Country guide · AfricaLocal SIM Cards in Cape Verde: Carriers, Plans & Prices (2026)
Tourist SIM cards in Cape Verde start at $7 from CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom). Buy at Sal Island (Amilcar Cabral Airport) or Santiago Island (Praia). CV Telecom kiosks at both airports.. Passport required for registration. For instant data without a store visit, a HelloRoam eSIM costs from $17.56 and activates in 2 minutes. See the comparison table below.
- Recommended
- HelloRoam eSIMfrom $17.56, instant activation
- Setup time
- Under 2 mininstall before your flight
- Physical SIM from
- $7 USDCV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom)
- Network
- 4G LTECV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom)
Cape Verde is an Atlantic archipelago of 10 islands 570 km off the west coast of Africa, historically an important Portuguese colonial hub and today a growing beach resort destination. The islands split into the Barlavento (windward) group in the north and Sotavento (leeward) group in the south. For mobile connectivity, the key variable is which island you are on. Sal. The main resort island with Santa Maria beach. And Santiago (capital Praia) have solid 4G from CV Telecom. Boa Vista is also reasonable. The hiking islands of Santo Antao and Sao Nicolau have coverage in towns but trail coverage drops quickly. Fogo's volcano has coverage to the base village of Cha das Caldeiras only. No passport registration is required.
Portuguese-speaking Atlantic island nation off West Africa. Two main carriers: CV Telecom and T+. No registration required. CVE currency pegged to Euro.
eSIM for Cape Verde: the fastest option
Travel eSIMs skip the physical SIM process entirely. Buy online, scan a QR code, and your phone connects to a local network. No passport check, no airport queue, no SIM ejector tool. Most travel eSIMs are data-only, so keep your home SIM active for calls and SMS.
Local CV Telecom SIM is the most reliable option for multi-island visitors. eSIM is fine for Sal or Santiago single-island stays.
HelloRoam Cape Verde eSIM: our tested pick
HelloRoam eSIM works on Cape Verde networks with pre-departure activation. Good for Sal resort visitors.
Affiliate link. Commissions never affect our rankings or editorial findings.
| Provider | Data | Validity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoamOur pick | 1 GB | 7 days | $17.56 |
| HelloRoam | 5 GB | 30 days | $15 |
eSIM provider comparison
| Provider | Price | Data | Validity | Activation | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HelloRoamTop rated | $17.56 | 1 GB | 7 days | Instant | 8.9/10 |
| HelloRoamTop rated | $15 | 5 GB | 30 days | Instant | 8.9/10 |
Scores based on activation speed, network coverage, support response time, and pricing across 14 countries. HelloRoam (8.9/10, 31/31 activations) is the top-rated provider. All provider links marked as affiliate.
See full eSIM guide for Cape Verde →
eSIM vs physical SIM card in Cape Verde
Here is how a HelloRoam eSIM compares to buying a local SIM card in Cape Verde across the factors that matter most to travelers.
| Feature | HelloRoam eSIM | Local SIM Card |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Under 2 minutes | 15-60 minutes |
| Available before travel | Yes, install up to 30 days early | No, buy on arrival |
| ID required | No | Yes, passport |
| Price from | $17.56 USD | $7 USD |
| Data included | 1 GB to unlimited | Varies by plan |
| Hotspot | Included | Included on most plans |
| Support | 24/7 English | Local language, business hours |
| Local phone number | No, data only | Yes, included |
| Voice calls | Data only, use WhatsApp/FaceTime | Included |
Best SIM cards for tourists in Cape Verde
Cape Verde has 3 providers offering tourist-friendly prepaid SIM cards. The table below ranks them by overall value for travelers, combining coverage, speed, price, and how easy they are to buy.
| Provider | Type | Network | Cheapest plan | Plans | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom)Top pick | major | 4G LTE | 1,200 CVE / $11 | 3 | Airport, Carrier Store |
| Unitel T+ (T+) | major | 4G LTE | 1,100 CVE / $10 | 2 | Carrier Store, Supermarket |
| Fogo Telecom | mvno | 4G LTE | 800 CVE / $7 | 1 | Carrier Store |
SIM card plans compared
Below are every available tourist plan across all providers in Cape Verde, sorted by price. Prices are quoted in local currency where available, with USD equivalents.
CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom)
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity | Calls | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourist 5GBBest value | 5 GB | 1,200 CVE | 15 days | 60 min local | 60 SMS |
| Tourist 10GB | 10 GB | 2,000 CVE | 30 days | 100 min local | 100 SMS |
| Tourist Unlimited | Unlimited | 3,000 CVE | 30 days | Unlimited local | Unlimited |
Unitel T+ (T+)
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity | Calls | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepaid 5GBBest value | 5 GB | 1,100 CVE | 30 days | 50 min | 50 SMS |
| Prepaid 10GB | 10 GB | 1,900 CVE | 30 days | 100 min | 100 SMS |
Fogo Telecom
| Plan | Data | Price | Validity | Calls | SMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic 2GBBest value | 2 GB | 800 CVE | 30 days | 30 min | 30 SMS |
Where to buy a SIM card in Cape Verde
The best place to buy is Sal Island (Amilcar Cabral Airport) or Santiago Island (Praia). CV Telecom kiosks at both airports.. Here is what each channel offers and what to expect.
Airport
Airport counters are the most convenient option on arrival day. Staff speak enough English to handle registration, and you leave the terminal already connected. Expect a small premium (5–15%) over city prices and possible queues after large arrivals.
Carrier Store
Official carrier stores carry every plan, can troubleshoot activation on the spot, and have English-speaking staff in tourist-heavy areas. Prices match the carrier website.
Supermarket
Large supermarkets carry prepaid SIM starter packs in the electronics aisle. No-frills packaging, but prices are fair and no registration delay if no ID is required.
Buying experience
Both Amilcar Cabral Airport on Sal and Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia on Santiago have CV Telecom kiosks in the arrivals area. The process is fast and requires no ID. Choose your plan, pay in CVE (or sometimes card), SIM goes in, and you are online. Staff speak Portuguese and basic English. In Santa Maria (the main Sal resort town), there is a CV Telecom store on Rua 1 de Junho near the beach promenade. Supermarkets including Minipreco sell T+ SIM cards in pre-packaged form. For multi-island travelers, buy at whichever airport you arrive at. The SIM works on all islands where CV Telecom has coverage.
Coverage & network in Cape Verde
Cape Verde operates on 4G LTE networks. Coverage quality varies by provider and region.
Coverage Map for Cape Verde
Visit each carrier's website for their interactive coverage map
CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom)
major carrier
Urban
Strong
Rural
Moderate
Unitel T+ (T+)
major carrier
Urban
Good
Rural
Patchy
Fogo Telecom
mvno carrier
Urban
Moderate
Rural
Weak
CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom) leads on overall coverage with a rating of 4/5 for reach and 4/5 for speed. In cities, all providers perform similarly. Differences become clear in rural areas, along coastal routes, and on islands where network investment varies.
Real-world connectivity
Sal Island (Santa Maria, Espargos, airport corridor) has 4G at 15-40 Mbps from CV Telecom. Santiago (Praia city) has strong coverage including the Plateau historic area. Boa Vista (Santa Monica area and Sal Rei) has 4G on the main resort strip. Sao Vicente (Mindelo, the culture and music island) has decent coverage in the city. Santo Antao has 4G in Porto Novo port town and Ribeira Grande but trails to Cova crater and through the deep valleys lose signal. Fogo's Pico do Fogo volcano trail has signal to about 1,500 meters. The inter-island ferry routes lose signal mid-passage between all island pairs.
Our verdict on SIM cards in Cape Verde
Best for: Sal and Santa Maria beach tourists, Boa Vista resort visitors, Praia and Santiago cultural visitors, Hikers on Santo Antao (with offline map prep).
Better organized SIM infrastructure than mainland West African neighbors. Similar island coverage challenges to Sao Tome and Cape Verde archipelagos.
Activation & registration
Check your phone is unlocked
Your device must be carrier-unlocked to accept a Cape Verde SIM. Check Settings or contact your home carrier before you leave.
Choose a plan before you buy
Decide on data volume and validity period. A 7-day plan suits short trips; 30-day plans are better value for longer stays.
Bring your passport
Registration is mandatory. The vendor scans your passport ID page and enters details into a government portal. Keep your passport accessible.
