Inter Island Travel report written by: Amy Foreman (27.10.2020)

Having recently travelled around the islands in Cabo Verde I have been asked to clear up the confusion on testing for COVID-19, so far.

Travelling within CV:  the only test needed is a rapid test (as PCR tests are needed for international flights both leaving and coming to Cabo Verde)

Rapid tests are needed for travelling within CV (between Islands) but are only needed when leaving SAL, SANTIAGO, SAO NICOLAU and FOGO. All other islands are not required to have tests when leaving them.

So for example if you travel from Sal to Sao Vicente you need a rapid test but if you travel from Sao Vicente to Sal you don’t.

All rapid tests need to be under 72 hours old (from time of result) and range from 1000 escudos to 2000 escudos depending on where you get them done (private clinic or local clinic)

The rapid test is a pin prick on the finger and then the blood gets put on a test, it takes around 20 minutes to get the result.

You need a ticket for travel in order to get a rapid test in Cabo Verde. You also need to complete a form when travelling between ALL islands. This form is also required when travelling from Europe to Cabo Verde. Your luggage is also disinfected when leaving and entering each island. Face masks are MANDATORY while on boat or plane. When you get your test you are given a paper that shows your result, this must be presented when travelling along with your ticket and your form for travel. Pictures attached

What this means for people returning to Cabo Verde?

If you fly from Europe to Praia for example and then you want to travel from Praia to another island you will need to either travel within the 72 hours of having your PCR test in Europe or arrange a rapid test in Praia before you go to the next island. If you travel from Europe to Sao Vicente and then onto another island you DO NOT need to be in the 72 hours of your PCR test and you won’t need to arrange a rapid test for onward travel.

This also has effect on travelling by boat between the islands. For example on my recent holiday I needed a test to travel from Sal to Sao Nicolau, I then needed a test to travel from Sao Nicolau to Sao Vicente. No test needed to travel Sao Vicente to Santo Antao, also no test needed to travel Santo Antao to Sao Vicente. No test needed to travel Sao Vicent to Sal but because you need a test when leaving Sao Nicolau you cannot get off the boat on the way to Sal (boat from Sao Vicente – Sal stops in Sao Nicolau for around 5 hours)

These rules were put in place when Sal, Praia and Fogo had high numbers of covid-19 cases but has remained in place even though now Sal only has 8 cases (27th Oct). Now actually, Boa Vista has more cases than Sal but no test needed when leaving Boa Vista. Maybe they will update the rules or maybe not. Who knows!!!!

Inter Island Travel report written by: Amy Foreman (27.10.2020)