Getting Around Cape Verde

Between the Islands

A reminder: across the archipelago, nine of its islands are inhabited. To travel from one to another, the two possible means of transport are by plane and by ferry.

By Plane

This is clearly the simplest and fastest way to connect, especially the more remote islands in the archipelago, which can otherwise take quite a bit of time by sea. Of the inhabited islands, seven have an airport. Only Santo Antão and Brava do not, and are therefore only accessible by ferry.

For airlines, Cabo Verde Airlines primarily operates the routes. Flights between the islands served take an average of 20 to 50 minutes (sometimes with a stopover in Praia) and cost between 50 and 150 € one-way, depending on the route. The prices aren’t necessarily excessive, but they can add up to a significant budget over time. To secure seats or good prices, it’s best to book in advance during the tourist season, which runs from December to April.

By Boat

Compared to flying, the ferry is a more economical option, but journeys can be long between certain islands and depend on the weather.

The companies CV Interilhas and, to a lesser extent, Nôs Ferry are the most active in the archipelago. They offer a network of short, frequent routes like São Vicente–Santo Antão (several departures a day, taking about an hour by sea), as well as routes with just a few weekly crossings that can take up to 10 or 15 hours, such as Santiago–São Vicente or São Nicolau. Prices remain very affordable: 10 to 15 € for short trips and 20 to 40 € for medium or long ones.

On the Islands

Since the islands vary in size, so do the means of getting around.

Car Rental

In Cape Verde, renting a car or 4x4 is possible on the islands of Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente, and Santo Antão, with prices around 50 € per day for a compact car and at least 80 € for a 4x4. This can be a good option for groups, but it can also be replaced by hiring a taxi for the day or using the many shared minibuses that crisscross the islands. It really depends on what you plan to do and which islands you’re visiting.

Minibuses

Here, they’re called aluguer, and they’re the preferred mode of transport for Cape Verdeans. These are minibuses or pickups fitted with benches in the back, very popular across the archipelago, and they can take you (almost) anywhere.

In practice, since they don’t have fixed schedules, they leave when full, each following specific routes between the main villages and towns. To catch one, if you’re starting from a town, just go to the central square or what serves as the bus station in each locality. Otherwise, if you’re on the road, just flag them down to stop. In any case, the fare remains very cheap, from 2 to 5 € depending on the distance. In short, it’s the typical way to get around Cape Verde if you’re not in a hurry or want to travel like a local. You can also "hire" them for a day trip, but don’t forget to negotiate the price beforehand.

Taxis

Taxis are available in the larger towns of the archipelago, mainly Praia (on Santiago) and Mindelo (São Vicente), as well as at the airports. They usually have meters or apply fixed, very affordable rates for short trips (from 2 to 5 € per ride).

Alternatively, you can hire the same taxis for a full or half day for an excursion or to tour an island. However, it’s always necessary to negotiate the prices beforehand.

Two Wheels

Due to the terrain and the poor condition of many roads, bicycles and scooters aren’t very common in the archipelago. At best, the most substantial offerings are on Sal, Boa Vista, and São Vicente, though elsewhere, mountain bike rentals are often available for the more adventurous.

On Foot

For hiking enthusiasts, Cape Verde offers plenty of opportunities. You can even explore the islands on foot over several days and access some "hidden" spots that are sometimes cut off from the world. This kind of discovery can easily be combined with using aluguer for certain legs of the journey.

In Town

Towns and other localities in Cape Verde are generally not very large. You can often explore them on foot. Otherwise, Praia and Mindelo have very affordable urban buses, and all other sizable towns have taxi services and "urban aluguers," which are also very cheap.

What to Choose for Getting Around?

While it always depends on the itinerary you’ve planned, you can generally reach the different islands by ferry, or by plane for the more remote ones or those with limited boat connections. On the islands, using aluguers is a great option if you have some time and want to save money. Otherwise, renting a car or hiring a taxi as needed can also be considered.