How to Spend a Day in Mindelo, São Vicente

Amilcar Cabral mural

If you’re short on time, one of the best ways to get a quick overview of a city is through a guided tour with a knowledgeable local guide. I booked the Ribeira Bote tour with Santo Antão Tour, and it was a fantastic experience. My guide was incredibly well-informed about the city’s history and culture. We explored the main city murals, and the guide explained the stories behind them. Many of these murals depict Amílcar Cabral, the Cabo Verdean leader who fought for the country’s independence from Portugal. Others celebrated Mindelo’s vibrant Carnival, which, as I mentioned in another post, is heavily influenced by Brazil’s carnivals.

Carnival Mural - Mindelo

The guide also took me to the local market. I found the clothing section particularly intriguing because many Cape Verdeans receive large boxes of second-hand clothes from family members in the U.S., which they then sell at the market. This practice is quite common on the island apparently.

After the tour, I was feeling super hot, so the guide accompanied me to Laginha Beach, which is conveniently accessible by foot from the city center. I spent a few relaxing hours there, swimming in the ocean and chatting with fellow beachgoers. I was impressed that this public beach is monitored by a lifeguard—a thoughtful feature, especially for families with kids. It’s something we don’t even have in Canada, where we have to pay to access national parks with lakes! #Capitalism

Beach view from Caravela

Once I finished swimming, I was drawn to a beachfront bar-restaurant called Caravela.  Its music was calling me from the beach, I had to go there! Caravela turned out to be one of the highlights of my time on the island. The restaurant offers everything: delicious food, refreshing drinks, a stunning view of the ocean (since it’s right on the beach), and incredible live music. When I visited, a phenomenal Brazilian band was playing—probably five or six musicians in total. The music didn’t stop the entire time I was there, which was about two hours. I regret not asking for the band’s name because they were absolutely amazing. The restaurant patrons were either bobbing their heads to the music, dancing or singing along with the band. It was such a vibe.

The atmosphere at Caravela was fantastic, and the staff didn’t pressure us to keep ordering food or drinks. They simply let us enjoy the experience. Eventually, I did have dinner there, and the food was excellent. I’d highly recommend this restaurant. It has two floors, so if you’re not as big of a music fan as I am, you can go upstairs for a quieter meal while still enjoying the ocean view. For more clips from the concert, go to my IG page.