Taxis & Rideshare in Praia (2026) - Apps, Fares & Tips
Find licensed yellow-and-white taxis at Praia Airport or the Plateau. Confirm fares beforehand and use hotel desks for pre-booked rides.
Safety Tips
Look for yellow taxis with a roof light and a small blue-and-white license plate on the rear bumper. Unlicensed cars usually lack both.
Most taxis in Praia don't have meters, agree on the fare in escudos before you get in. If the driver claims the meter is broken, negotiate or choose another cab.
Locals rely on the rideshare app Cabo Verde Apps (formerly TáxiCV) and, in central Praia, Bolt, both show driver details and track the route for added safety.
For solo or late-night trips, share your live location via WhatsApp with someone you trust and sit in the back seat. Drivers expect this and won't take offense.
Common Scams to Avoid
Drivers sometimes insist the meter is broken and quote an inflated flat fare for trips within Praia, from Nelson Mandela International Airport. Insist on using the meter or agree on a price before entering the taxi.
Taxi meters may be manipulated to run faster than normal, resulting in fares that are clearly too high for the distance traveled. Note the expected journey time from maps and question any fare that seems disproportionate.
Shared taxis (aluguers) occasionally try to charge tourists the private-hire rate instead of the standard per-seat fare; confirm you're paying the shared-ride price before boarding or use clearly marked private taxis if you prefer exclusivity.
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