Island hopping in Cape Verde: routes, flights and ferries

Cape Verde is made up of ten islands. Nine are inhabited. They are nothing alike. On Sal you lie on a white beach. On Santo Antão you hike through green valleys. On Fogo you stand on a volcano. See only one island and you miss a lot.

Island hopping on your own is perfectly doable. You do need to know how it works. Not every island has an airport. Not every boat sails every day. And some routes that look logical simply do not exist.

This page has everything you need. Which flights there are. Which ferries sail. Five combinations that work well. And a step by step plan to arrange it yourself.

Last checked: October 2026. Flights and sailing times change with the seasons. Always check with the operator before you book.

In short

• You arrive on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago (Praia) or São Vicente. Those are the four international airports.
• Between the islands you fly with CVsky. Praia is the hub.
• Santo Antão and Brava have no airport. You can only get there by boat.
• Fogo and Maio can only be reached by air from Praia.
• The busiest ferry route is São Vicente to Santo Antão. It takes an hour and sails every day.
• For a first trip, choose two or three islands. More is possible. You will then spend most of your time travelling.
• Always leave a spare day before your flight home.

Why island hopping?

Each island has its own character. Sal and Boa Vista are about beaches and sun. São Vicente is music and the city life of Mindelo. Santiago has the capital Praia and the old town of Cidade Velha. Santo Antão, Fogo and São Nicolau are for hikers. Maio and Brava are quiet and small.

Many people book a week on Sal or Boa Vista. That is fine for a beach holiday. Add a few days and you see a very different Cape Verde. A day’s hiking on Santo Antão or a night in the crater of Fogo stays with you.

How do you get from island to island?

You have two options. Fly or sail.

Flying is quick. A flight takes 20 minutes to an hour. Domestic flights are operated by CVsky. The airline has been flying since March 2026. We found no other airline flying between the islands. If another website still mentions Binter or Bestfly, its information is out of date. Bestfly stopped its inter island flights in April 2024.

Sailing is cheaper and sometimes the only option. Santo Antão and Brava have no airport. The main ferry company is CV Interilhas. Nôs Ferry also sails between São Vicente and Santo Antão.

Over long distances the boat is not a good idea. The ferry from São Vicente to Praia takes more than a day. By plane it takes 50 minutes.

Which island connects to which?

This table shows how you can travel on from each island. If an island is not listed, you have to change.

Santa Luzia is not included. That island is uninhabited and a protected nature reserve.

Flying between the islands

CVsky flies ten routes. Every route runs in both directions. Praia is the hub. Six of the ten routes start there.

A few things to know:

• Fogo and Maio are only served from Praia. If you arrive on Sal, you fly to Praia first.
• São Nicolau has few flights. From Sal and São Vicente sometimes only one or two a week. Plan your trip around that flight.
• The fleet is small. If an aircraft is out of service, everything moves. So do not book a tight connection to your international flight.
• Fares vary a lot. The lowest CVsky fares range from about 66 euros (Sal to Boa Vista) to 114 euros per person (October 2026 prices). You often pay more. It depends on the route, the fare type and how full the flight is.

More about booking, luggage and the airports is on our page about domestic flights.

The ferry

By boat you see the islands from the water. It is cheaper than flying. But the sea around Cape Verde can be rough. And the boats do not sail every day.

Source: CV Interilhas timetable, winter 2026/2027.

São Vicente to Santo Antão is the route you are most likely to take. CV Interilhas sails 14 times a week in each direction. Nôs Ferry also runs on this route. You leave from the port of Mindelo and arrive in Porto Novo.

The long lines are a different story. The Redonda Line sails twice a week in each direction, calling at São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista and Santiago. Every other week the ship continues from Santiago to Fogo. From Praia to São Nicolau you are on board for 20 hours, with stops. Fun as an adventure. Not practical if you are short of time.

Tip for the crossing With CV Interilhas you must be checked in one hour before departure. The sea can be choppy. Prone to seasickness? Sit outside and look at the horizon. In Porto Novo the aluguers are waiting. These are shared minibuses to places such as Paúl, Ribeira Grande and Ponta do Sol. Want to stop along the way? Take a taxi. Agree the price in advance.

