Getting to Praia and Around Santiago Island by Taxi and Aluguer

As the capital of an island archipelago 600 km off the coast of West Africa, Praia is reached by air at Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI) or by inter-island sea ferry at the Port of Praia.

From Nelson Mandela International Airport (RAI) to the city

Praia's international airport sits just 4 km northeast of the historic Plateau along a modern dual carriageway. Direct international flights arrive from Lisbon, Dakar, Casablanca and Ponta Delgada, alongside daily domestic turboprop hops from Sal, São Vicente (Mindelo), Boa Vista and Fogo. Because the terminal is so close to town, the simplest transfer is an official cream-or-blue airport taxi waiting outside the arrivals doors: the ride takes roughly 10 minutes to the Plateau and 15 minutes to the coastal hotels of Prainha, Quebra Canela and Achada Santo António.

Moving around Praia: walking and city taxis

Once you are up on the flat top of the Plateau, everything from the Pro-Cathedral to the Diogo Gomes cliff lookout is an easy ten-minute walk along level paved streets. Moving between the Plateau, Sucupira Market and the coastal districts of Achada Santo António, Quebra Canela and Prainha involves steep hills, and abundant city taxis operate on low, standardized flat fares for trips within the urban limits (always confirm the fare with the driver before setting off).

Exploring Santiago Island by shared aluguer or private driver

To visit Cidade Velha, Serra Malagueta or Tarrafal, you have two main choices:

• Shared aluguer (hiace) minibuses: the backbone of Santiago Island life. vans for Cidade Velha (25 minutes) depart from the southern end of Rotunda Terra Branca, while northbound aluguers climbing through São Domingos, Assomada and Serra Malagueta to Tarrafal (90 to 110 minutes) leave from the terminal right beside Sucupira Market as soon as all seats fill up.
• Private taxi charter or rental car: hiring a local driver for the day lets you stop at mountain viewpoints, the botanical garden at São Jorge dos Órgãos and hiking trailheads along both the central mountain road and the scenic eastern coastal highway.