Porto Novo and the morning ferry

Porto Novo exists because the ferry needs a dock. The town is hotter and drier than the north. Most visitors cross the island the same morning. That is fine if the boat is on time and the road is clear. It is a bad plan if you land at dusk.

How to use the port

Buy the ferry ticket in Mindelo the day before when you can. Mornings are the reliable crossing. Aluguers wait above the dock for Ponta do Sol, Ribeira Grande and Paúl. Agree the price before the bags go in the boot.

If you have an afternoon to spare, the market is a better hour than a rushed photo stop. Sleep in the north. Porto Novo is a door, not a holiday.