Cape Verde
Why Film in Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is a uniquely versatile Atlantic-island destination, combining desert dunes, turquoise lagoons, a live volcano and vibrant Creole culture within a compact, safe and sunny archipelago — a strong, affordable alternative to more crowded island locations.
- Year-round sunshine and dependable, stable weather
- Sahara-style dunes, white beaches and turquoise lagoons on Sal and Boa Vista
- Dramatic volcanic mountains and valleys on Santo Antão and Fogo
- Colourful Creole port towns and colonial architecture
- Safe, politically stable and welcoming, with good beach-resort infrastructure
- Strong for tourism, fashion, watersports, travel and lifestyle productions
- Kitesurf, windsurf and marine filming options
- Good air access from Europe and West Africa
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Capital City
Praia (on Santiago Island)
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Main Cities
Praia, Mindelo, Espargos, Santa Maria and Assomada
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Main Production Hubs
Sal, Boa Vista, Praia (Santiago) and Mindelo (São Vicente)
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Languages
Portuguese (official) and Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu)
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Currency
Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
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Climate
Mild, dry tropical/Atlantic — warm and sunny year-round, often breezy
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Weather
Cape Verde enjoys a mild tropical climate with warm temperatures throughout the year. The dry season runs from November to June, making it the best period for filming. While the country experiences some wind, rainfall is minimal, with September being the wettest month.
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Best Time to Shoot
Year-round (driest and calmest November to June)
Production Services
Our Cape Verde production services include:
- Local Producers
- Film Fixers
- Production Management
- Film, Video & Stills Crew
- Camera Equipment
- Lighting & Grip
- Drone Operators
- Location Scouting
- Film Permits
- Casting
- Transport & Logistics
- Crew & Cast Accommodation
- Security
- Catering
Crew & Equipment
Cape Verde suits tourism, fashion, travel, watersports, music video and still photography productions, with local fixers and production support based on the main islands.
A local base crew of producers, fixers, production assistants and location and logistics support is available. Most senior technical crew and specialist equipment are brought in from Europe (often via Lisbon) or from South Africa when required.
Basic grip and lighting can be arranged locally, but productions should plan to fly in camera, drone and specialist packages, along with any large lighting requirements.
Top Filming Locations
Cape Verde offers a range of visually stunning locations, from vibrant coastal towns to dramatic volcanic landscapes. Whether you’re seeking pristine beaches, historic colonial architecture, or unique island settings, the country has diverse filming opportunities.
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Santiago Island
Home to the capital, Praia, Santiago Island features historic colonial architecture, bustling markets, and stunning coastal views.
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Sal Island
A top choice for beach productions, Sal offers turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and unique salt flats.
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Fogo Island
Known for its dramatic volcanic landscapes, including the active Pico do Fogo volcano, this island provides a striking backdrop for adventurous productions.
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São Vicente
A cultural hub with a rich musical heritage, colorful colonial streets, and stunning seaside locations.
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Boa Vista
Famous for its vast sand dunes and pristine beaches, Boa Vista is ideal for desert-like scenery and serene coastal shots.
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Santa Maria Beach & Pier, Sal
Classic white-sand beach, turquoise water and fishing pier
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Pedra de Lume Salt Crater, Sal
Salt pans inside a volcanic crater, ideal for surreal visuals
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Buracona & the Blue Eye, Sal
Volcanic rock pools and a glowing natural blue grotto
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Viana Desert, Boa Vista
Rolling Sahara-style dunes and mirages
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Santa Monica Beach, Boa Vista
One of Africa's longest, emptiest white beaches
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Cabo Santa Maria Shipwreck, Boa Vista
Rusted wreck on a wild, windswept shore
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Sal Rei, Boa Vista
Colourful Creole town, square and harbour
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Cidade Velha, Santiago
UNESCO World Heritage site and the oldest colonial town in the tropics
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Praia Plateau (Platô), Santiago
Historic clifftop city centre and market streets
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Tarrafal Beach, Santiago
Palm-fringed cove and fishing village
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Serra Malagueta, Santiago
Green mountain ridges and hiking country
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Mindelo, São Vicente
Vibrant, musical port town with painted colonial buildings
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Monte Verde, São Vicente
High viewpoint over Mindelo and the sea
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Cova Crater & Paul Valley, Santo Antão
Volcanic crater and lush terraced valley
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Fontainhas, Santo Antão
Cliffside village perched over a dramatic gorge
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Pico do Fogo, Fogo
Cape Verde's active volcano cone
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Chã das Caldeiras, Fogo
Vineyards and black-lava fields inside the caldera
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Kite Beach, Sal
World-class kite and windsurfing action
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São Nicolau mountains
Remote peaks and quiet Creole villages
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Island salt flats & lunar landscapes
Stark, minimalist backdrops across Sal and Maio
Best Time to Shoot
- November to June — Driest, sunniest and calmest conditions, ideal for beach and exterior work
- July to October — Warmer and slightly more humid, with occasional short rains, mainly on the greener islands
- Trade winds are strongest from December to March — excellent for kitesurf and watersports filming, worth planning around for dialogue and drone work
- Cape Verde offers usable production conditions all year thanks to its dry, sunny Atlantic climate
Visa Requirements
Most international visitors are visa-exempt for stays up to 90 days but must complete an online declaration before arrival via the EASE form. An airport security fee must also be paid.
