Cabo Verde Travel Health Guide: Vaccines, Risks & Safety Tips

Your Health Guide to Traveling in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde is one of those places that earns its reputation quietly. Ten volcanic islands scattered across the North Atlantic, just off the west coast of Africa, each one with its own personality, its own rhythm, and its own shade of blue water. Whether you are heading to the dunes of Boa Vista, the cobblestone streets of Santiago, or the surf breaks of Sal, this archipelago rewards the traveler who shows up prepared. And preparation, when it comes to your health, is the part most people leave too late.

This guide covers everything you need to know before you land: which vaccinations are worth discussing with a provider, what the tap water situation actually looks like, which illnesses have been flagging recently among people returning from specific islands, what the entry rules are for US citizens, and how to read the overall risk picture clearly without overcorrecting into anxiety. Cabo Verde is a genuinely accessible destination with a moderate health risk profile, and the steps you take before departure are straightforward once you know what they are.

WayPax is here to make sure you have the full picture before you go, and the right support if anything comes up while you are there.

At a Glance

Category	Details
Risk Level	Medium
Region	West Africa, North Atlantic Ocean (Macaronesia / Atlantic island West Africa)
Tap Water Safe	No. Drink sealed bottled water throughout your trip.
Vaccines Recommended	Yes. MMR, Hepatitis B, and routine boosters including tetanus. Yellow fever required only if arriving from a country with yellow fever transmission risk.
Visa Required for US Citizens	No visa required for stays of 30 days or less. Valid US passport required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need vaccines before traveling to Cabo Verde?

Yes, several vaccines are worth reviewing before your trip. The CDC recommends that all international travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before departure, and the MMR vaccine covers measles, mumps, and rubella together. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended for Cabo Verde according to the Canadian government travel advisory. If you are arriving from or transiting through a country where yellow fever circulates, Cabo Verde requires documented proof of yellow fever vaccination at the border.

Is tap water safe to drink in Cabo Verde?

Tap water in Cabo Verde is not reliably safe for visitors to drink. Stick to sealed bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth, and making ice, and be cautious with drinks served over ice at restaurants and bars, since that ice may have been made from tap water. According to Cabo Verde Islands travel information, boiling tap water can reduce risk if bottled water is unavailable, but bottled or reliably filtered water remains the safer default throughout the country.

Are there any health entry requirements for Cabo Verde?

The main health-related entry requirement applies to travelers arriving from or transiting through countries where yellow fever is present. In that case, Cabo Verde requires you to carry documentation of yellow fever vaccination, as confirmed by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. If you are flying directly from the United States, the CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccination for routine travel, and no yellow fever certificate is required for that route. Beyond this, there are no standing health screening requirements at the border for US citizens, though you should always check official sources close to your departure date.

What common illnesses do travelers get in Cabo Verde?

Gastrointestinal illness is the most common health problem travelers encounter in Cabo Verde. The CDC has flagged an increase in Shigella infections, a bacterial gut illness, among people returning specifically from Santa Maria and Boa Vista. Traveler's diarrhea more broadly is a risk tied to tap water and food hygiene across the islands. Hepatitis B, a liver infection spread through blood and certain bodily fluids, is also identified as a travel-relevant concern by the Canadian government's travel health guidance.

How good are medical facilities in Cabo Verde?

Medical facilities in Cabo Verde vary significantly across the archipelago. As an island nation, access to care depends heavily on which island you are on, and more remote islands tend to have limited resources compared to the main urban centers. For serious conditions, medical evacuation may be necessary. This is one reason having a clear plan before you travel, including real-time access to a medical professional if something goes wrong, matters more in a destination like this than it might in a country with a dense urban hospital network.

Do I need travel insurance for Cabo Verde?

Travel insurance is strongly worth considering for any trip to Cabo Verde. Because medical facilities vary by island and evacuation costs can be significant, a policy that covers emergency medical care and medical evacuation gives you a practical safety net. The US Department of State advises increased caution in some areas of Cabo Verde, which reinforces the case for having solid coverage in place before you go.

Get Your Personalized Travel Health Plan for Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde carries a current CDC notice about increased Shigella infections among travelers returning from Santa Maria and Boa Vista, and gastrointestinal illness is the most consistent health challenge across the islands. A licensed travel health provider, working from your specific itinerary and health history, can determine which preventive medications and vaccinations make sense for your trip before you leave home. Your Trip Kit is built around exactly that: your islands, your health, your timeline.

