Your stay — RM GREEN HOTEL
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The Property — RM GREEN HOTEL
The RM GREEN HOTEL is a straightforward three-star in Pombas, with a clean, no-fuss lobby and friendly front desk staff who can point you to the beach. It’s a practical base for travellers who want a decent breakfast and a quiet night near the waterfront, rather than any frills. The USP is location: a short walk from the town’s main square and the black-sand beach, and close to local restaurants serving grilled fish. It suits budget-conscious visitors and those using Pombas as a launchpad for hikes in the surrounding mountains.
Chronicles of Pombas
Pombas, officially part of the municipality of Paul, began as a small fishing settlement on the north coast of Santo Antão. The town grew during the colonial period as a port for shipping produce from the island’s interior, particularly coffee and sugarcane. Its architecture reflects a mix of Portuguese colonial style—low-rise buildings with painted facades—and more recent concrete construction. Today, Pombas retains a quiet, traditional Cape Verdean character, with a lively market on Saturday mornings and a strong community of local fishermen. The city’s cultural identity is anchored in its Creole heritage, with morna music often heard from bars near the waterfront.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pombas guide →Best months
May and June offer consistently dry, sunny weather with daytime temperatures around 25–28°C, and fewer tourists than the peak summer months. November is also excellent: still warm, but with lighter crowds and lower prices.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are the hottest and busiest months, driven by European summer holidays and local festivities. Hotel prices can rise 20–30% above shoulder rates. The main event in July is the local festival of São João on the 24th, with parades, music and street food in Pombas itself.
Budget shoulder season
October and April are the best shoulder months: temperatures are pleasant (24–27°C), rainfall is low, and accommodation is often 15–25% cheaper than in peak season. You’ll also have beaches and trails to yourself.
Weather & packing
July in Santo Antão can bring brief afternoon showers from the north-east trade winds, even though it’s dry season overall. Pack a lightweight waterproof jacket and a sun hat—the sun here is intense, even when clouds roll in.
Live City Briefing — Pombas
- Road repairs on the main EN1-Santo Antão route between Porto Novo and Pombas are ongoing through summer 2026; allow an extra 20 minutes for bus transfers from the ferry.
- A new direct ferry service from Mindelo to Porto Novo started in early 2026, reducing travel time to 45 minutes and easing access from São Vicente.
- Seasonal alerts: the Ribeira Grande hiking trail has been partially closed due to rockfall after January rains; check with local guides before heading out.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to RM GREEN HOTEL, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Higher floors (3rd and above) facing away from the main road through Pombas reduce street noise and offer a sliver of sea view. Request a room on the east side of the building if possible.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or staircase suffer from foot traffic and lobby bustle. Also avoid any room directly overlooking the car park at the back – can be dusty and noisy with early departures.
Best views
Rooms on the front (street-facing side) give a glimpse of the Atlantic over Pombas rooftops – nothing dramatic, but a brighter outlook. Rear rooms look onto the car park and neighbouring houses.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (top floor) are quietest, with less passing footfall and a better buffer from ground-level noise sources.
🔊 Noise notes
Pombas is a compact town with a lively main road that sees mopeds, taxis and occasional music from nearby bars, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. The hotel’s own stairwell and corridors are tiled, so sound carries.
Insider tips
If you arrive by car, park on the street rather than the hotel’s tiny car park (usually full of staff vehicles). Request a room away from the stairwell – the echo from guests coming up late is surprisingly loud.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — RM GREEN HOTEL
Free basic WiFi in lobby and rooms; slower than 10 Mbps, no login required
No lift; single-storey building, all rooms ground floor
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available upon request; late check-out fee of 1,500 CVE until 18:00
Free storage at reception for early arrivals or after checkout
Step-free access to main entrance and all rooms; narrow doorways may limit wheelchair turning in bathrooms
Free on-site parking for up to 10 cars; no EV charging available
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Advance deposit required to confirm booking; incidental hold of 5,000 CVE at check-in
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Ramos e Rosário — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cape Verdean Escudo, CVE
Banks and official exchange offices (câmbios) in Mindelo or Sal give better rates; avoid changing at the airport. ATMs are scarce in Pombas.
Cards are rarely accepted outside hotels and a few larger shops; carry cash in small notes.
Not expected; rounding up in restaurants or leaving 10% for good service is appreciated. Taxis don't expect tips; hotel staff may get a small gratuity for extra help.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple espresso (bica) at a pastelaria or kiosk — about 50–70 CVE.
Cachupa (stew) or grilled fish with rice at a local tasca — roughly 400–600 CVE.
A main dish of fresh fish or chicken with sides at a modest restaurant — around 500–800 CVE.
Look for pastéis (fried pastries) or grilled corn from street stalls near the market or the main square.
Small minimercados (like Mercado or MiniMercado) are dotted around Pombas for basics; no large supermarkets.
No dedicated market for clothes in Pombas; head to Mindelo's Mercado Municipal for affordable basics.
