Sao Vicente Carnival Package

Take a short break from your beach holiday in Sal and experience the explosion of colour, music, dancing and festivities which make up Cape Verde’s most famous Carnival.

Our Guest’s Opinion

“The experience of the carnival was fantastic to see - so many local people coming together with hundreds of dancers, exotic costumes and huge floats, not to mention the samba music and singers.”

- Mrs Coleman, customer

Held 40 days before Easter on the island of São Vicente, this event really highlights what the island is known for – music! The streets and main square of Mindelo come alive with large floats and processions of glamorous dancers in Mardi Gras costumes, each competing to be the best. The atmosphere which takes hold of the town before and during the São Vicente Carnival is truly infectious, and locals can often be seen practicing and perfecting their dance routines and costumes in preparation.

When Carnival takes hold, the music and dancing often goes on until the early hours, so this is an experience best suited to those who are ready to embrace the festivities and get stuck in to local culture and celebrations!

Staying at the Oasis Porto Grande Hotel (please call for alternative properties) means you’re in a great position to get involved with the Carnival celebrations, right on top of the main processions and in the heart of it all! You might want to upgrade your room to the 'Square facing' rooms if they are available, which means you will be able to enjoying great views from your balcony - just remember that the noise comes with the view!

This package offers five nights on São Vicente. To make the most of the experience, we’ve included some wonderful tours in the price, to allow you really make the most of the time you have on the island…

Day trip and tour of Santo Antão
With beautiful green peaks, jaw-dropping ravines and impressive cliff-hanging towns, just an hour’s ferry ride away is Santo Antão. As part of this Carnival package, you’ll enjoy a full day’s tour of the island, weaving amongst the mountains, visiting a local liqueur distillery and towns such as Ribeira Grande, clinging to the edge of mountains. Be sure to bring your camera, the landscape here is phenomenal.

Mindelo by night
You’ll also get an evening to explore Mindelo, where we’ll show you around and take to you a typical restaurant where you can enjoy live music and an inclusive evening meal.

Half-day tour of São Vicente
Your half-day tour of the island will involve a drive 750m up to Monte Verde (meaning green mountain), the island’s tallest mountain. From here, the panoramic views across Mindelo and beyond are breathtaking. You’ll visit some of the island’s most dramatic and varying coastline, as well as passing fishing villages and markets.

Good to know

Parties are held in Oasis Porto Grande hotel before, during and after the Carnival. These parties are open to guests and the general public and take place on the terrace, involving lights and music playing until the early hours of the morning. Tickets to these parties normally go on sale two weeks before Carnival and prices released at that time.
Monday evening is the parade of the School of Samba Tropical, which ends at Oasis Porto Grande hotel. If you wish, you can pre-book your evening meal at the Lobby Bar in advance (tickets normally on sale two weeks in advance,
Tuesday (main Carnival day). Locate a space early to secure the best view of the main parade.
Guests staying at Oasis Porto Grande usually have free access to one side of the terrace at the front of the hotel in order to watch the parades. The terrace will be very busy during these times, as is the whole of Mindelo during Carnival time.

This five-night add on package is not bookable online, however please contact our experienced sales team, who will be able to tailor make your holiday to include this wonderful once a year experience.

lntroduction

This Carnival Package on the island of São Vicente is a five-night add-on package to your main holiday in Sal. Flights are provided by Inter-island flights.

Tour dates

1st March 2025 - Now Full

13th February 2026

A 5-night add on - from Sal and returns to Sal.

What's included

Return flights from Sal to São Vicente
Experienced and reliable resort team on hand to help
Digital Cape Verde destination guide
5 nights' hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast
Return airport transfers
Return transfers between hotel and ferry port
Return ferry to Santo Antão
Guided full-day tour of Santo Antão, including lunch
Guided evening excursion ‘Mindelo by Night’ including evening meal
Guided half-day tour of São Vicente

What's not included

International flights from the UK
Accommodation on the island of Sal
Meals not stated in the trip notes
Drinks
Travel insurance
Single and upgrade supplements

Accommodation

Five nights' bed and breakfast staying at Oasis Porto Grande Hotel.

We have chosen Oasis Porto Grande Hotel for this four-night holiday add-on package so that you are based in the centre of the festivities. During the carnival, the atmosphere is buzzing, and the partying in the street is something not to be missed. Being based in Mindelo, the hotel will be much noisier than at other times.

Please note: The room type included is a standard room which are situated at the rear of the hotel. Rooms available at the front of the hotel (square facing rooms) are on request, at a supplement. Please discuss this at the time of booking with our team.

If you would like a quieter hotel option, please contact a member of our specialist team.

Tour Map

São Vicente Carnival Package