Logistics · Country Guide
Volcanic Atlantic reefs, turtle beaches and island-to-island adventures
Use this travel brief to set arrival flow, local transit, and gear movement before you lock your itinerary.
Main international entry points are Sal (SID), Boa Vista (BVC), Praia on Santiago (RAI) and Sao Vicente (VXE). A separate Sao Nicolau domestic airfield (SNE) provides access when a suitable CVsky itinerary is actually on sale. Choose the airport serving the island you will dive, rather than assuming a short road transfer between islands. CVsky has marketed 2026-2027 inter-island flights, while CV Interilhas publishes date-specific ferry schedules. Flights, baggage and sea legs can change; avoid tight international connections.
Amilcar Cabral International Airport
SID • GVAC
18 km to Santa Maria, approximately • About 20-30 minutes by road
Major Sal entry gateway for Santa Maria diving and a common inter-island connection point.
Transport: Airport taxi, Pre-booked hotel or dive transfer, Rental car
Aristides Pereira International Airport
BVC • GVBA
5 km to Sal Rei, approximately • About 10-20 minutes to Sal Rei; resort times vary
Boa Vista airport near Rabil, serving Sal Rei and southern resort stays.
Transport: Licensed taxi, Pre-booked hotel shuttle, Dive-center pickup if included
Nelson Mandela International Airport
RAI • GVNP
Approximately 70 km by road to Tarrafal, depending on route • About 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes to Tarrafal
Praia airport is the Santiago gateway for the north-coast Tarrafal dive circuit and Cidade Velha heritage.
Transport: Prearranged private road transfer, Licensed taxi, Shared minibus via Praia transport hub
Use taxis and prebooked transfers for airport-to-dive-base journeys. Rental cars suit Sal and some Boa Vista trips but remote sandy tracks, dunes and protected beaches need a licensed guide or legal access check. On Santiago, shared aluguer minibuses link towns but can leave only when sufficiently full; a private transfer is easier with scuba gear. Sao Nicolau and Santo Antao require advance return pickup for remote coast and mountain routes. Do not assume inter-island ferries run daily beyond the main Mindelo-Porto Novo link.
Entry permission depends on nationality, passport validity, purpose and stay duration. Cabo Verde authorities list visa exemptions for some visitors, but an exemption does not remove the normal EASE pre-registration requirement. Complete the official EASE traveler form ideally at least five days before arrival, pay the applicable Airport Security Fee and bring proof. The standard international TSA is CVE 3,400, subject to exemptions; the domestic TSA is CVE 150 and is generally included when buying a domestic air ticket. UK government advice states that, from July 1, 2026, travelers who lack pre-registration or proof at the border must pay double the TSA fee. U.S. and UK tourist passports generally have visa-free short visits up to 30 days, but reconfirm rules for your passport and any longer stay. Carry a passport with six months validity beyond intended travel as a conservative standard, checking the exact nationality-specific rule. Yellow fever proof may be required when arriving from risk countries. Children traveling without parents can require notarized authorization.
Rental tanks and standard recreational gear are advertised by named operators on Sal, Boa Vista, Sao Vicente, Santiago and Sao Nicolau, but included equipment and sizes vary. Confirm tanks, weights, BCD, regulator, 3mm/5mm/7mm suits, computer, nitrox, valve type and transfer cost in writing. Bring prescription or fit-critical items, certification and medical documents. Current technical-gas, helium, CCR and hyperbaric support is not verified nationally. Check CVsky baggage allowances and do not place loose batteries or restricted cylinders in baggage contrary to carrier rules.
Cabo Verdean escudo (CVE)
Cabo Verde uses CVE escudos, fixed to the euro at 110.265 CVE per EUR under the official parity. Large resorts may accept cards and sometimes euros, but exchange and card policies vary. Carry local cash for smaller dive shops, village meals, taxis and island transfers.
ATMs are commoner in Sal, Boa Vista, Praia and Mindelo. Machines may be unavailable, out of cash or charge fees, and options thin out in remote Sao Nicolau and Santo Antao communities. Withdraw before leaving a hub.
220V • 50Hz • C, F
European-style two-round-pin sockets are standard. Some technical references list nominal supply as 230V, so check your device accepts 220-240V. Isolated lodging and boats can have different supplies or brief outages; confirm charging capability for cameras and dive computers.
Communications
Mobile providers include Alou (the CV Telecom/CV Movel successor) and Unitel T+. Tourist SIMs and data are easiest to arrange at major airports or towns; coverage is less consistent in valleys, rural beaches and at sea. Do not rely on cellular signal for an offshore dive emergency. Save the hotel, dive boat and emergency numbers offline, and download ferry confirmations and maps ahead of travel.
Language
Portuguese is the official language and Cabo Verdean Creole (Kriolu) is widely spoken with island varieties. English, French and other European languages are used at some tourism businesses on Sal and Boa Vista, but should not be assumed at every clinic, taxi or remote port. Confirm an operator can deliver the safety briefing in a language you understand.
Insurance
Arrange overseas medical, scuba-specific injury and repatriation/medical evacuation coverage; check depth limits, technical or overhead exclusions, rental equipment, weather cancellations and inter-island transport provisions. Given the lack of in-country hyperbaric facilities, generic travel insurance without evacuation terms is not enough. Carry policy and emergency assistance details offline.
Packing list
Bring a wind layer for boat rides and island highlands, 3mm to 5mm or other exposure protection matched to your operator and season, a personal computer, reef-safe sun protection, water shoes, a power adapter, reusable bottle, insect repellent for wetter areas, and a dry bag. Add sturdy trekking shoes for Santo Antao or Sao Nicolau, cash for rural areas and sea-sickness mitigation if needed.