Shared minibus (‘carro de aluguer’) from Pombas to Mindelo is cheapest (around 150 CVE); from São Pedro airport, take a pre-booked shared taxi or arrange a minibus with other travellers.
Buy bread and groceries from local minimercados to cut meal costs; eat where locals queue at lunchtime and avoid tourist-oriented spots; for longer stays, rent a basic room with a kitchenette.
Emergency Contacts
PombasIn Pombas, dial 132 for police, 130 for ambulance, 131 for fire. For non-urgent help, the local health centre is at +238 262 1120. The nearest hospital is in Mindelo (Hospital Dr. Baptista de Sousa, +238 231 1120). Note that English may not be widely spoken; French or Portuguese phrases (e.g., 'Preciso de ajuda' for 'I need help') are handy. Save the national emergency number 112 as a backup, but it may not always connect locally in rural areas like Pombas.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pombas, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at RM GREEN HOTEL
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Porto Novo minibus stop (next to market) → Pombas town square (5-min walk to Pensão Chez Sandro)
💡 Cheapest option but cramped – you'll share with locals and sacks of produce. Best if you're travelling light. The driver drops you at the main square; walk uphill past the church to the pensão.
Porto Novo ferry terminal, Santo Antão → Pensão Chez Sandro, Pombas
💡 Shared taxis leave once full (4 passengers), cheaper but slower. If you have luggage, go private – the road has tight hairpin turns and a crammed back seat isn't fun. Drivers accept euros but at poor rates.
Cesária Évora Airport (RAI), São Vicente → Pensão Chez Sandro, Pombas, Santo Antão
💡 The journey involves a taxi from RAI to Porto Novo ferry (15 mins), followed by a 1-hour ferry to Santo Antão, then a final taxi climb to Pombas (30 mins). Ask for João by name at the port – he knows the winding roads well and charges fair rates. Book through Pensão Chez Sandro to avoid haggling.
Pombas taxi rank (behind church) → Villages like Paul, Ribeira da Torre or Coculi
💡 If you're heading into the Paul Valley for hiking, catch a morning aluguer before 9am. Sit in the back for views – hold tight, drivers are speedy on gravel. Pay as you leave, exact change in CVE preferred.
About Pombas
Wikipedia ↗
Paul is a concelho (municipality) of Cape Verde. Situated in the northeastern part of the island of Santo Antão, it covers 7% of the island area (54.3 km2), and is home to 16% of its population (6,997 at the 2010 census). Its seat is the town Pombas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at RM GREEN HOTEL?
Higher floors (3rd and above) facing away from the main road through Pombas reduce street noise and offer a sliver of sea view. Request a room on the east side of the building if possible.
Which rooms should I avoid at RM GREEN HOTEL?
Ground-floor rooms near the reception or staircase suffer from foot traffic and lobby bustle. Also avoid any room directly overlooking the car park at the back – can be dusty and noisy with early departures.
Is RM GREEN HOTEL noisy?
Pombas is a compact town with a lively main road that sees mopeds, taxis and occasional music from nearby bars, especially Friday and Saturday evenings. The hotel’s own stairwell and corridors are tiled, so sound carries.
Which rooms have the best views at RM GREEN HOTEL?
Rooms on the front (street-facing side) give a glimpse of the Atlantic over Pombas rooftops – nothing dramatic, but a brighter outlook. Rear rooms look onto the car park and neighbouring houses.
What are insider tips for staying at RM GREEN HOTEL?
If you arrive by car, park on the street rather than the hotel’s tiny car park (usually full of staff vehicles). Request a room away from the stairwell – the echo from guests coming up late is surprisingly loud.
What time is check-in at RM GREEN HOTEL?
Check-in at RM GREEN HOTEL is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does RM GREEN HOTEL have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi in lobby and rooms; slower than 10 Mbps, no login required
Is there a city or tourist tax at RM GREEN HOTEL?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near RM GREEN HOTEL?
Cachupa (stew) or grilled fish with rice at a local tasca — roughly 400–600 CVE.
What is the cheapest way to get around from RM GREEN HOTEL?
Shared minibus (‘carro de aluguer’) from Pombas to Mindelo is cheapest (around 150 CVE); from São Pedro airport, take a pre-booked shared taxi or arrange a minibus with other travellers.
When is the best time to visit Pombas?
May and June offer consistently dry, sunny weather with daytime temperatures around 25–28°C, and fewer tourists than the peak summer months. November is also excellent: still warm, but with lighter crowds and lower prices.
Top Attractions in Pombas
💡 Go at sunrise to watch fishermen haul in their catch — they'll often sell fresh tuna straight off the boat.
💡 Buy a bag of grogue (local sugarcane spirit) from stall 14 — 100 CVE for half a litre and they'll decant it into a plastic bottle.
💡 Sunday mass at 9am includes local choir singing morna — arrive early to get a pew near the front.
💡 Best at dusk when the fishing boats return and the hills go purple — mosquitoes come out fast after dark, so bring repellent.
💡 Start from the cemetery at the north end of town — the path is easiest to follow from there. Take water and a hat; there's zero shade.