Mindelo's town beach, its working harbour and its marina, joined by one seafront walk that ends every day in the sunset over Monte Cara.
Mindelo grew around Porto Grande, one of the finest natural harbours in the Atlantic, and the waterfront is still the heart of the city.
Praia da Laginha is a curve of pale sand just north of the port, with calm water and beach bars, and harbour fuel tanks behind. Across the bay rises Monte Cara, whose ridge looks like a face gazing at the sky.
The Torre de Belém replica, built in the 1920s, was the port's old customs office. Nearby, the fish market is busiest from 7 to 11am, when boats land tuna, wahoo and moray.
From November to January the marina fills with yachts preparing to cross the Atlantic. Their crews bring an international crowd to the bars and the floating pontoon bar.
Morning at the market, evening at the beach.
Tuna, wahoo and moray landed and cut on the slabs.
Mindelo's copy of Lisbon's tower on the seafront.
Watch the yachts and have a drink on the water.
A swim and a lounger, 15 minutes' walk from the centre.
Ferries and fishing boats coming home as the light fades.
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All on foot from the centre; Laginha is about 15 minutes north of Praça Nova.
The ferry terminal for Santo Antão is a short walk from the marina.
The Marginal is lively until late; take a taxi home from quieter stretches.
São Vicente practical notes →Photographs from Wikimedia Commons and Pexels under their licences, and our own.
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