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Health Risks in Cabo Verde

Cabo Verde sits at a medium overall risk level. The most pressing current concern is a gastrointestinal bacterial illness linked to two specific islands, and the general tap water situation across the archipelago raises the baseline for gut-related risk throughout your trip.

Gastrointestinal Illness and Shigella

Shigella is a bacterial infection that attacks the lining of the intestines, causing severe diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramping. What makes this relevant right now is that the CDC has reported an increase in Shigella cases specifically among travelers returning from Santa Maria and Boa Vista. This is not a blanket island-wide alert, but if your itinerary includes either of those destinations, it is one of the most actionable pieces of health information available for Cabo Verde at this time. The primary transmission route is contaminated food and water, which means your choices around what you eat and drink directly shape your exposure. Stick to sealed bottled water, avoid raw or undercooked food from unknown sources, and wash hands thoroughly before eating. A personalized Trip Kit can include guidance on what to have on hand if symptoms develop while you are still on the island and far from a clinic.

Waterborne Illness

Beyond the Shigella alert, the tap water situation across Cabo Verde creates a broader gastrointestinal risk for any visitor. The country is an archipelago, and water supply infrastructure varies from island to island, which means the safety picture is not uniform. Some sources mention desalinated water in tourist areas, but the practical guidance from Cabo Verde Islands travel information is consistent: treat tap water as unsafe throughout the country and default to sealed bottled water. Ice made from tap water carries the same risk as drinking it directly. This is the kind of thing that catches people off guard on a beach holiday when they are relaxed and not thinking about it, so making it a habit from day one matters.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a virus that inflames the liver and spreads through contact with infected blood or certain bodily fluids, including through unprotected sexual contact or unsterilized medical equipment. It is identified as a travel-relevant risk for Cabo Verde by the Canadian government's travel health guidance. Vaccination is the most effective protection, and it requires a series of doses given over several weeks, so this is one to sort out well before departure rather than at the last minute. Trip Kit screens your vaccination history as part of the intake process and can flag whether you need this series or a booster before you travel.

Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk

Malaria is referenced in some travel health sources for Cabo Verde. However, the official CDC and WHO source materials available at the time of writing do not provide current risk details by island or season, and one widely circulated AI-generated claim that Cabo Verde achieved WHO malaria-free certification in 2024 is not corroborated by official sources reviewed here, as noted by Healthy Travel Australia. WayPax does not overstate malaria status without verified official confirmation. If mosquito-borne disease risk is a concern for your specific itinerary, a licensed travel health provider can review the most current data and determine whether any preventive medication is appropriate for your trip.

Island Geography and Health Access

Cabo Verde's nature as a ten-island archipelago in the North Atlantic shapes the health picture in a practical way that matters for your planning. Health services, pharmacy availability, and the quality of medical care all vary by island. The localized illness reports for Santa Maria and Boa Vista are a direct reflection of this: conditions on one island do not automatically apply to the next. If your itinerary spans multiple islands, it is worth thinking about each leg separately when assessing risk and making sure you have what you need before you move between them, rather than assuming you can resupply easily mid-trip.

Recommended Vaccinations for Cabo Verde

A handful of vaccines are relevant for Cabo Verde, and which ones apply to you depends on your current immunization history, your itinerary, and your individual health profile. Here is what the current guidance covers.

• MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella): Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air, and it remains a risk for international travelers anywhere in the world. The CDC advises that all international travelers be fully vaccinated before departure, including for Cabo Verde. If you received two doses as a child, you are likely covered, but it is worth confirming before you fly. Trip Kit reviews your vaccination history as part of its intake and flags any gaps so you are not left guessing.
• Hepatitis B: This vaccine protects against a liver infection spread through blood and certain bodily fluids. The Canadian government's travel health guidance specifically recommends it for Cabo Verde, as noted by the Government of Canada. The standard series requires multiple doses over several weeks, so start this conversation with a provider as early as possible before your trip. An accelerated schedule may be available if time is short.
• Yellow Fever (conditional): You do not need this vaccine if you are flying directly from the United States, and the CDC does not recommend it for routine travel to Cabo Verde. The requirement kicks in if your journey includes a stop in or transit through a country where yellow fever transmission is a known risk. In that case, Cabo Verde requires documented proof of vaccination at entry, confirmed by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Check your routing carefully.
• Tetanus and Routine Boosters: Being current on your basic immunizations, including a tetanus booster if you have not had one in the last ten years, is recommended for any international trip. Travel health sources including Travel Health Pro and Healthy Travel Switzerland both flag this for Cabo Verde. Tetanus enters the body through cuts and wounds, and an island holiday with outdoor activities carries enough exposure risk to make this worth checking before you go.

