Cape Verde - Santiago, Fogo, São Vicente & Santo Antão Islands 11 Days

After disembarking, be welcomed by Your travel representative, who will be waiting for you at Nelson Mandela International Airport with a sign displaying your name, as informed by you. Then, enjoy a private and custom transfer from the airport to your accommodation. Our team will take you from door to door with complete security and professionalism, providing all relevant information about your stay. Overnight in Praia.

After being collected from your accommodation in Praia, depart toward the small village of Calabaceira. Start your 3-hour hike from the top of the valley, with an oasis of vast vegetation emerging in its interior. Follow a simple and accessible trail for any hiker and explore the green valley famous for both its baobab trees mentioned by Charles Darwin and its use as an escape route for slaves during slavery. Next, discover the local fauna and flora and experience the production of a local rum-making distillery (The Rum production season runs from January 1 st to May 31st). There, get in touch with local farmers and their agricultural fields of sugar cane, mango trees, cassava, banana, and more. Arrive in Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the São Francisco Convent, the famous Banana Street and Nossa Senhora do Rosário church. Have a break for lunch and savor local delights in a typical restaurant right on the seafront. After lunch, visit the former slave market, the ruins of the Sé Catedral, and the Royal Fortress of São Filipe. From the top, enjoy a beautiful view over the whole old town and find out about the system of defense used against pirates. Overnight in Praia.

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DURATION: Every day from 08:30 am to 12:30 pm (4 hours)

ROUTE FILE     

Extension: 4500 meters || Ascent/Descent: ~300 m || Difficult degree: Easy  || Total Walking Duration: 2 hours || Path quality: Mediun tilt, narrow at the beginning and safe.

The day begins with pickup from your accommodation in Praia and heads inland to the traditional Assomada Market. Wander around the vibrant stalls and soak up the hustle and bustle of this island hub whilst watching the locals haggle for produce (on Wednesdays and Saturdays only). Drive to Serra Malgueta Natural Park next, where your trekking adventure awaits. Follow your guide as you head into the luscious landscapes of the Serra Malagueta Natural Park, which covers 774-hectacres. The park is home to the Serra Malagueta mountain range as well as over 124 species of plant, and 19 species of bird. Throughout the trek, listen to your guide share information about the local flora and fauna, many of which can only be found here in the park. There’s also the opportunity to see wildlife, including playful monkeys, a variety of reptiles, and colorful butterflies. Once you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, find a scenic spot for a well-deserved rest and enjoy a picnic lunch in the middle of the forest. After lunch, continue the walk to the end of the trail, then drive to Tarrafal Beach where you can spend some free time chilling on the shore. At the end of an unforgettable day, sit back and relax on the return journey to Praia. Overnight in Praia.

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DURATION Every day from 9 am to 5 pm (8 hours)

ROUTE FILE      

Extension: 4200 meters (1 way) || Ascent/Descent: ~200 m || Difficult degree: Easy  || Total Walking Duration: 3-4hours  || Path quality: Flat, wide and safe.

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation and then be picked up and transferred to Nelson Mandela International Airport for your 35-minute flight to Fogo Island. Upon arrival, depart toward São Filipe, the capital of the island. Discover the breathtaking beauty of Fogo volcano on this unforgettable day trip from São Filipe. Immerse yourself in the island’s culture as you pass through traditional villages and admire homes built from lava rock after the most recent volcanic eruption. Enjoy convenient pickup from your accommodation in São Filipe and relax during a scenic drive through the island’s dramatic landscapes. Along the way, stop in the charming rural villages of Patim, Achada Furna, and Cabeça Fundão. Upon arrival at Chã das Caldeiras National Park, take in spectacular panoramic views of Fogo Volcano, Cape Verde’s highest peak, which last erupted in 2014. Learn about the island’s unique geology, meet local residents, and explore a community shaped by volcanic activity. Walk across solidified lava fields, discover organic fruits cultivated in fertile volcanic soil, and gain insight into the local flora and fauna from your guide. Later, enjoy free time for lunch at your own expense in this extraordinary volcanic setting and taste traditional Cape Verdean delicacies accompanied by homemade local wine in a warm and authentic atmosphere. After an enriching experience in the heart of the volcano, your tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras. Overnight at Accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras.

DURATION Every day from 9 am to 2 pm.

Get picked up at your accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras and walk with your guide until reaching the foot of the Volcano. Start the climb and let your local guide adjust the rate of climbing according to your skills. After 3 hours, reach the highest peak in Cape Verde. From Pico do Fogo, the third highest mountain in the Atlantic Ocean, with 2829 meters of altitude, enjoy one of the most steep and spectacular volcanic cones in the world, the last eruption occurred in 2014. After that, take a break for the well-deserved picnic, contemplating an unforgettable 360-degree panoramic view over the entire island of Fogo and start the fun part of the day. Take a walk through the crater and feel the sensation of touching the sky above the clouds. Then, start descending the steep descent of ash for half an hour, sinking your knee-high in Lapilli, a lifetime experience. After doing one of the best things to do in Cape Verde, the tour ends by returning to your accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras. Overnight in Fogo.  

