Overview
This Cape Verde island-hopping holiday is a self-guided adventure with hikes across three of the tropical Atlantic archipelago’s idylls. Starting in Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, considered the cultural capital of Cape Verde, you then spend five nights on the island of Santo Antão, following trails through deep, fruit-filled valleys, such as Paúl Valley, with a backdrop of volcanoes and dramatic seascapes. Your last three nights are on the island of Fogo (transport to the island is not included), where, amongst many trails, you get a chance to take a guided hike up Mount Pico (2,892m), a simmering volcano that last erupted in 2014. Staying in small, traditional hotels throughout.
- Cape Verde’s islands of São Vicente, Santo Antão and Fogo
- Paúl Valley
- Pico de Antónia (1,392m)
- Cova volcanic crater
- Mount Pico/Pico do Fogo (2,892m)
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Mindelo, São Vicente
A private transfer takes you from the airport to your accommodation in Mindelo, the island of São Vicente’s capital. Depending on your arrival time, visit Cesária Évora Museum to learn about the life and work of the famous singer Cesária Évora, who was born in the city. Alternatively, head to Laginha Beach to relax before your first day of walking.
- Accommodation: Casa Colonial or similar in Mindelo
Day 2: São Vicente – Paúl Valley, Santo Antão | 8.5km
A transfer takes you to the ferry port for a crossing to Porto Novo, on the island of Santo Antão (1h, included). Upon arrival in Porto Novo, a transfer takes you to the starting point of your hike in Pombas. The hike crosses Paúl Valley, one of the greenest valleys among Cape Verde’s islands. The route descends through hamlets and terraces of bananas, mangoes, passionfruit and sugarcane. Begin your ascent up Pico de Antónia (1,392m), taking in the view over Paúl Valley. At the end of the walk, a transfer takes you to your accommodation in Ponta do Sol.
- Walking for the day: 8.5km, 4-5h, ↑700m ↓320m
- Accommodation: B&B Coração Ponta do Sol or similar in Ponta do Sol
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch
Day 3: Ponta do Sol – Chã de Igreja | 14km
Leaving from your accommodation, follow a path carved into the rock, heading towards the village of Corvo, from where the route joins a coastal path, leading through abandoned villages. Stop for a rest at Praia das Aranhas, a black sandy beach where you may spot turtles nesting in season, before arriving in the village of Cruzinha. From here is just a short walk to your overnight destination, Chã de Igreja.
- Walking for the day: 14km, 5h, ↑750m ↓750m
- Accommodation: Mamiwata Eco Village or similar in Chã de Igreja
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 4: Ribeira Grande Valley | 13.5km
A short transfer to Coculi (40mins included) to the start of the hike, before commencing the walk through Ribeira Grande Valley starts from your accommodation. Head through terraced fields and luscious gardens, surrounded by an abundance of banana trees, mango trees and coffee plants. For lunch, Augusta, an inhabitant of the João Alfonso hamlet, will prepare a traditional Cape Verde dish: the cachupa. Continue through the valley to Boca de Coruja, where your driver awaits to transfer you to your accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 13.5km, 4-5h, ↑670m ↓560m
- Accommodation: Mamiwata Eco Village or similar in Chã de Igreja
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5: João Afonso Valley – Corda Road | 8km
Walk along a partially paved path in the João Alfonso valley, passing through terraced crops of corn and sisal. The path winds around basalt cones, ridges, through pastures and small hamlets before reaching the high plateaus of Espongeiros, amongst pine and eucalyptus trees. End the walk with a transfer to the central part of the island and check in for two nights.
- Walking for the day: 8km, 5h, ↑1,200m ↓115m
- Accommodation: Casa Santos Pinto guesthouse or similar in Ribeira das Patas
- Upgraded accommodation: Quinta Cochete or similar in Ribeira das Patas
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 6: Bordeira de Norte | 13km
After a short transfer to the starting point, walk to Bordeira do Norte, with a path that overlooks Ribeira das Patas. Follow the ascending path through an ochre-coloured landscape to reach the plateau, where views extend over the island, Tope de Coroa (1,979m) and as far as the island of São Vicente. Descend to the village via a very steep paved path, arriving back at your accommodation.
- Walking for the day: 13km, 6-7h, ↑890m ↓1,120m
- Accommodation: Casa Santos Pinto guesthouse or similar in Ribeira das Patas
- Upgraded accommodation: Quinta Cochete or similar in Ribeira das Patas
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Day 7: Curral das Vacas – Alto Mira | 7.5km
Follow a path in the western foothills of Ribeira das Patas, crossing a canyon and climbing towards ridges dominated by basalt needles, towering volcanic rock formations. The path winds between green oases and lava walls reaching several metres in height before descending into the Ribeira Alta valley. Walk past hamlets with mango, papaya and banana plantations, as well as sugarcane fields. An afternoon transfer takes you to Porto Novo, to take the ferry back to Mindelo and São Vicente (included), where you are then transferred to your hotel in Mindelo.
- Walking for the day: 7.5km, 3-4h, ↑600m ↓500m
- Accommodation: Casa Colonial or similar in Mindelo
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch
Day 8: São Vicente to Santiago
Transfer to Mindelo airport for your flight to Praia. Upon your arrival, transfer to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day at leisure.
