Cabo Verde operates inter-island transport through two methods: domestic flights and ferry services. Cabo Verde Airlines, rebranded as Bestflys in 2018, connects all inhabited islands except Brava from its main hub at Nelson Mandela International Airport in Praia. Binter Cabo Verde operates scheduled flights primarily between Sal, Santiago, São Vicente, and Boa Vista. Flight durations range from 25 minutes between Sal and Boa Vista to approximately 60 minutes between the most distant island pairs. Aircraft are typically ATR 72 turboprops with 60-70 seats. Domestic flight prices fluctuate between 3,000 and 8,000 Cape Verdean escudos one-way depending on route and booking timing.
Ferry services operate less reliably than flights. The state-owned ferry company CV Interilhas schedules routes connecting Santiago, Fogo, Brava, São Vicente, Santo Antão, and São Nicolau. Crossings between Mindelo on São Vicente and Porto Novo on Santo Antão take one hour and run daily except during rough seas. The Santiago to Fogo route takes approximately four hours. Ferry schedules change without advance notice during the November to April windy season. No ferry service connects the eastern islands of Sal, Boa Vista, and Maio to the western and southern islands. Travelers moving between these groups must fly through Praia or use infrequent cargo vessel passages that do not accept advance bookings.
Ground transport varies drastically between islands. Sal and Boa Vista maintain paved roads around their perimeters and to major tourist zones. Santiago has paved highways connecting Praia to Assomada and Tarrafal but rural roads remain unpaved cobblestone or dirt. Santo Antão and São Nicolau have mountainous terrain with single-lane roads that require four-wheel drive vehicles in many areas. Rental cars are available on Santiago, Sal, Boa Vista, and São Vicente through international companies and local operators. Daily rates start around 3,500 escudos for basic models. Insurance coverage often excludes damage from unpaved roads. Driving occurs on the right side. Speed limits are 40 kilometers per hour in towns and 80 kilometers per hour on open roads. Police checkpoints are frequent on Santiago.
Public minibus transport called aluguers or hiaces operate on Santiago, São Vicente, Santo Antão, and Fogo. These 12-15 passenger vans depart when full rather than on fixed schedules. Fares are set by route: Praia to Assomada costs 200 escudos and takes 45 minutes, Praia to Tarrafal costs 300 escudos and takes two hours. Aluguers do not run after dark except on main routes. On Santo Antão, aluguers traverse the mountain roads between Porto Novo and Ribeira Grande for 500 escudos over three hours of switchbacks. Drivers play music loudly and conversation is common. Luggage rides on roof racks.
Taxis operate in Praia, Mindelo, Santa Maria on Sal, and Sal Rei on Boa Vista. Vehicles are typically older sedans without meters. Standard fares within Praia center range from 150 to 300 escudos. Praia airport to city center costs 500 to 800 escudos. Taxi drivers expect negotiation before entering the vehicle. Motorbike taxis exist in Praia but carry safety risks on cobblestone streets. Bicycle rental is available in Santa Maria and Sal Rei for 800 to 1,500 escudos per day. The flat terrain of Sal and Boa Vista makes cycling practical. Strong trade winds from November through June make cycling difficult when moving northeast.
Walking is the primary transport within towns. Praia's Plateau district is compact enough to cross on foot in twenty minutes. Mindelo's central area extends along the harbor for two kilometers. Santa Maria on Sal consists of a grid roughly one kilometer square. Cidade Velha sits ten kilometers west of Praia and can be reached by aluguer for 100 escudos or taxi for 1,500 escudos. The UNESCO site includes Rua Banana lined with colonial ruins, Fortaleza Real de São Filipe fortress on the hilltop, and Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário church dating to 1495. Sidewalks in Cape Verdean towns are often broken or blocked by parked vehicles.
Cabo Verde experiences two seasons defined by rainfall rather than temperature. The dry season runs from November through June. The rainy season spans July through October, though rainfall remains light compared to mainland West Africa. Praia receives an average annual rainfall of 250 millimeters, most falling in August and September. Santiago's interior mountains receive 500 to 700 millimeters. Santo Antão's northeastern slopes can receive over 1,000 millimeters in wet years. Fogo and Brava receive more moisture than the eastern islands. Sal and Boa Vista receive under 100 millimeters annually and experience drought conditions most years.
Temperatures vary little throughout the year.