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Mindelo Carnival, Cape Verde

Los diferentes espectáculos se desarrollan durante el desfile del carnaval de Ciudad del Cabo
Cape Town Carnival, South Africa
Durante el carnaval de Limón se proclaman las reinas del carnaval
Limón Carnival, Costa Rica

 

What is the Carnival of Mindelo?

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Mindelo Carnival is one of the most important celebrations for Caboverdians. Carnivals are celebrated with large allegorical floats, extravagant costumes full of colors, lots of dancing and music. These carnivals are lived in style and have nothing to envy to those of Brazil or Trinidad and Tobago.

During carnival celebrations,the streets come alive with the hundreds of participants in festive costumes, wishing to be the winners of the night and get the first place prize. The competition is tough, as everyone wants to be the winners of the night, that is why the groups practice their choreographies for several months and when the carnival arrives, they show the fruit of their work while dancing to the rhythm of the drums, wearing masks and colorful costumes..

 

 

The festivities come alive 40 days before Easter, starting the celebrations among the streets filling them with color and African rhythms. During the weekend, different parades are held and watched by the multitude of people who attend every year in the city of Mindelo. The festivities reach their climax during Shrove Tuesday which is when the competition of groups is held, this being the last day of the celebration. The groups give everything they have to achieve to be crowned the winners of the carnival.

 

During the Mindelo carnival parades, participants wear flashy costumes

During the Mindelo carnival parades, participants wear flashy costumes

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When is Mindelo Carnival

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Carnival is celebrated 40 days before Lent. Lthe carnivals will take place approximately on February 14, flooding the streets with costumes, colors and music..

 

 

 

 

History of the Mindelo Carnival

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Mindelo carnivals have been held on theisland of São Vicente, whose capital is Mindelo. These traditions began to be celebrated since the 18th century, inspired by the festivities brought by the Portuguese colonizers. However, at that time, carnivals were limited only to white and free men. In addition, the festivities revolved around various feasts and games.



Today, the Mindelo Carnival is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year, attracting thousands of people from all parts of the country and the region. Hundreds of participants take part in parades and events to showcase the rich traditions that Cabo Verde has to offer.

 

Where is the Mindelo Carnival

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The Mindelo carnivals are celebrated in thecoastal city of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente.

 

Competition in the Mindelo carnival parade is fierce and participants give their best to win

Competition in the Mindelo carnival parade is fierce and participants give their best to win

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How the Mindelo Carnival is celebrated

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Mindelo carnival is celebrated with lots of color, parades with loud music, costumes of various colors, masks and of course, dance competitions. Midelo carnivals are the perfect opportunity to let imagination, creativity and free spirit flow. That is why during the events you can access different traditional music concerts and food stalls that are located along the main streets of the city.

Likewise, the city holds different minor events and smaller parades that you can also attend. However, the dance competition is the most anticipated event, as the participants prepare for several months, practicing the choreographies in order to win the competitions and take the prize home. This event is one of the most important, as the competition is fierce among the different groups.

 

Tips for going to the Mindelo Carnival

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If you want to attend the Mindelo Carnival, try to book and plan your trip in advance. Talk to the different travel agents to create an itinerary and book your accommodation so that you can get the most out of the carnival.

If you want to know more about tourism in this country, I recommend this guide:

 

Events in Mindelo Carnival

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During these celebrations, there are some events happening simultaneously. However, the main event is the parade that takes place in the main streets of the city. At the Mindelo carnival you can find differentmusical groups that play traditional Cape Verdean music. There are also small dance and Latin music groups that perform until dawn.

 

 

Shrove Tuesday is when the dance competition takes place, where participants fight hard to come in first place and take home the prize. On the last day of carnival, what is known as “Mandinga” is a celebration that commemorates the end of the festivities. During this celebration, participants paint themselves black, honoring and commemorating theirwarrior ancestors.

 

The mandinga is the ceremony of the Mindelo carnivals that pays homage to the warrior ancestors

The mandinga is the ceremony of the Mindelo carnivals that pays homage to the warrior ancestors

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Mindelo Carnival Parades

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The parades formally begin onFriday night, when the different groups take to the main street of the city with large trucks adorned with flowers and speakers with music blaring. During that weekend there are different parades where different organizations and groupings fill the streets for incredible artistic presentations.

 

Parade route

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The Mindelo carnival parades are the result of months of practice

The Mindelos carnival parades are the result of months of practice

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The main parade of the carnival takes the main streets of the city, one of them is the important Rua d’Lisboa street.