Insert and configure
Insert the nano-SIM using the ejector tool. Go to Settings > Mobile Data and confirm data roaming is on for the travel line. Run a speed test to confirm you are connected.
Tips for travelers in Cape Verde
Cape Verde is an archipelago. Coverage varies by island. Sal and Santiago have the best 4G.
CV Telecom has the widest inter-island coverage. Buy at the airport on Sal or Santiago.
No passport registration required for tourist prepaid SIM cards. Buy and go.
Boa Vista has decent CV Telecom 4G in the main resort areas. Remote interior has weaker signal.
Fogo Island (volcano) has coverage in Sao Filipe town but limited signal on volcano hiking routes.
Santo Antao (hiking island) has coverage in Porto Novo and Ribeira Grande but trail coverage is patchy.
Wi-Fi in most beach hotels and resort complexes covers basic needs for short stays.
Currency is Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), pegged to the Euro. 100 CVE is roughly $1 USD.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming coverage on all islands matches Sal. Remote islands like Brava and Santo Antao have very limited signal.
Buying Fogo Telecom instead of CV Telecom. Much more limited coverage.
Not downloading offline maps before inter-island travel. Coverage is inconsistent on ferry routes.
Expecting eSIM to work reliably on smaller islands. Local SIM is more dependable.
Frequently asked questions
Which carrier is best in Cape Verde?
CV Telecom has the widest coverage across all islands. Available at Sal Airport and Praia. Plans start at 1,200 CVE ($11 USD) for 5 GB over 15 days.
Is there 4G on Sal Island?
Yes. Sal Island (main resort island) has good 4G from CV Telecom in Santa Maria beach area, Espargos, and the airport zone. Speeds of 15-30 Mbps are typical.
Do I need to register a SIM in Cape Verde?
No. Tourist prepaid SIM cards in Cape Verde do not require passport registration. Purchase immediately and use without formalities.
Is there mobile coverage on the hiking island of Santo Antao?
Limited. Porto Novo and Ribeira Grande towns have coverage. The famous Ribeira das Pombas and Paul Valley hiking trails have patchy signal that drops on ridgelines.
How much does a SIM card cost in Cape Verde?
CV Telecom tourist plans start at 1,200 CVE ($11 USD) for 5 GB over 15 days. Unlimited plans cost 3,000 CVE ($27 USD). T+ is slightly cheaper.
Is there coverage on Fogo Island?
Yes in Sao Filipe town from CV Telecom. The Pico do Fogo volcano hiking route has coverage at the lower trailhead near Cha das Caldeiras but loses signal on the upper cone.
Can I use my EU SIM in Cape Verde?
Cape Verde is not in the EU. EU roaming rules do not apply. EU SIM cards will incur international roaming charges. Buy a local CV Telecom SIM for best value.
Where can I buy a SIM card on Sal Island?
CV Telecom kiosk at Amilcar Cabral International Airport arrivals. Also available at supermarkets in Santa Maria and carrier stores in Espargos. No registration required.
Which eSIM provider is best for Cape Verde?
HelloRoam is our top-rated eSIM for Cape Verde (8.9/10). It connects to CV Telecom and activates in under 2 minutes with no passport required. Airalo and Holafly also offer Cape Verde coverage.
Which eSIM is best for Cape Verde?
HelloRoam connects to Cape Verde's 4G LTE network and plans start at $17.56 for 1 GB over 7 days. It works well for travelers who want data active before landing. Airalo offers a wider range of plan sizes at competitive prices. Holafly is worth considering if you want unlimited data and do not mind a higher daily cost.
Should I buy a SIM card or eSIM for Cape Verde?
Local CV Telecom SIM is the most reliable option for multi-island visitors. eSIM is fine for Sal or Santiago single-island stays. A local SIM from CV Telecom (Cape Verde Telecom) starts at $7 and requires passport registration. Choose eSIM if your phone supports it and you value convenience. Choose a local SIM if you need a local phone number or plan to stay longer than two weeks.
Helpful guides
- eSIM vs Local SIM: Which to Choose
- eSIM Setup Guide (iPhone and Android)
- SIM Registration Requirements
- Best SIM Cards by Region
SIM card guides for nearby countries
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