Sal · Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID)
Sal airport to Santa Maria and Espargos without a car
Short answer
No source we checked lists a scheduled bus from Sal airport. Take an authorised taxi from the rank — on Sal they are blue and yellow — or a transfer booked ahead, and agree the fare before you set off. Shared hiace vans also run, informally and without a timetable.
Getting out of the airport
The airport company says formal taxis are available at most airports on arrival, that fares vary by island, and that the municipal council is where to check prices. The UK government advises taking only authorised taxis from a rank or through your hotel, and says that on Sal they are coloured blue and yellow.
Informal hiace vans run on every island; the airport company gives a minimum of about 100 CVE a trip. They are shared and leave when full, so they suit a light bag in daylight better than a family with suitcases after dark.
Sources: Cabo Verde AirportsPublic transportation at the airportsUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeCape Verde travel advice: safety and security
What is at the airport
Amílcar Cabral is the country’s largest airport, the airport company says, with a 3,000-metre runway and capacity for 2,000 passengers an hour. Its service directory lists a BCA bank, the Cotacâmbios exchange office and a luggage-protection (wrapping) service; the tourism board says Alou and Unitel T+ sell SIM cards at the airport.
- The airport’s list of luggage services names wrapping services only — no left-luggage desk.
Sources: Cabo Verde AirportsAmílcar Cabral International Airport (Portuguese page)Financial services at the airportsLuggage services at the airportsTurismo de Cabo VerdeTelecommunications and internet
Onward from Sal
Sal to Boa Vista is a 3 h 05 crossing on CV InterIlhas’ Redonda line, which does not sail every day: the schedule we read on 14 October 2026 showed no Sal–Boa Vista sailing at all. The non-national fare is 2,500 CVE. For Santiago or São Vicente, a domestic flight is the practical choice.
Sources: CV InterIlhasRoutes, schedules and crossing timesPassenger tariff (national and non-national)
Turtle season on Sal
Projeto Biodiversidade, the conservation group on Sal, asks visitors to watch nesting turtles only on tours with certified guides and to stay off all beaches at night from June until October. It gives two windows it does not reconcile: watching is “only allowed” from 15 July to 30 September, while its official 2026 dates run from 1 July to the end of September, excluding specific nesting beaches it does not name. Ask your guide which applies. Its information centre is on the beach next to Hotel RIU Funana in Santa Maria; visits are free and need no booking.
Sources: Projeto BiodiversidadeCabo Verde’s turtle seasonNature tourism on Sal
Pre-booked transfer
Landing late, with children or heavy bags?
A transfer booked ahead meets you at Sal (SID) and takes you to your door — useful after dark, with luggage, or when you would rather not negotiate a fare on arrival.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Check Sal (SID) transfer pricesSponsored
Where the bus is not enough
Booking through these links supports this free guide at no extra cost to you.
Guided trips for places public transport does not reach. Book only what the answer above leaves uncovered. For turtle walks, choose a certified guide and the official season.
Questions travellers ask
Is there a bus from Sal airport to Santa Maria?
No source we checked lists a scheduled bus. Taxis wait at arrivals and shared hiace vans run informally. A transfer booked ahead is another option, for example with a late landing or heavy bags.
Sources: Cabo Verde AirportsPublic transportation at the airports
Which taxis are official on Sal?
Blue and yellow ones, according to the UK government’s travel advice, which also recommends taking them from a rank or through your hotel.
Sources: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeCape Verde travel advice: safety and security
Can I change money or buy a SIM card at Sal airport?
Yes. The airport lists a BCA bank and the Cotacâmbios exchange office, and the tourism board says Alou and Unitel T+ sell SIM cards at the Sal and Praia airports.
Sources: Cabo Verde AirportsFinancial services at the airportsTurismo de Cabo VerdeTelecommunications and internet