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DURATION: Every day, from 6 am to 1 pm.

ROUTE FILE   

Extension: 9 Km ||  Ascent:  ~2800 m  || Difficult degree: Difficult                       

Total Walking Duration: 4 - 5hours || Path quality: Tilted and Narrow. Ramping up steeply through ash and sliding

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation and get prepared to discover your next destination, São Vicente Island. Enjoy a private transfer from Chã das Caldeiras to Fogo Airport and then, catch your flight São Vicente. Land at Cesária Évora International Airport and be transfered to your hotel in Mindelo. Enjoy the quiet afternoon time vibe and relish a local dish at a local restaurant. In the evening, be picked up at your accommodation and depart toward one of the most popular restaurant of Mindelo. There, enjoy live music and relish local delights. The tour concludes with the evening transfer back to your accommodation. Overnight in Mindelo.

Begin your adventure with a guided walking tour of Mindelo, the vibrant capital of São Vicente. After that, take a scenic drive to Monte Verde Natural Park, where you'll enjoy stunning views from São Vicente's highest point.

Learn about the island's unique flora and fauna as you wander through this pristine landscape, and savor the taste of local tea.

Afterward, visit Baía das Gatas, where you can relax, take a refreshing swim, or simply unwind on the sandy shore.

End your day with a delicious lunch before embarking on a journey along the Norte Baía–Calhau road to explore the majestic sand dunes.

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DURATION: Every day, from 9 am to 2 pm 

Be picked up in São Vicente and then transferred to Mindelo harbor. Start a 1-hour ferry trip to Porto Novo in Santo Antão and upon arrival meet Your professional guide who will be waiting for you with a sign displaying your name. Then, be transferred to the Cova Natural Park, an extinct volcano, and start one of the hikers' favorite hike in Santo Antão. Marvel with an oasis of vast vegetation emerging within the crater, from 1,100 meters above sea level, where the locals have their agricultural fields. Head to its edge and enjoy the most breathtaking view ever, the impressive green valley of Paul that lies on the depths in front of you, in addition to the beautiful view of the ocean that lies 10 kilometers away. After that, start the zigzagging part of the hike; learn about the native flora and fauna, while crossing beautiful plantations of sugarcane, banana, mango, avocado, coconut and others. Finally, experience the production of a local rum in a traditional distillery and taste the famous “Grogue”. Overnight in Ponta do Sol.

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DURATION Every day from 6 am to 2 pm (5 - 6 hours)

ROUTE FILE   

Extension: ~7 Km  || Ascent: ~249 /Descent: ~1329 m  || Difficult Level: Moderate                          

Total Walking Duration: 2 - 3 hours   ||  Path quality: Good, narrow at the beginning and safe.

Start your day with breakfast at your accommodation before beginning your hike from Ponta do Sol, a charming waterfront fishing village with colorful houses. Follow a spectacular coastal road carved into steep cliffs, offering breathtaking ocean views along the way.

Continue along a narrow, winding mountain path surrounded by deep valleys until you reach the picturesque village of Fontainhas, considered by National Geographic as one of the villages with the most beautiful views in the world.

Descend along a scenic trail passing Corvo and Formiguinhas, enjoying dramatic landscapes and stunning viewpoints over the Aranhas valley. Arrive at Praia das Aranhas, a striking black sand beach known as a turtle nesting area, where swimming is possible depending on sea conditions. Here, enjoy a well-deserved rest and a picnic by the sea.

Afterward, continue your approximately 2.5-hour hike across volcanic terrain and coastal paths with spectacular ocean views until you reach Cruzinha, a small fishing village at the edge of the coast.

The hike ends with transfer to the port of Porto Novo, where you will take the ferry back to São Vicente. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your accommodation in Mindelo.

Overnight in Mindelo

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DURATION Every day from 9 am to 3 pm (6 hours)

ROUTE FILE    

Total distance: ~10 km || Duration: ~4 hours || Total ascent: ±650 m

 || Total descent: ±600 m || Difficulty level: Difficult

Route type: Continuous traverse with uphill, downhill, and flat sections 

Start your day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation and then explore Mindelo by your self. You may like to relax on the white sand of the most picturesque and beautiful beach on the Island, Laginha Beach, known for its white sand and turquoise waters. Overnight in São Pedro.

Start your last day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation and then enjoy your free time according to the flight schedules. Check out from the accommodation in Mindelo and at agreed time be picked up and transferred to Cesária Évora international airport. Catch your international flight back home and say goodbye to "La Morabeza Crioula".