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.