Your vaccine needs are personal. A travel health provider who can review your full immunization record and your specific Cabo Verde itinerary is the right person to make the final call on what you need and when to get it.

Tap Water and Food Safety in Cabo Verde

Tap water in Cabo Verde is not safe to drink. That is the starting point for every food and water decision you make on this trip.

Water Safety

The guidance from Cabo Verde Islands travel information is clear: use sealed bottled water for drinking throughout your stay. This applies whether you are in a tourist resort on Sal or a smaller guesthouse on a less-visited island. Some sources suggest desalinated water may be available in certain urban or resort areas, but the information across sources is inconsistent, and defaulting to bottled water eliminates the uncertainty entirely.

Ice is a specific watch point. Many travelers are careful about what they drink but forget about ice in cocktails, juices, or soft drinks. If you cannot confirm the ice was made from purified water, skip it. If bottled water is temporarily unavailable, boiling tap water for at least one minute is a fallback option, but it is not the preferred approach. Having rehydration salts in your Trip Kit is a smart backup if dehydration becomes an issue from avoiding beverages you are unsure about.

Food Safety

Cabo Verde has a food culture worth exploring, and you do not need to avoid local food to stay healthy. The practical rules are the same ones that apply across most destinations where water safety is a concern. Eat food that has been cooked and is served hot. Be cautious with raw salads, fresh-cut fruit from street stalls, and shellfish, since these are the categories most likely to carry contamination. Restaurants in established tourist areas generally maintain reasonable hygiene standards, but no setting is completely risk-free.

Peel your own fruit where possible, and wash your hands before eating, using bottled water if soap and running water are not available. The Shigella cases linked to Santa Maria and Boa Vista are a reminder that foodborne illness can happen even in well-visited tourist destinations, so these habits matter regardless of where on the islands you are eating.

Common Traveler Illnesses in Cabo Verde

Gastrointestinal illness is the most common health problem affecting visitors to Cabo Verde. The tap water situation and a current bacterial illness alert make gut health the central practical concern for most travelers.

Shigella Infection

Shigella is a bacterial infection that targets the intestines and causes diarrhea (often bloody), stomach cramps, and fever. What distinguishes it from ordinary traveler's diarrhea is that it tends to be more severe and is caused by a specific bacterium rather than general gut irritation. The CDC has flagged increased cases among travelers returning from Santa Maria and Boa Vista specifically. Prevention centers on strict food and water hygiene: sealed bottled water, hot cooked food, and thorough handwashing. If you develop symptoms that include bloody diarrhea or high fever while in Cabo Verde, seek medical attention rather than waiting it out. Having your Trip Kit in place before you go means a provider has already reviewed your itinerary and can support you remotely if you are unsure what to do next.

Traveler's Diarrhea

Traveler's diarrhea is the broader category of gastrointestinal upset caused by consuming contaminated food or water. It is extremely common among visitors to destinations where tap water is not reliably safe, and Cabo Verde fits that profile. Symptoms typically include loose or frequent stools, nausea, and stomach cramps, usually starting within a few days of exposure. Staying hydrated is the first priority if you are affected. Oral rehydration salts replace fluids and electrolytes lost through diarrhea and are one of the most useful things to carry with you. A well-prepared Trip Kit includes guidance on managing symptoms and, where a licensed travel health provider determines it is appropriate based on your health profile, may include medication to have on hand before symptoms escalate.

Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection that causes inflammation of the liver, and it can be transmitted through contact with infected blood, unprotected sexual contact, or medical or dental procedures performed with unsterilized equipment. It is identified as a travel-relevant concern for Cabo Verde by the Canadian government's travel health guidance. Unlike the gastrointestinal illnesses above, hepatitis B is not something you treat after exposure with over-the-counter remedies. Vaccination before travel is the most effective protection. If you are not already vaccinated and your trip is coming up soon, raise this with a provider immediately, as an accelerated schedule may still be possible depending on your timeline.