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Required Documentation
Valid passport, Passport photo of each crew member, Completed EASE form, Production company profile on company letterhead, Synopsis of the shoot/filming, Detailed list of equipment entering Cape Verde (including serial numbers)
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Cost
$40 (subject to change)
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Timings
Visa applications are processed immediately.
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Additional Requirements
Vaccination card & Yellow Fever certificate
International Crew Accreditation
International crew accreditation is not required in Cape Verde. Only a film permit and passport copies of each crew member are necessary.
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Required Documentation
Film permit, Passport copies of each crew member
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Timings
No specific processing time is required.
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Cost
No associated cost.
General Film Permit
A film permit is required for any production and is issued by the Department of the Ministry of Culture. The process typically takes 15 to 20 working days, so early application is advised.
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Permit Issuance
Department of the Ministry of Culture
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Timings
Allow 15-20 working days for processing.
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Required Documentation
Letter to DGCS (Direção Geral da Comunicação Social) detailing the filming purpose, locations, and dates, Passport copies of each crew member, Equipment list with serial numbers
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Cost
$270 to $550 (subject to change)
Drone Filming
Commercial drone filming requires authorisation from the Cape Verde Civil Aviation Agency (AAC) and should be arranged in advance, particularly near airports, towns and protected areas. Bringing drones through customs may require declaration.
Equipment Customs Clearance
Cape Verde is not a Carnet country, meaning a Temporary Import Permit is required for equipment.
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Clearance Process
A permit or guarantee must be obtained from customs, typically with the assistance of a clearing agent or local contact.
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Required Documentation
Letter to DGCS detailing the filming purpose, locations, and dates, Passport copies of each crew member, Detailed equipment list (including serial numbers)
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Issuing Organization
Department of the Ministry & Culture
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Timings
15-20 business days
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Cost
20% of the equipment’s value
Safety and Security
Cape Verde is safe and politically stable with good resort infrastructure on Sal and Boa Vista. Medical facilities are more limited on the smaller islands, so evacuation and logistics for remote-island shoots should be planned in advance. Sun, wind and marine conditions should be factored into scheduling.
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Type of Security Required
Security arrangements should be coordinated through the Ministry of Culture & Ministry of the Interior, particularly when filming in rural or sensitive areas. Additional private security may be necessary depending on the production’s needs.
Rebates & Incentives
Cape Verde offers a film and audiovisual production incentive for qualifying projects that meet minimum local-spend thresholds:
- Advertising productions: approximately USD 40,000 minimum spend
- Documentaries: approximately USD 100,000 minimum spend
- Series: approximately USD 150,000 minimum spend
- Feature fiction: approximately USD 400,000 minimum spend
As terms and percentages can change, African Fixer will confirm the latest incentive rules, eligibility criteria, application steps and any VAT or duty reliefs during production planning, and manage the documentation on your behalf.
Luxury Resort & Hotel Options
Cape Verde’s beach resorts on Sal and Boa Vista are strong for travel, tourism, fashion and lifestyle productions. Access for filming is subject to approval, availability and brand permissions.
- Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort — Modern beachfront resort on Sal
- Meliá Dunas Beach Resort & Spa, Sal — Large landscaped resort and pools
- Meliá Llana Beach Resort, Sal — Adults-focused premium beach resort
- Hotel Morabeza, Santa Maria — Classic, long-established Sal beach hotel
- Oasis Salinas Sea, Sal — Stylish seafront resort near the salt flats
- Riu Palace Boavista — Large all-inclusive resort on Boa Vista’s dunes
- Iberostar Club Boa Vista — Beachfront resort with desert backdrops
- Hotel Oasis Praiamar, Praia — City beach hotel on Santiago
Crew & Cast Accommodation
Cast and crew accommodation is concentrated on Sal and Boa Vista (resorts) and in Praia and Mindelo (city hotels). We arrange group bookings, transfers and inter-island flights or ferries to match the schedule.
Luxury — Talent, Directors & Key Clients
Hilton Cabo Verde Sal / Meliá Llana — Premium beachfront for talent and clients.
Riu Palace Boavista — Upscale all-inclusive on Boa Vista.
Mid-Range — Main Crew & Production Team
Hotel Morabeza & Oasis Salinas Sea, Sal — Comfortable, central beach hotels for crew.
Pestana Trópico & Hotel Oasis Praiamar, Praia — Reliable city-hotel bases on Santiago.
Oasis Porto Grande, Mindelo — Central hotel for São Vicente shoots.
Budget — Extended Crew & Longer Shoots
Santa Maria guesthouses & aparthotels, Sal — Value, walkable options for larger crews.
Serviced apartments and villas — Flexible self-catering for longer or bigger teams.
Accommodation availability and rates vary by season and should be booked well in advance. African Fixer manages crew and cast bookings, transfers and per-location logistics as part of production support.
Did you know?
Cape Verde packs Sahara-style dunes, white tropical beaches, an active volcano, lush terraced valleys and colourful Creole port towns into a single compact archipelago — so productions can shoot several completely different looks within a short inter-island hop.
PRO TIP:
Plan around the trade winds: December to March delivers spectacular kitesurf and watersports action but strong afternoon wind, so schedule dialogue, drone and calm-water shots for mornings and the calmer months.
PEDRO — CABO VERDE (Cape Verde)
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