WE ARE YOUR TRUSTED TEAM
ON THE GROUND IN CABO VERDE
One thing that I’ve always wanted to get done in life was getting dual citizenship to my homeland. Thanks to Joli and A Vontade Services, my dream became a reality. The best part about it, it was genuine and felt like family helping me, as opposed to just some business transaction. If you’re looking for anything CV, look no further – they are a one-stop shop!
In 2019, Joli Moniz of A Vontade Tours delivered an amazing vacation experience in Cabo Verde that helped us make our ultimate bucket list decision. Now we are moving, repatriating, to Cabo Verde and have called upon A Vontade Services. Joli and her team are assisting us in housing, opportunities in business, education, the arts and local culture. We are excited! Joli is the BEST!
I could not – and I repeat NOT – have finalized my visa without the help of Joli and her team at A Vontade Services. Not speaking either Kriolu or Portuguese made it nearly impossible for me to manage the process on my own. Dulce of AVS was patient, attentive and proactive in helping me work through the issues to secure the visa. They were TRULY a God send for me, and I would advise anyone who is thinking about moving to Cabo Verde even for a few months to utilize their services! You will benefit from having locals who can communicate with you and Cabo Verdeanos in order to ensure your needs get met and your transition is easier and carefree! Sign up for the Kriolu lessons too! It is truly a delight learning more about the culture and language, through hands on, on the ground practice! Thank you, A Vontade Services!
My friend and I just completed an incredible trip to Senegal and Cabo Verde. All arrangements were made through A Vontade and we could not have been happier. It was a PERFECT trip. Thank you, Joli!!
Words cannot adequately express the joy, emotion, and the moving experiences I felt. Throughout these last three weeks I felt the presence of generations of my ancestors. I felt my “Mae” walking with me…. Thank you, Cabo Verde, for the love. Nha terra. Our experience couldn’t have been this amazing and fulfilling if it weren’t for the incredible partnership from A Vontade Tours. Joli Moniz and her team are amazing! It is without ANY hesitation we give our highest recommendation to anyone looking to book a “CV homecoming experience.” We were looked after, never felt alone and her team are like family to us.
CABO VERDE
Cabo Verde is a nation of ten main volcanic islands sprinkled in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 400 miles off the coast of Senegal, West Africa. In 1462 the archipelago became the first European settlement in the tropics and eventually became a major port in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, then a commercial center and stopover for shipping routes. Cabo Verde achieved independence from Portugal in 1975.
Cabo Verde is a stable representative democracy and is lauded as one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa. Its population of around 550,000 is mostly of mixed African, Moorish, Arab and European heritage, and predominantly Roman Catholic. Its diaspora is spread throughout the world, especially the United States and Europe, and slightly outnumber inhabitants on the islands. The country’s official language is Portuguese but virtually everyone speaks Caboverdean Kriolu. The country’s currency is the Caboverdean escudo, though the euro is also accepted on a few islands. The capital city of Praia is located on the southern island of Santiago. Cabo Verde has nine ports and seven airports, four of which are international. It has a dry tropical climate and boasts average temperatures between 70 and 82 °F (21 and 27 °C), little rainfall, and no extreme weather such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
FOUNDER
JOLI MONIZ founded A Vontade Services out of profound love for and belief in Cabo Verde, and a desire to meet the ever-evolving needs of her tourism clients.
In 2012 Joli left her cushy job and New York home and followed her lifelong dream of moving to the country of her ancestry and settled in its capital city, Praia. Several months later after hosting countless friends and family members, she realized showing off the beauty and authentic culture of Cabo Verde was not only fulfilling, it tied together all she had ever done career-wise and all she loved, and so she founded the boutique travel company, A Vontade Tours. The goal of A Vontade, which means “feel at home,” is to encourage people to visit Cabo Verde and several other countries of the African diaspora, and to experience them in a culturally authentic way, while contributing to their local economies and providing service opportunities.
“I know first-hand how challenging it is to move to a new country, even one you are already familiar with. And if neither Portuguese nor Kriolu is your first language, then it further complicates things. Even my upbringing in a Caboverdian American household and my visits to the islands over the years could not prepare me for actual daily life in the country itself. By being planted here for over eight years and through running A Vontade Tours, I have spent time getting to know all of the nine inhabited islands, as well as curating a team of professional and passionate individuals and identifying the top quality businesses and services throughout the archipelago. Now with A Vontade Services, I am leveraging our team’s joint expertise and the relationships we have cultivated to offer our clients these additional services.” – Joli
Gallery of Our Client Family Living Their Best Lives in Cabo Verde