Visa Requirements for US Citizens Visiting Cabo Verde

US citizens do not need a visa to visit Cabo Verde for stays of 30 days or less. Your valid US passport is sufficient for entry, and no advance visa application is required for a standard tourist trip.

If you plan to stay longer than 30 days, you will need to obtain a Cabo Verdean visa. The US Department of State notes that single-entry visas are valid for 90 days and multiple-entry visas are valid for five years. Some non-government sources mention an electronic travel authorization and a fee for US passport holders, but since this information does not come from an official government source, you should verify any pre-arrival registration requirement directly with the US Embassy in Cabo Verde or the official Cabo Verde government before your departure date.

Entry requirements and any associated fees can change without much notice. Checking official sources within a few weeks of travel is always a good habit, particularly for any health-related documentation such as yellow fever vaccination certificates if your routing takes you through a country where yellow fever is present.

Quick Answers

I am planning a trip to Cabo Verde, what vaccines and health precautions should I sort out before I go?

Before traveling to Cabo Verde, confirm you are up to date on MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) and tetanus, as flagged by travel health sources including Travel Health Pro. Hepatitis B vaccination is also recommended, according to the Canadian government's travel health guidance. If your itinerary routes through a country where yellow fever is present, Cabo Verde requires documented proof of yellow fever vaccination at the border. Beyond vaccines, the most consistent precaution is avoiding tap water throughout the archipelago and sticking to sealed bottled water.

Can you tell me if it is safe to drink tap water and eat local food in Cabo Verde?

Tap water in Cabo Verde is not safe for visitors to drink. Cabo Verde Islands travel information recommends sealed bottled water for drinking throughout your stay, and caution around ice that may have been made from tap water. Local food is generally enjoyable and safe when it is hot and freshly cooked. Raw salads, unpeeled fruit from unknown sources, and shellfish carry a higher risk and are worth avoiding, particularly given the current Shigella alert linked to Santa Maria and Boa Vista flagged by the CDC.

I have a last minute trip to Cabo Verde, what health risks should I prioritize before departure?

With limited time, focus on three things. First, confirm your MMR vaccination is current, as the CDC recommends this for all international travelers. Second, be aware of the active Shigella alert for Santa Maria and Boa Vista and plan your food and water habits accordingly from the moment you land. Third, if your routing involves any transit through a yellow fever risk country, you will need documented proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter Cabo Verde, per the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. Hepatitis B vaccination requires a multi-dose series and may not be completable before a last-minute departure, so raise this with a provider who can advise on your options.

What should I know about medical care and pharmacies in Cabo Verde if I get sick while traveling?

Medical care in Cabo Verde varies considerably across the ten islands. Larger islands with established tourist infrastructure have more accessible facilities, but remote or smaller islands may have very limited options. For serious illness or injury, medical evacuation could be necessary, which makes travel insurance with evacuation coverage a practical consideration rather than an optional extra. Pharmacies exist in main towns but cannot be relied upon for consistent stock across all islands. The US Department of State advises increased caution in some areas, which reinforces the importance of having a plan in place before you need it rather than after.

Can you explain whether Cabo Verde has any visa related health requirements or proof of vaccination rules for entry?

Cabo Verde has one health-related entry requirement: travelers arriving from or transiting through countries where yellow fever transmission is a known risk must carry documented proof of yellow fever vaccination. This is confirmed by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. If you are flying directly from the United States without a stopover in a yellow fever risk country, the CDC does not recommend yellow fever vaccination for this trip, and no certificate is required for that route. For US citizens, no visa is needed for stays of 30 days or less, as confirmed by the US Embassy in Cabo Verde, and there are no standing health screening requirements beyond the yellow fever rule.

Everything Cabo Verde Needs, Packed Before You Leave

Cabo Verde's island geography means your access to medical care, pharmacies, and reliable health support shifts with every ferry or inter-island flight. Hepatitis B vaccination, routine immunization gaps, and the yellow fever documentation question for certain routings are all things best resolved at home, with a licensed travel health provider reviewing your full health history and itinerary to determine exactly what applies to you. Trip Kit handles the screening, the ordering, and the documentation so that when you board your flight, the preparation is already done.

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