All routes, fares and tips on buying tickets are on our ferry page.

What does not work

These are the mistakes we see most often.

• Flying direct from Sal to Fogo or Maio. That flight does not exist. You always go via Praia.
• Taking the boat from Santiago to São Vicente. It is possible. But it takes about 26 hours, spread over two days. Fly instead.
• A day trip to Santo Antão from Sal. You first have to fly to São Vicente. Then there is an hour on the ferry. With the return journey, there is almost nothing left of the day. Stay a few nights instead.
• Flying to Santo Antão or Brava. Neither island has an airport.
• Changing islands on your last day. Flights get moved. Ferries are cancelled in strong wind. Always leave a spare day.

Five combinations that work

These routes are easy to arrange and show you a genuinely different side of Cape Verde. For each one you will find how to travel, how many days you need and who it suits.

A diagram, not a map. The islands are deliberately drawn further apart than they really are.

1. Sal and Boa Vista

Who it suits: beach lovers who want to see more than one hotel. Getting there: a 25 to 30 minute flight, about four times a week. Or the ferry of about 3 hours, twice a week. Days: 4 to 7 days per island.

This is the easiest combination. Both islands have an international airport. So you can land on one and fly home from the other. Sal has more to do and more facilities. Boa Vista is quieter and has even more empty beaches. Not sure which of the two? Read Sal or Boa Vista.

2. São Vicente and Santo Antão

Who it suits: hikers and anyone who likes music and a real town. Getting there: fly to São Vicente. Then take the daily ferry to Santo Antão, one hour at sea. Days: São Vicente 3 to 7 days, depending on what you want to do. Santo Antão at least 3 days. Hikers easily fill a week.

For many people this is the best combination. In Mindelo you hear live music everywhere. Santo Antão is the green hiking island. You walk through valleys full of sugar cane and bananas. The ferry sails often, so you are never stuck for long.

Tip for Santo Antão Walk from the Cova crater down to the Paúl valley. You start on the crater rim and descend through the greenery. Allow about 3 hours of walking, almost all of it downhill. Get dropped off at Cova and arrange transport from the bottom. Drive up on the old mountain road via Corda. Come back along the coast road.

3. Santiago, Fogo and possibly Brava

Who it suits: anyone looking for history, a volcano and few tourists. Getting there: fly to Praia. From Praia to Fogo the flight takes 30 minutes, two to three times a day. The boat takes about 4 hours. Brava can only be reached by boat from Fogo, about an hour. Days: Santiago a few days. Fogo 2 to 3 days. Brava 1 day plus 1 spare day for the boat.

On Santiago you visit Praia and the old town of Cidade Velha. On Fogo you sleep in the crater, in Chã das Caldeiras. From there you climb Pico do Fogo. Brava is small and quiet. Only go if you have time to spare, as the boat does not sail every day.

Tip for Pico do Fogo You set off early from Chã das Caldeiras. Allow about 7 hours and about 1,100 metres of climbing. It is a hard walk over steep, loose volcanic gravel. Take a local guide. The guide knows the route and the pace. The descent in particular is tricky without help.

Flying from Praia to Fogo? Sit on the right of the plane. You will see the volcano as you land.

4. Santiago and Maio

Who it suits: anyone who wants a few days on an empty beach. Getting there: a flight from Praia to Maio, 20 to 25 minutes, two to four times a week. Or the boat of about 2 hours, three times a week. Days: Santiago a few days. Maio a few days. That is enough to unwind.

Maio is the quietest island that is easy to reach. There are lots of beaches and hardly any hotels. It combines well with a few days on Santiago. Note: there are not flights every day. Check when you can get back first.

5. São Vicente and São Nicolau

Who it suits: hikers who really want to get away from the tourists. Getting there: a 30 minute flight, once or twice a week. Or the ferry of about 5 hours, twice a week. Days: São Nicolau 2 to 3 days, longer for hikers.

São Nicolau is mountainous and green. Monte Gordo is its highest point. Few tourists come here. Because flights and boats are few, you need to plan this route carefully. Combine it with São Vicente and possibly Santo Antão.

How many islands and how many days?

For a first trip we recommend two or three islands. Every change of island easily costs half a day. With check in, waiting and the drive to your hotel, you lose more than the flight time.

