Getting around Santiago — Praia to Cidade Velha

What is a hiace?

A hiace (pronounced "yah-see") is a collective minivan — usually a Toyota Hiace — that works as Santiago Island's informal bus network. There are no fixed timetables: vans gather at hubs like Mercado de Sucupira in Praia, passengers shout their destination, and the driver leaves when the vehicle is full. As anthropologists Gerard Horta and Daniel Malet showed in their study of Santiago's roads, the hiace is not just transport — it moves people, goods, conversations and much of the island's social life (El País, AIBR).

Hiace, taxi or clone?

Praia → Cidade Velha step by step

1. 1Go to a hiace hub in Praia — usually Mercado de Sucupira (bottom of the steps from the Plateau) or the Palmarejo roundabout stop (see map). Both serve Cidade Velha.
2. 2Find the van for Cidade Velha — shout your destination; drivers will point you to the right vehicle.
3. 3Board and wait to leave — usually 5–15 minutes, though vans sometimes head off half-full. Along the way the driver may stop at other villages or junctions; that's normal. The stops on our map are the usual ones for this Praia–Cidade Velha trip.
4. 4Pay the driver in cash at the end — typically 100–150 CVE (about €1–1.50). Prices can vary; confirm if unsure.
5. 5Important: ask the driver to let you off at the cathedral corner on the main road (EN3), just before the van turns down towards Pelourinho plaza. Turn at that first corner — about 2 minutes on foot uphill to our dive center.
6. 6If nobody says anything, the hiace continues to Pelourinho plaza (see map). You can still walk to us, but it's longer and mostly uphill.

Where to catch the hiace — and where to get off

Orange pins: hiace departures in Praia (Sucupira & Palmarejo). Green pin: ask to get off here (~2 min walk to us). Orange on land: Pelourinho plaza. Purple: our dive center.

Once you're in Cidade Velha

Get off at the cathedral corner (green pin) and you'll reach us on R. Direita de São Sebastião in about 2 minutes on foot. If you end up at Pelourinho plaza, allow 10–15 minutes uphill. For the return trip, board at Pelourinho plaza — hiaces leave from there and you're more likely to get a seat. You can also catch one at the cathedral corner, same stop but heading the opposite way. Service roughly 6:00–20:00.

Taxi, car hire & getting around

Need a door-to-door ride? We can share trusted taxi contacts — message us on WhatsApp. Praia–Cidade Velha is typically €20–25; airport–Cidade Velha around €30 (agree the price before you go).

You can also rent a car or motorbike on Santiago if you plan to explore the island. Handy for Tarrafal or remote beaches — but if you're staying in Cidade Velha, the village is very small: everything is within walking distance and you won't need wheels day to day.

Day trip: hiace to Tarrafal

From Praia you can also take a hiace to Tarrafal — a beautiful bay on the north coast of Santiago, popular for a beach day. Vans usually leave from Sucupira or the Várzea area; the ride takes about 1.5–2 hours. No fixed timetable — leave when full. Worth it if you have a free day between dives.

Tips for divers

• Allow extra time before your dive — hiaces don't run to a schedule.
• Tell the driver you want to get off at the cathedral corner — don't assume they'll stop there.
• Bring small cash (CVE). Drivers may accept euro notes; change is usually in escudos.
• Keep bags compact; vans can get very full.
• If you're staying several days, consider sleeping in Cidade Velha — see our recommended stays walking distance from us. Once here, you won't need transport.
• Landing at the airport? We can put you in touch with a trusted taxi (~€30 to Cidade Velha) — or taxi to Praia + hiace from Sucupira.

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