 

Arroz de cabidela de marisco а dadal is a typical dish served during Mindelo carnivals

Arroz de cabidela de marisco а dadal is a typical dish served during Mindelo carnivals

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What to eat at the Mindelo Carnival[/h2>.

During the carnivals there are different food stalls that you can visit to learn a little more about Capeverdian gastronomy. Some of the typical dishes you can find is the Guisado de percebes which consists of some crustaceans called barnacles in a simple stew of onion and parsley. Another dish is the Arroz de cabidela de marisco а dadal which consists of rice with stewed seafood.

Some of the local eateries in town are Casa Café Mindelo, La Pergola and Taverna which offer national and international dishes at different prices.

 

Barnacles are a typical dish of the island consumed during carnivals

Barnacles are a typical dish of the island consumed during carnivals

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Travel Insurance

 

From Carnavalesdelmundo.org we recommend to hire a good insurance to visit this carnival and to know the rest of the country. For being our readers we offer a 5% discount on all IATI insurances. Read more information about all insurance offers here:

 

 

What to see and do inside the Mindelo Carnival

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During the carnivals you can see the festival of colors, music and dance that the locals have to offer you. You canattend the different events and minor parades that occur simultaneously in the various sectors of the city. Likewise, you can take a stroll around the different food stalls located along the main thoroughfares during Carnival, attend the live concerts and of course, go to the dance competition held on Carnival Tuesday.

If you don’t want to complicate things, here you can book interesting excursions in Spanish in this city:.

Guided tours in Spanish around the world

 

What to see and do outside the Mindelo Carnival

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Mindelo is a colorful city full of things to see among its alleys and streets. If you want to tour the city and discover all it has to offer, you can take part in the various guided tours offered by companies in the city. Some of these tours comprise itineraries that will allow you to access the different areas of the island. Some of these activities include climbing, surfing, and city tours, yoga, scuba diving and boat rides around the island of Sao Vicente..

Also if you want to visit museums and important buildings in this city we recommend that you book your entrance ticket in advance through Tiquets:.

Book tickets in the city you are visiting

 

Safety at the Mindelo Carnival

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The city of Mindelo is a safe place, although it is recommended not to go out on the streets during the night, as there have been cases of robberies in some neighborhoods of the city. Remember to always observe and be aware of your surroundings and keep your documents and belongings at hand. You can also contact the institutions in charge of security on the island for any other advice regarding your visits to the city and the island. Also, we recommend the following products to keep your belongings safe:

 

 

Weather at Mindelo Carnival

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The weather during Carnival is pleasant, as the average temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius, which will allow you to carry out your activities and participate in the different events without any worries.

 

The groups sing and dance during the parades of the Mindelo carnivals

The groups sing and dance during the parades of the Mindelo carnivals

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How to get to Mindelo Carnival

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How to get there by plane

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The closest airport to Mindelo is Cesária Évora International Airport, 11 kilometers from where the carnival is held. From the airport you can use the different means to move to the center of the city where the carnival will take place.

We recommend buying airline tickets through Kiwi.com or Skyscanner where they are usually cheaper. More information on this link to review Kiwi.com..

 

How to get there by car

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You can take the main road to thecity of Mindelo. The drive takes about 11 minutes and you can use a private vehicle or take a cab from the airport. The cost of the cab can vary between 3 and 5 dollars per trip.

 

Where to stay in Mindelo Carnival

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Booking.com

 

Blue Marlin Hotel

4-star hotel 600 meters from the city center. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool, bar, pool table area and restaurant with room service. It is 300 meters from Praia Da Laginha beach. Facilities include free internet and buffet style breakfast. The hotel offers bicycle and car rental. Each room is comfortably furnished and has a private bathroom with various toiletries.

 

Flag Hotel Mindelo (Pombas Brancas)

4-star hotel one and a half kilometers from the city center. Praia Da Laginha is 2.2 kilometers from the facility. The hotel has a restaurant, private parking service, bar and garden. They offer room service, swimming pool and entertainment rooms. Each room has a closet, desk, TV and private bathroom with toiletries.

 

Las Rochas

An apartment complex located three and a half kilometers from the city center. Facilities come with dining area and kitchen utensils, along with toaster and refrigerator. Each room comes with private bathroom, hairdryer and other toiletries. The facilities have swimming pool and horseback riding area.

 

We recommend you use Booking.com to book hotels at a good price, check more information here:.



 

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