Note: depending on flight schedules, it is sometimes possible to travel from São Vicente to Fogo on the same day. In this case, the overnight stay in Praia will be postponed to the end of the program, on day 11.
- Accommodation: Oásis Atlântico Praiamar Hotel or similar in Praia
- Meals included: breakfast
Day 9: Santiago – Fogo
A transfer takes you to the airport in Praia for your flight to the island of Fogo (not included). Upon arrival in São Filipe on the island of Fogo, a transfer will pick you up from the airport and drive straight to the heart of the Caldera, in the hamlet of Chã das Caldeiras. After checking in, we suggest an exploration at your leisure of the crater and its petrified lava.
- Accommodation: Casa Marisa or similar in Chã das Caldeiras
- Meals included: breakfast, dinner
Day 10: Pico do Fogo | 11km
Today, climb Pico do Fogo (2,892m) with a local guide (included) and explore the crater. After the steep ascent, you are rewarded with extensive views over the island. Return to your accommodation for lunch, taking some time to unwind before setting off on a short circular walk to a lava tunnel, a cave formed by a previous volcanic eruption.
- Walking for the day: 11km, 5h, ↑1,000m ↓1,000m
- Accommodation: Casa Marisa or similar in Chã das Caldeiras
- Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11: Chã das Caldeiras– São Filipe | 12km
Today’s route heads north, descending towards the coastal town of Mosterios, with its coffee, banana and sugarcane crops. Explore old mansions and the abandoned airport to the west of the town. A transfer takes you to your accommodation in São Filipe, the capital of Fogo.
- Walking for the day: 12km, 5h, ↑100m ↓1,500m
- Accommodation: Pousada Bela Vista or similar in São Filipe
- Meals included: breakfast, picnic lunch
Day 12: Departure
After breakfast, a transfer takes you to São Filipe Airport on Fogo for your departure to Nelson Mandela Praia International Airport on Santiago (not included), where you can then catch an international flight.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour includes a mix of small, locally-owned hotels, B&Bs and traditional guesthouses. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria, including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view default hotels
- Casa Colonial (Mindelo)
- B&B Coração Ponta do Sol (Ponta do Sol)
- Mamiwata Eco Village (Chã de Igreja)
- Casa Santos Pinto (Ribeira das Patas)
- Oásis Atlântico Praiamar Hotel (Praia)
- Casa Marisa (Chã das Caldeiras)
- Pousada Bela Vista (São Filipe)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Click to view upgraded hotel
- Quinta Cochete (Ribeira das Patas)
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel or guesthouse being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
All breakfasts are included. Eight lunches (six picnic lunches, one lunch at Casa Marisa and one lunch at Casa Augusta) and six dinners are also included. Dinner, when not included, is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is rated moderate to strenuous, with daily walking distances ranging between 7-15km. Daily elevation gains and losses both range from 100-1,200m. Sure-footedness and a good level of fitness is required to get the most out of this tour (read more about difficulty grades).
The routes are not well waymarked, but you will be provided with detailed tour materials, including route descriptions, road notes and maps, and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available from October to June. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, meaning you can start your trip on any date during the season.
The best months to visit Cape Verde are generally between November and June. During this period, the weather is warm and dry, and pleasant for walking, with average temperatures ranging between 21-25C. There is less rainfall and lower humidity during these months, compared to the rest of the year. See also our blog on Top tips for visiting Cape Verde.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended arrival airport is Cesária Évora Airport on the island of São Vicente and our recommended departure airport is Nelson Mandela Praia International Airport on the island of Santiago.
- Arrival and departure airport transfers are included (when arriving at Cesária Évora Airport and departing from São Filipe Airport)
- For your departure, catch a domestic flight from São Filipe Airport on Fogo Island to Nelson Mandela Praia International Airport on Santiago for an international flight
Visa requirements
All tourists who intend to travel to Cape Verde are required to pre-register through here up to 5 days before the start of the trip and pay the Airport Security Fee (TSA). For more information please visit Portal Consular de Cabo Verde.
Inclusions
Included
- Eleven nights accommodation
- Eleven breakfasts
- Six dinners on days three, four, five, six, nine and ten
- Six picnics on days two, three, five, six, seven, and eleven
- One traditional cachupa lunch at Casa Augusta on day four and one lunch at Casa Marisa on day ten
- Private transfers as listed in the program
- Round-trip ferry between São Vicente and Santo Antão on days two and seven
- Luggage transfers when changing hotels (one piece of luggage per person, up to 20kg)
- Tourist taxes
- Detailed digital tour materials, including GPS-checked and regularly updated route descriptions, road notes and maps. Please note that the information pack is emailed to you prior to departure; no printed tour materials are provided
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- International flights arriving and departing Cape Verde
- Domestic flights São-Vicente-Santiago-Fogo and vice versa (tickets to be purchased by us and paid separately)
- Visa required to enter Cape Verde
- Any lunches and dinners not listed as included
- Drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses or tips
- Entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not explicitly listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM). Please note that our local partner on the ground recommends Alou, which can be bought at the airport in Cape Verde, as it’s cheaper and has the best coverage across the islands.
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- We regret that this tour is not open to solo travellers
- Extra nights
- Accommodation upgrade in Ribeira das Patas
- Half-day guided trip of Mindelo on day one
- Self-guided half-day trip from Praia Grande to Calhau on day one
