Itinerary
- Day 1
Lisbon to São Vicente
You'll land in São Vicente around midday after your flight through Lisbon. From the airport, it's a short transfer to the OURIL Hotel Mindelo, situated in Mindelo itself. This port town serves as Cape Verde's cultural center and has quite a bit of maritime heritage worth learning about during your time here.
- Meals
- Dinner
Landmarks Mindelo - Day 2
Porto Novo to Ponta do Sol
The ferry from São Vicente to Santo Antão takes about an hour. Once there, you'll drive through some steep mountain passes to reach Ribeira Grande and Coculi. The hike through Figuera valley is gentle and winds past small villages where locals grow corn, beans, manioc, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane. The walk ends at Ponta do Sol.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry transfer from São Vicente to Santo Antão
- Guided hike through Figuera valley
Landmarks Ribeira Grande Coculi Figuera Valley Cha de Pedras Valley Ponta do Sol - Day 3
Fontainhas Coastal Hike
This morning takes you hiking to Fontainhas, a village that sits right on coastal cliffs. You'll walk along the Atlantic cliffs, sometimes near the surf and other times high above it. The ocean views are really something. After, you head back down to Ponta do Sol.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box)
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Fontainhas
- Coastal cliff walk with Atlantic views
Landmarks Fontainhas - Day 4
Ribeira Grande
Start your day watching fishermen come back into Ponta do Sol harbor. Later, grab grilled sawfish at a small café right by the water. You'll visit a kindergarten in Ribeira Grande that's supported by the Sodade association. If you want something more active, there's snorkeling on the rocky coast or a short hike in Ribeira Grande.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to kindergarten in Ribeira Grande
Optional Activities
- Snorkeling on the rocky coast
- Short hike in Ribeira Grande
Landmarks Ponta do Sol Harbor Ribeira Grande - Day 5
Ribeira do Paul Valley to Porto Novo
You'll drive through Ribeira Grande and Vila das Pombas heading to Boca de Figueral. The hike through Ribeira do Paul valley is lush with green vegetation. Small settlements surrounded by mango and breadfruit trees dot the route as you work toward Pico de Antonio, finishing at Cha Manuel do Santos village. There's a grogue distillery stop before heading to Porto Novo.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Ribeira do Paul valley
- Visit to grogue distillery
Landmarks Ribeira Grande Vila das Pombas Boca de Figueral Ribeira do Paul Pico de Antonio Cha Manuel do Santos Porto Novo - Day 6
Ribeira das Patas Valley
The drive takes you through desert-like terrain into a rugged mountain range. A pass road winds through steep peaks and opens into the fertile Ribeira das Patas valley. You'll use old mule tracks to reach Bordera do Norte, then descend on a spectacular cobbled path back into the valley below.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Ribeira das Patas valley
Landmarks Ribeira das Patas Valley Bordera do Norte - Day 7
Santo Antão to São Vicente to Santiago
After taking the ferry back to São Vicente, you'll check into a hotel for the day. Later in the afternoon or evening, you fly to Santiago and transfer to beachfront accommodation there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Landmarks São Vicente Santiago Praia - Day 8
Praia
A guided tour takes you through Praia, Santiago's capital. Then you'll hike into the Ribeira Grande oasis valley where lush vegetation and water sources create a green contrast to the drier landscape outside.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Praia
- Hike through Ribeira Grande oasis valley
Landmarks Praia Ribeira Grande - Day 9
Green Valleys and Plantations
Santiago's known as the most African of Cape Verde's islands. You'll hike through green valleys with sugar cane and mango plantations below Pico da Antonio. Small hamlets along the way show how traditional life continues here.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through green valleys with plantations
Landmarks Pico da Antonio - Day 10
Praia to Fogo Island
A flight brings you to Fogo, where you'll drive into the caldera of this massive volcanic crater. The hike to Pico Pequeno, the youngest volcano in Cape Verde, shows off dramatic volcanic landscape and interesting geological formations.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Pico Pequeno
Landmarks Fogo Pico Pequeno Fogo Volcano Caldera - Day 11
Volcanic Crater Hike
You'll climb steep ash fields and scree slopes to reach the crater rim of Fogo volcano, which is the second highest mountain in the Atlantic. From the rim, the views take in sulfur deposits, the vast caldera, and the sea beyond. The descent is quick over loose lava fields. There's also a less strenuous option to hike through the caldeira with a local guide. Later you drive to São Filipe.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike to Fogo crater rim
Optional Activities
- Alternative guided hike through caldeira
Landmarks Fogo Crater São Filipe - Day 12
Fogo to Tarrafal
You transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. Depending on flight times, you'll have the rest of the day to relax by the pool or beach at your beachside hotel in Tarrafal.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Pool and beach relaxation
Landmarks Tarrafal - Day 13
Serra Malagueta Hike
The hike through Serra Malagueta nature park follows narrow paths through green valleys with impressive rock formations and agricultural terraces everywhere. You'll see the coast and surrounding mountains from various viewpoints, and spot endemic plants and birds along the paths.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (lunch box), Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided hike through Serra Malagueta nature park
Landmarks Serra Malagueta - Day 14
Tarrafal to Santiago
Your final day is flexible and you can arrange activities based on what you'd like to do. Your room stays available until the farewell dinner in the evening. After dinner, you head to the airport for your late night flight home.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (farewell dinner)
Optional Activities
- Optional activities in Tarrafal
- Day 15
Lisbon to Frankfurt
You arrive in Lisbon in the morning and then take your connecting flight back to Frankfurt.
