Arrival & Transport
Arrival by Plane
International Airports
Cape Verde has four international airports, but most flights from Europe land on the two main tourist islands:
- Sal — Amílcar Cabral International (SID): The largest and oldest international airport. Main destination for most charter flights and package deals from Europe. Direct connections from Germany, Portugal, UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium.
- Boa Vista — Aristides Pereira (BVC): Second largest tourist airport. Charter flights from Europe, especially in the high season.
- Santiago — Nelson Mandela (RAI): Capital airport in Praia. Connections to Lisbon, Dakar, Boston, and other West African cities. Fewer tourist flights, more scheduled services.
- São Vicente — Cesária Évora (VXE): Small airport near Mindelo. Connections to Lisbon and other islands.
Airlines from Germany
- TUI fly: Charter flights from various German cities to Sal and Boa Vista. Flight time: approx. 6 hours. Prices: 300–600€ return (depending on season). Mainly in connection with package tours.
- Condor: Seasonal direct flights from Frankfurt to Sal. 350–550€ return.
- TAP Air Portugal: Via Lisbon to Sal, Santiago, Boa Vista, or São Vicente. Often the cheapest option for individual travelers (250–450€ return with stopover in Lisbon). Good connections, modern equipment.
- Cabo Verde Airlines (TACV): The national airline connects Lisbon with Sal and Santiago. Occasionally good deals.
Tips: TAP via Lisbon is often the best option for individual travelers — you can include a stopover in Lisbon (up to 5 days free of charge). For charter flights to Sal/Boa Vista: Use early bird offers (3–6 months in advance) or wait for last-minute bargains. The cheapest flights are in the off-season (July–October).
Island Hopping — Flights & Ferries
If you want to see more than one island (and you should!), you must fly between the islands or take the ferry. Here are the options:
Domestic Flights
Bestway (formerly TICV/Binter) operates the domestic flight network of Cape Verde with small ATR turboprops. The main connections:
| Route | Duration | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Sal → Santiago (Praia) | 50 Min. | 60–120€ |
| Sal → São Vicente | 35 Min. | 50–100€ |
| Santiago → Fogo | 30 Min. | 50–90€ |
| Santiago → São Vicente | 55 Min. | 60–110€ |
| São Vicente → Sal | 35 Min. | 50–100€ |
Important: Book domestic flights early — the small planes (max. 72 seats) sell out quickly. Note luggage limits: often only 20 kg checked + 8 kg hand luggage. Delays and changes occur — bring flexibility.
Ferries
CV Interilhas operates ferry connections between the islands. The main ones:
- São Vicente ↔ Santo Antão (Porto Novo): The most used connection. About 1 hour, several times a day. 800 CVE (approx. 7€). The only way to get to Santo Antão!
- Santiago (Praia) ↔ Fogo (São Filipe): About 4–5 hours, several times a week. 2,500 CVE (approx. 23€). Can be uncomfortable in rough seas.
- Santiago ↔ Brava: About 2 hours, several times a week.
Important: Ferry schedules can change at short notice, especially in the rainy season with high seas. Always check at the port or with CV Interilhas the day before. Best to buy tickets directly at the port. Motion sickness medication recommended for the São Vicente–Santo Antão crossing — the Canal de São Vicente can be very rough.
Tipp
The best island-hopping route for 2–3 weeks: Sal (Beach & Kite, 3 days) → Fly to Santiago (Culture & Hiking, 3 days) → Fly to São Vicente (Mindelo & Music, 2 days) → Ferry to Santo Antão (Trekking, 4 days) → Ferry back to São Vicente → Fly to Fogo (Volcano, 2 days) → Return to Sal or Santiago for departure.
Local Transport
Aluguers — The Cape Verdean Shared Taxi
The Aluguer is the main means of transport in Cape Verde and an experience in itself: Hiace minibuses or pick-ups run fixed routes between the places on an island. They leave when they are full — not according to a schedule. You stand by the road, wave, get in, and pay when you get out. Prices: 1–5€ depending on the route. On the benches, people squeeze together, chickens and goats are occasional fellow passengers, and Funaná blares from the radio.
Aluguers are cheap, safe, and the best way to get to know Cape Verdeans. Downside: You need patience — sometimes you wait 30 minutes until the bus is full. On smaller islands (Santo Antão, Fogo), they run less frequently.
Taxis
In the cities (Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria) there are regular taxis. Negotiate the price beforehand — meters are not common. Guidelines: Short trips within the city: 2–5€. Airport transfers: 5–15€. For day tours, you can charter a taxi: 50–80€ per day.
Rental Cars
On Santiago and Sal there are several car rental agencies. Prices: from 35–60€/day for a small car. On Santo Antão and Fogo: 4WD recommended. An international driver's license is officially required, but in practice, the EU driver's license is usually sufficient. Attention: The roads on the mountainous islands are adventurous — steep switchbacks, unpaved tracks, free-roaming goats and dogs. Do not drive at night: There is little street lighting, and pedestrians in dark clothing on the road are a real danger.
On Foot & Hitchhiking
On the smaller islands (Santo Antão, Fogo, Brava), walking is not only possible but the best way to get around. The hiking trails are the historical road network. Hitchhiking is absolutely common and safe in Cape Verde — when a car comes, wave, and you will almost always be picked up. A little Kriolu or a smile opens doors.
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