Boa Vista Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €60,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = €45,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €950 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €76,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €700 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = €56,000). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
22% standard rate. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
10% for residents and non-residents. |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Residence-based taxation; Remote Work Visa offers potential exemptions. |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
35% (Above 2,500,000 CVE annually). |
| 🧾 VAT |
15% standard rate. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
No specific CFC rules currently in place. |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
IUP (Municipal Property Tax) - approx. 1.5% of asset value annually. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
Sisa Tax - approx. 3% of the purchase price. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
Cabo Verde Remote Working Program offers a 0% income tax for visa holders. |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €44,000 in Sal Rei). |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. €850 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = €34,000 in rural Rabil). |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Sal Rei, Boa Vista, Cape Verde |
| 👥 Population |
Approximately 20,000 |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
Average 20-40 Mbps (Fiber available in Sal Rei via CV Telecom/Unitel T+) |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE). 1 EUR ≈ 110 CVE. Fixed exchange rate to Euro. |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Not drinkable. Desalinated water; use bottled water (approx. 90 CVE for 1.5L). |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
CV Móvel or Unitel T+. Buy at Sal Rei main square, ~500 CVE for setup. |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
BCN (Banco Caboverdiano de Negócios) or BCA. Revolut works at Vinti4 ATMs. |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Apartments in Sal Rei or villas in Praia de Chaves. Airbnb and local agencies like |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
No, heavily cash-reliant. Cards only in large hotels and some restaurants. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and Ca' Nicola (Aparthotel starting at €70/night). |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Migrante Guesthouse (Sal Rei) - approx. €45 per night. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Praia de Chaves (All-inclusive resorts) or Sal Rei (Town feel). |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Sal Rei (proximity to cafes/shops) or Santa Maria (newer developments). |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
No dedicated coworking hubs yet; most use 'The Office' (business center at Hotel RIU). |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Caffè del Porto (Sal Rei) - beachfront with decent Wi-Fi and power outlets. |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Informal meetups at 'Tortuga Beach Club' on Friday nights. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
Digital Nomads Cabo Verde Facebook Group and local kite-surfing schools. |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
No apps. Taxis are local. Sal Rei to Airport: ~700-1000 CVE. |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Boa Vista Moto (Sal Rei) - Scooters for ~€30/day. |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Praia de Santa Monica (often cited as one of Africa's best beaches). |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
BestFly Cabo Verde (Inter-island travel). |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
TUI Fly, TAP Air Portugal, Neos Air. |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
Main paved road connects Sal Rei to the Airport and Rabil. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
None (No trains). Main Aluguer (shared van) stop in Sal Rei center. |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
No passes. Alugueres cost 50-150 CVE per trip. |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Ferries (CV Interilhas) to Sal or Santiago from Porto de Sal Rei. |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
Centro de Saúde de Sal Rei (Basic care). Serious cases require evacuation to Sal or Praia. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Spinguera Eco-Lodge (Remote retreats) or Bahia Beach Club yoga sessions. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Fitness Center Boa Vista (Sal Rei) - local gym with basic weights. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Lavandaria Sal Rei (Near the main square) - approx. 600 CVE per load. |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
None. Contact restaurants directly via WhatsApp for delivery. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Catchupa (Slow-cooked corn, beans, and fish/meat). |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Naida (Sal Rei) - offers vegetable couscous and fresh salads. |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Gelateria d'Abruzzo - Artisanal gelato in Sal Rei square. |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Mercado Municipal (Sal Rei) for fresh produce and fish. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Very limited locally. Most use freight forwarders from Portugal. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
None. Visit 'Meio Dia' supermarket in Sal Rei. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Sal Rei Beachfront (Bahia, Morabeza) and Blue Marlin. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Strela (Cape Verdean national beer) - available everywhere. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Wakan Bar - excellent sunset wine and cocktails on the beach. |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Grilled fish stalls near the pier (Porto de Sal Rei) - ~500 CVE. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Pizzeria Blu (Italian) - widely regarded as the best pizza on the island. |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Shipwreck of Cabo Santa Maria on the northern coast. |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Museu dos Naufrágos (Shipwreck Museum) in Sal Rei. |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Forte Duque de Bragança (Ruins on Ilhéu de Sal Rei). |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Igreja de Santa Isabel (The iconic blue and white church in Sal Rei). |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Santa Isabel Festival (July 4th) - massive street party/procession. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
The village of Rabil (known for traditional pottery). |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
No formal theater; cultural performances at large hotels. |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Mercado de Peixe (Fish Market) early morning at the pier. |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Live Morna and Coladeira music at 'Esplanada Silves' on weekends. |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Colorful murals around the Sal Rei town square depicting local life. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Usually organized on-request at local guesthouses like Migrante. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Centro de Artesanato in Rabil (Pottery and crafts). |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The Old Customs House on the Sal Rei waterfront. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
Traditional Pottery in Rabil which uses local red clay. |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Viana Desert (White sand dunes in the interior). |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
Tartaruga Nature Reserve (Critical nesting site for Loggerhead turtles). |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Coastal path from Sal Rei to Praia de Chaves (8km walk). |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Morro Negro Lighthouse (Easternmost point of Cape Verde). |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
Ribeira do Rabil (Lagoon area for migratory birds). |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Praia de Chaves (organized by beach bars only; permits required). |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
Correios de Cabo Verde (Post office in Sal Rei). |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Small repair shops in Sal Rei (highly informal; look for 'Reparação Telemóvel'). |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
None public; available in all-inclusive resorts like Iberostar. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
Private tutors for Portuguese or Kriolu found via local Facebook groups. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Public Library Sal Rei (minimal facilities). |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
Centro de Juventude (Youth Center) in Sal Rei. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
None. |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Casino Royal (located on Sal island; none on Boa Vista). |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING BOA VISTA