Flights to Sao Vicente Airport (VXE)

Discover Sao Vicente

The Cape Verde Islands are an idyllic and beautiful archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean about 350 miles west of West Africa. With beautiful weather and rich cultural heritage, these islands are becoming the up and coming hot spot for seasoned travelers. If your destination is the island of Sao Vicente, your best way to get there are flights to Sao Vicente airport (VXE).

Facilities at Sao Vicente Airport

While most of the islands have airports, if your destination is the island of Sao Vicente, the only option is a flight to the Sao Vicente airport, also known as the Cesaria Evora Airport, named after the popular singer. No United States carriers fly there, so the best options for cheap flights to Sao Vicente airport (VXE) are limited. Choices include Smart Lynx Airlines to Paris, TACV to Paris and Lisbon, TAP Portugal to Lisbon, seasonal flights to Amsterdam, and a few other carriers.

The airport is less than a 15-minute drive from downtown Mindelo, the largest city on Sao Vicente. From there, ferry travel connects to other islands. The average cost of a taxi is $10.

Things to Do Near Sao Vicente Airport

For outdoor explorers, Monte Verde is the highest peak and offers a view of both the entire island and neighboring ones. Beaches are plentiful, and Sao Pedro beach is a popular spot for windsurfing. Beaches on the bay side are safer for children as the surf is usually calmer than beaches on the open ocean. Diving is also a popular option as the local habitat features manta rays, sharks and turtles. Deep sea fishermen have multiple options to get their catch.

The capital city of Mindelo, less than 10 miles from the airport, is rich in culture, nightlife and cuisine. The Centro Cultural do Mindelo has a number of options from a place for exhibitions, a bookstore, a gift shop and a wide variety of film screenings and lectures. The Museu de Arte Tradicional houses exhibitions of ceramics, pano weaving, tapestries and musical instruments. Nearby is the small village of Calhau, which is known for its colorful houses.

Travel Tips for Sao Vicente Airport

Book cheap flights to the Sao Vicente airport (VXE) to catch the two biggest festivals in Sao Vicente; the Carnival in February, which is similar to the Brazilian version, and the Baía das Gatas Music Festival, which takes place during the full moon in August.

There are a wide variety of culinary options in Mindelo, including Italian, French, Portuguese, Greek, Cajun and Creole. Fresh fish is available almost everywhere. The Cape Verdean specialty is cachupa, a stew of corn, vegetables, beans, spices and marinated tuna or pork.

Weather is milder than mainland Africa, and the islands see sunshine 350 days a year. When rain does fall, it usually happens in October. The winds are strongest between January and April. Combine that with cool breezes, and almost any time is a good time to visit Sao Vicente or any of the islands of Capo Verde.