A rough rule of thumb:

• One week: one or two islands. For example Sal with a few days on Boa Vista. Or São Vicente with Santo Antão.
• Ten days: two or three islands. For example Santiago, Fogo and Brava.
• Two weeks or more: three or four islands. For example São Vicente, Santo Antão and São Nicolau, with a few days on the beach on Sal at the end.

Want to see more islands anyway? Then choose islands that lie close together. The northern group (São Vicente, Santo Antão, São Nicolau) and the southern group (Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Maio) each combine well. Between north and south you always fly.

Step by step: how to arrange it yourself

1. Choose your islands. Start with what you want to do. Beach, hiking, music or peace and quiet. Not sure? Our island finder helps you choose.

2. Choose where you land. From the UK there are direct flights to Sal and Boa Vista. Not every route runs all year round. See our page on flights to Cape Verde. Landing close to your first island saves you a domestic flight.

3. Book the domestic flights. You book them with CVsky. You can do this online at cvsky.cv, at a sales office or through a travel agent. Check the conditions of your fare before you pay. Book as soon as your route is fixed. A few weeks ahead is sensible, especially for São Nicolau.

4. Book the ferry. For São Vicente to Santo Antão you do not need to book far ahead. For the long lines you do. A CV Interilhas ticket can be bought online, at the ticket office in the port or from an official agent. You cannot buy a ticket on board. Is your hotel arranging it? Make sure the ticket is in your name.

5. Check your luggage. Domestic flights have different rules from your flight from Europe. Check how many kilos you can take when you book. Bring a small bag for the boat. It can get wet at sea.

6. Leave room to spare. Do not schedule the last change of island on the day of your flight home. Leave at least one day in between. In strong wind the ferry sometimes does not sail.

7. Sort out local transport. On most islands you travel by aluguer. That is a shared minibus. More on that below.

Getting around on the island

Aluguer. The shared minibus is how Cape Verdeans themselves get around. It is cheap. It only leaves when it is full. You get on at the square or flag it down by the road. Say where you want to go. You pay when you get off.

Taxi. On Sal, Boa Vista and in the towns there are plenty of taxis. Agree the price in advance if there is no meter.

Hire car. On the larger islands you can hire a car. On Santo Antão and Fogo the roads are steep and narrow. There a driver with a car is often more practical.

When is the best time for island hopping?

The best time to travel is October to June. It is then mostly dry and warm. The short rainy season runs from August to October. On the green islands that is actually a lovely time. Everything is in bloom.

Watch out for the wind. It blows hardest from January to April. That is great for kitesurfers. For the ferry it sometimes means high waves. If you get seasick easily, fly in that period.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get from Sal to Boa Vista?

Yes. CVsky flies there in 25 to 30 minutes, about four times a week. There is also a ferry of about 3 hours, twice a week.

Can I do a day trip from Sal to Boa Vista?

Yes, on an organised catamaran trip. You are away for the whole day. On Boa Vista you visit places such as Sal Rei. Lunch is at a local restaurant. The sailing time depends on the sea and the weather. Want to see more of Boa Vista? Stay a few nights. The flight takes half an hour.

How do I get to Santo Antão?

By ferry from São Vicente. The crossing takes an hour. There are several boats every day. Santo Antão has no airport.

How do I get to Fogo?

Fly from Praia in 30 minutes. There are two to three flights a day. You can also take the boat. It takes about 4 hours.

Can I fly from Sal to Fogo?

Not directly. You fly to Praia first and change there.

Which airline flies between the islands?

CVsky. The airline has been flying since March 2026. We found no other airline flying between the islands.

How many islands can I see in a week?

Two is very doable. Three works if they are close together. For example São Vicente and Santo Antão.

Is the ferry safe?

The boats sail all year round. In strong wind the sea can be rough. Sometimes a sailing is cancelled. So always leave a spare day before your flight home.

Do I need to book domestic flights in advance?

Yes, especially on routes with few flights. Think of Maio and São Nicolau. There are only a few flights a week.

Read more

• Domestic flights in Cape Verde
• Ferries in Cape Verde
• Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, São Vicente, Santo Antão, Fogo, Brava, Maio, São Nicolau
• Which island suits you?