Cape Verde's cultural experiences are inseparable from the islands' musical identity. Live morna performances in the bars and cultural centres of Mindelo — where the UNESCO-recognised song tradition associated with Cesária Évora was born — are best experienced with a local guide who knows which venues are performing for residents rather than tourists. Guided tours of the UNESCO-listed colonial city of Ribeira Grande on Santiago island, traditional grogue rum distillery visits, and textile workshops where the pano de terra cloth is still woven on backstrap looms add cultural depth across the islands. The National Ethnographic Museum in Praia provides the contextual framework. Tours by local guides often make that difference. Take your time.