Off the coast of West Africa rests Cape Verde, an archipelago marvel of volcanic origin. Many have been enamored by the islands’ biodiversity and geologic inception, and after this 9-day island-hopping tour, you will understand why. Traverse natural wonders, learn about the historical background, and feel the morabeza hospitality. Islands of Santiago, Fogo, and Sal each bring something new to the table, whether it’s capturing a mirage in an African desert, hiking up an active volcano, or dancing to the tunes of Creole morna music. We don’t want to spoil everything, but you can trust Charles Darwin when he says that there’s an unspeakable pleasure of walking under a tropical sun in Cape Verde—witness it yourself!
Cape Verde has it all—mountains to climb, sandy beaches next to turquoise waters to unwind at, and fantastic cuisine to try out. This 9-day hiking tour takes you to three islands: Santiago, Fogo, and Sal, with each of them offering novelties you won’t see elsewhere. One day you’re sleeping in bungalows with a mighty volcano towering over you, the other you’re sipping a cocktail in a hotel overlooking the bay. With the friendliest and most knowledgeable guides you can imagine, you’ll never want to leave this archipelago country.
Your whole first day is dedicated to arriving at Santiago Island and relaxing at your hotel. Your accommodation for the Santiago stay is ApartHotel Deluxe or Hotel Santa Maria, both of them in the city center, the safest area of the town. Feel free to go out and explore the city or go to one of the many quality restaurants near your hotel. Prepare for the adventure ahead!
The early bird gets the worm, so make sure you’re ready everyday at 8 a.m. Drive through the mountains to the Serra Malagueta Natural Park. As you traverse the green park with lush peaks surrounding you, listen to your tour guide talk about the local flora and fauna—spanning 774 hectares, the park is home to 28 endemic plants and 8 endemic bird species. After the tour, head to one of Santiago’s best hidden gems: the Cuba Natural Pool. Enjoy basking in the sun while the guides prepare a barbecue, followed by a drive back to your accommodation in Praia.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 8.5km/ 5 miles
Today’s schedule takes you to the verdant volcanic valley of Calabaceira, where you’ll pass by the famous baobab tree—the tree of life— recognized by Charles Darwin in his writings. Talk with the local farmers and ramble through their fields of sugar cane, mangos, bananas, cassavas, and more! After that, head to Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Learn about the city’s history as the first European colonial town in the tropics, its transatlantic slavery role and pirate attacks. Tour preserved 15th-century remnants: São Francisco Convent, Banana Street, the former slave market, and the Royal Fortress of São Fillipe. Savor the local cuisine at a typical Cape Verdean restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Hiking: 5km/ 3 miles
Change of islands! Take a 35-minute flight to Fogo Island, and head straight for its capital São Filipe. Wander around this charming city and admire sobrados, colorful colonial houses. Go to the Municipal Museum, where you’ll acquaint yourself with the local history. Next up is Cape Verde’s highest mountain: admire the active Fogo volcano of the Chã das Caldeiras National Park. It’s time to relish the local cuisine at tonight’s dinner, accompanied by the sounds of Creole music. The tunes and the locals’ morabeza, meaning hospitality, will be inviting you to go dancing! Feel free to explore the town on your own—we suggest tasting some of the best wines on Earth. Accommodation for the following two days is one of a kind: recharge your batteries in round-shaped bungalows with an epic backdrop of the mighty volcano.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Embark on a guided hike up Pico do Fogo, the highest mountain in Cape Verde rising 2,829 meters (9,281 ft). Go to Chã das Caldeiras at 1,730m (5,676 ft) and stroll through vines, apple, fig, and pear trees. Learn about the most recent eruption that covered the city with lava. Trekking this arid landscape, reach the crest of the mountain—the third highest mountain in the Atlantic Ocean. Take in panoramic views of the island, maybe even the neighboring islands if the weather serves you! Have a picnic at the top, after which you can start the descent, running down towards Chã das Caldeiras in the lava ash. Last night in the bungalows!
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Hiking: 9km/ 5.5 miles
Your final island of the tour is Sal Island. As you land, head to your Odjo d’Agua hotel in Santa Maria. Dinner with a view of the bay, a stroll through the city center, or a wonderful sand beach right in front of the hotel—the choice is yours. Enjoy Santa Maria by night.
Meals: Breakfast
The west coast of the island is the starting point of your quad bike adventure. Drive to the Lion Mountain in Murdeira Bay, the Fontona oasis, and the fishing village of Palmeira, the main port on the island. Keep going to the northwestern part and admire the natural swimming pools of Burracona. Continue on to Terra Boa, a true African desert, where you’ll experience mirage effects. Stop at the top of Pedra de Lume, with the old crater of a volcano, and find the second most salty water in the world. Final stop is Shark Bay, where you can check out lemon sharks in their natural habitat. Head back to Santa Maria and enjoy the rest of the day!
Meals: Breakfast
Today’s all about soaking up those last rays of sunshine on the Santa Maria Beach. Splash around in crystal clear waters or feel free to ask your friendly guides for any pieces of advice on what to do in the city. You’ve got the whole day to yourself!
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up and transferred to the island airport. Fly back to Santiago and catch your flight back home. If you’re not yet ready to say goodbye to “La Morabeza Crioula”, feel free to ask your guides for advice on accommodation and activities. They’ll be glad to help you!
Meals: Breakfast
57hours is committed to providing safe outdoor adventure experiences. We require all guides using our platform to have a COVID-19 safety plan and to make the details of that plan accessible to travelers. In most cases, group sizes will be reduced, guides will avoid overcrowded locations, and other safety measures will be met depending on the location and activity.
We also expect clients to respect local regulations and take measures to protect themselves, their guides, and the communities they’re traveling to. For more information on COVID-19 measures in Cape Verde, please refer to Cape Verde’s Travel Recommendations.
Please contact us if you have any questions or require further information. We are happy to provide you with the most up-to-date information!
What you get on this adventure:
It is possible to cater to special dietary requirements, such as vegan or vegetarian diets. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.
Domestic flights have luggage restrictions. Checked-in luggage includes 1 suitcase up to 23 kg/ 50 lbs and you can bring 1 carry-on bag up to 5 kg/ 11 lbs per person.
What’s not included:
No previous hiking experience is necessary for the guided hiking tour in Cape Verde, but you still need to have reasonably good fitness. In terms of terrain difficulty, almost all hikes are easy-going, apart from the volcano tour which is somewhat strenuous. The most you’ll hike per day is 9km (5.5 miles), with 1,050m (3,445 ft) of elevation gain. Not all days will be hiking days, though, so if you can walk for 6 hours for several days, you’re good to go!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and prices:
Min. age requirements:
If your group has hikers under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
Your tour starts on the island of Santiago, in the capital city Praia. To get there, most people fly into the Nelson Mandela International Airport, usually from Lisbon. Your guide will come pick you up from the airport and take you to your accommodation in Praia. They’ll also drop you off at the Amílcar Cabral International Airport at the end of the tour.
A $300 deposit to secure your place is due upon booking. The remaining amount is paid sixty (60) days prior to departure. Once the trip is confirmed by the guide, the cancellation policy stated below applies.
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Extremely happy with our trip to Cape Verde and the services provided. Everyone in the company was very friendly and helpful and our stay in Cape Verde went very smoothly. It’s a beautiful country with amazing people and Bu made everything easy and maximised our time. Highly recommend this company.