Boa Vista (FCDO)
- Reporting documents stigma against mainland West Africans, who are called 'manjaco'
Border & airport tips
Sal and Praia airports smooth.
Why this rating
Cape Verde is one of the safer destinations in this batch: the US rates it Level 1 (Level 2 for Praia) and the FCDO describes crime as generally low. Most of the population is of African or mixed descent, but reporting documents prejudice against mainland West African migrants, so attitudes and service scores are slightly lower than in mainland majority-Black countries. We found no documented pattern of mistreatment of Black British or American tourists.
Official advice: US Level 1 (Dec 2025; Praia Level 2); FCDO: no area-specific warnings
Sources: travel.state.gov · gov.uk · buala.org · essence.com
Reviewed Sep 2026 · evidence: medium · editorial rating, not official travel advice.
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Create a free accountThis page is an editorial summary, not an official safety rating, and conditions change. Visa and health details can change without notice. Check official advice before you travel, e.g. GOV.UK foreign travel advice or travel.state.gov.