Island hopping in Cape Verde: ferries and flights between the islands

Island hopping in Cape Verde: what to expect

The islands are scattered across open ocean, and the links between them are thin: one state airline with a few turboprops and one ferry company with a small fleet. Planes and ships do run, but timetable changes, delays and cancellations because of wind, swell or dust haze are part of the experience. The best plans include fewer islands and longer stays.

If your flight ticket allows it, the simplest trick is to fly into one island and home from another, since there are international airports on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and São Vicente (airports and transfers). Most UK packages fly in and out of Sal or Boa Vista, so you must get back to your base. Some tour operators sell twin-centre and island hopping packages with the inter-island legs already arranged.

Inter-island flights with CVsky

Since 29 March 2026, domestic flights have been operated by CVsky, the trading name of the state-owned Linhas Aéreas de Cabo Verde, which took over the routes from Cabo Verde Airlines; the private carrier Bestfly no longer flies between the islands. CVsky started with two ATR 72-600 turboprops of 74 seats each, and the first of two further leased aircraft was delivered in October 2026. It flies to seven islands: Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, São Vicente, São Nicolau, Fogo and Maio. Its base is Praia, so some journeys involve a change there.

Flights are short, from about ten minutes between Praia and Maio to around an hour on the longer routes. Tickets are sold on the airline's website, through its call centre and shops and by travel agents. Check the baggage allowance if you carry diving or kitesurf gear.

Reliability is the weak point. The first days of operation brought long delays, and in April 2026 the airline warned that dust haze (bruma seca) could delay, cancel or divert flights, especially to Maio, São Filipe on Fogo and São Nicolau, whose aerodromes rely on visual approaches. In July 2026, passengers at Praia airport protested after flights to Fogo and Boa Vista were cancelled with little information. Book the most flexible fare you can, give the airline a mobile number and check the flight status on the morning you travel.

Ferries: CV Interilhas routes and crossing times

Passenger ferries are run by CV Interilhas, which has held a 20-year public concession since August 2019; the Portuguese ETE group owns the majority. The busiest line, the Barlavento line, links Mindelo on São Vicente with Porto Novo on Santo Antão in about 40 minutes to an hour, with two CV Interilhas return sailings a day in the current timetable. The tourism institute also lists a private operator, Nôsferry, on the same crossing.

In the south, the Sotavento line sails from Praia to Fogo in about four hours and on to Brava in under an hour, several times a week, and also links Praia with Maio in about two hours. The round line connects São Vicente, São Nicolau, Sal, Boa Vista and Santiago twice a week, with some fortnightly sailings also calling at Fogo. The legs are long: roughly five hours from São Vicente to São Nicolau, eight from São Nicolau to Sal, three from Sal to Boa Vista and seven to eight from Boa Vista to Praia. Many of these sailings leave or arrive in the middle of the night.

Buy tickets on cvinterilhas.cv, at the port ticket offices or from the company's agents, and pay in escudos or by card. Seats cannot be reserved. Check in at least an hour before departure with an ID that matches the name on the ticket; each passenger can take two pieces of hand luggage of up to 8 kg each, and the tourism institute gives 25 kg in total for checked bags. Check the operator's website and social media the day before, as timetables change.

How reliable are the ferries?

CV Interilhas made about 3,200 sailings in 2025 but called it a difficult year: its two catamarans were out of service for months after one hit a quay and the other ran aground, and in April 2025 the Sotavento line to Maio, Fogo and Brava was suspended for a time. When a ship is in dock there is often no replacement.

The crossings between Santiago and Fogo and through the channel between São Vicente and Santo Antão can be rough, especially when the trade winds are strong in winter and spring. Take seasickness tablets before boarding and sit low in the middle of the ship. Check the forecast in Cape Verde weather.

Island combinations that work

Sal and Boa Vista are the easiest pair: CVsky flies between them, and the round-line ferry takes about three hours, though often at night. Stay at least two or three nights on each: Sal has the town and the excursions, Boa Vista the empty beaches.

São Vicente and Santo Antão are the classic combination for walkers. Fly to São Vicente, either direct from Europe or on a domestic flight from Sal or Praia, then take the ferry to Porto Novo. A day trip is possible on the morning boat with a return in the late afternoon, but two or three nights on Santo Antão are far better. Santiago, Fogo and Brava make a second circuit: fly or sail from Praia to Fogo, take the short ferry to Brava, then return to Praia; allow a week. Maio and São Nicolau fit in as described in Maio, São Nicolau and Brava.

A realistic ten-day trip is four nights on Sal, a flight to São Vicente for two nights in Mindelo, three nights on Santo Antão and a return to Mindelo or Sal the day before your flight home. For more routes, see Cape Verde itineraries.

Tips for island hopping

Leave at least one spare night before your international flight, ideally on the island you fly home from, and never rely on a domestic flight or ferry on the same day. Keep inter-island bookings flexible, take travel insurance that covers missed connections and carry enough escudos for taxis and small guesthouses (currency and prices). For where to sleep on each island, see where to stay.