Cape Verde: Best trails of Santiago and Fogo islands

What's Included

Meeting and pickup

Itinerary

Day 1
Arrival in Praia (Santiago Island) – Airport Transfer – Hotel Check in
1 stop
1
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 in Praia. Our team will take you from door to door with complete security and professionalism, providing all relevant information about your stay. Overnight in Praia.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
Day 2
Santiago Island: Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha
8 stops
2
Praia
After a delicious breakfast, be collected from your accommodation in Praia and depart toward the small village of Calabaceira.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
3
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. There, get in touch with local farmers and their agricultural fields of sugar cane, mango trees, cassava, banana, and more.
2 hours 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
4
Cidade Velha of Ribeira Grande - World Heritage Site
Arrive in Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit the São Francisco Convent, the famous Banana Street, Nossa Senhora do Rosário church and Pilourinho.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
5
Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande
. Have a break for lunch and savor local delights in a typical restaurant right on the seafront.
1 hour • Admission ticket included
6
Get to know the history of the slave market, Pilourinho.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
7
Sé Cathedral (ruins)
After lunch, visit the ruins of the Sé Catedral, and the Royal Fortress of São Filipe.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
8
Fortaleza Real de San Felipe
Know the system of differences against attacks by pirates.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
9
Praia
Hotel drop-off. Overnight in Praia. DURATION Every day from 9 am to 3 pm (6 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.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 3
Trekking in Serra Malagueta Natural Park + Assomada Market + Tarrafal Beach
5 stops
10
Assomada Market
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).
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket free
11
Serra de Malagueta
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. 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.
30 minutes • Admission ticket included
12
Serra Malagueta Natural Park (Santiago)
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.
3 hours • Admission ticket included
13
Tarrafal Beach
After the walk, drive to Tarrafal Beach where you can spend some free time chilling on the shore.
2 hours • Admission ticket free
14
Praia
Hotel drop-off. Overnight in Praia. DURATION: Every day from 8 am to 5 pm (9 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.
5 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 4
From Praia: Fogo island Tour to Volcano
8 stops
15
Start your day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation and then be picked up at your accommodation and transferred to Nelson Mandela International Airport for your 35-minute flight to Fogo Island.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
16
Fogo Airfield (São Filipe)
Upon arrival, depart toward São Filipe, the capital of the island.
10 minutes • Admission ticket included
17
Sao Filipe
Here, explore “Sobrados” and wander around this charming little town lined with colorful colonial houses.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
18
Municipal Museum
Next, head to the Municipal Museum and appreciate the simplicity of the objects that portray the local history.
15 minutes • Admission ticket included
19
Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceicao sao filipe
Visit to a local Church
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
20
Achada Fuma
Head inland to the small villages of Achada Furna and Cabeça Fundão. There, learn about the history of the residents who had their houses submerged by the lava from the recent volcanic eruption of 2014.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
21
Parque Natural do Fogo
Arrive at Chã das Caldeiras National Park and admire un interrupted views of the volcano and rugged surrounding landscape. Marvel with an amazing view from the foot of Cape Verde's highest mountain, the active volcano, one of the best attractions in the country.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
22
Cha das Caldeiras
After that, take a break for the well-deserved lunch in a local atmosphere and buy or taste at your expense one of the best wines in the world. Overnight in Chã das Caldeiras.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 5
From Chã das Caldeiras: Pico do Fogo Volcano Hiking
4 stops
23
Casa Marisa 2.0
Get picked up at your accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras and walk with your guide until reaching the foot of the Volcano.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included
24
Pico Do Fogo
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, where the last eruption occurred in 2014.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
25
Parque Natural do Fogo
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. Feel the sensation of touching the sky above the clouds and start descending the steep descent of ash for half an hour, sinking your knee-high in Lapilli, a lifetime experience.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
26
Cha das Caldeiras
Hotel drop-off. Overnight in Chã das Caldeiras. DURATION: Every day, from 6 am to 1 pm. ROUTE FILE: Extension: 9 Km Total Walking Duration: 4 - 5hours Difficult degree: Difficult Ascent: ~2800 m Path quality: Tilted and Narrow. Ramping up steeply through ash and sliding
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 6
Hiking Chã das Caldeiras – Coffee Plantation – Mosteiros & Dip into a Natural Pool
4 stops
27
Monte Velha
Get picked up at your hotel in Chã das Caldeiras and start your hiking adventure through the north's protected forest and some descent path. Cross the steep northeast side of the volcano and be amazed by the unique sea landscape with the sight of the neighboring Santiago Island. Stick the road and walk through small residences built on lava rock terraces, banana, orange and coffee plantations. Enjoy the local environment and an intact nature filled of the scents of oranges and the noise of children and roosters.
3 hours • Admission ticket free
28
Mosteiros
After the locality of Pai António, arrive at the center of the Mosteiros and get to know the local vibe you will never forget, a predominantly agricultural municipality, whose dominant crops are: coffee, grape, cotton and purgueira. Most of the Mosteiros territory is covered with lavas resulting from a series of volcanic eruptions that happened over time.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
29
Estrada Salina
After the walk, enjoy a well-deserved lunch in a local environment and then be transferred to Salinas de São José, and if the weather allows, enjoy a dip into its beautiful natural pool, one of the best bathing spots on the island.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
30
Sao Filipe
Hotel drop-off. Overnight in São Filipe. DURATION: Every day, from 8 am to 3 pm ROUTE FILE: Extension: 10 Km Path quality: Steep descents through the hike. Navigationally easy. Difficult degree: Moderated Total Walking Duration: 4-5 hours
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
Day 7
From Fogo: Praia City Tour & Praia By Night
9 stops
31
Fogo
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 São Filipe and at agreed time be picked up and transferred to Fogo airport.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
32
Aeródromo
Catch your flight back to Santiago and say goodbye to Fogo.
35 minutes • Admission ticket free
33
Arrive at Praia Airport and be trasnfered to the City Center.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
34
Praia City Hall
Take a break for the lunch and then head to the historical center of Plateau.
1 hour • Admission ticket free
35
Quartel Jaime Mota
Start the walking discovery tour through the Jaime Mota Military Barracks, passing by the Presidential Palace and the Alexandre Albuquerque Square.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free
36
Monumento de Diogo Gomes
The statue of the official discoverer of Santiago Island.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free
37
Praca Alexandre Albuquerque
Guided visit t the main square.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
38
Mercado Municipal di Praia
In the Municipal Market (closed on Sundays), meet locals and find a diversity of local fruits and vegetables.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free
39
Quintal da Música
At evening, be transferred to one of the most popular restaurant of Santiago Island. There, enjoy live local music band and relish the most famous dish ever made in Cape Verde, Katxupa, a slow cooked stew of corn, beans, cassava, sweet potato, fish or meat and more. The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation. DURATION: Every day, from 9 am to 3 pm and 7:30 pm to 11 pm
2 hours • Admission ticket included
Day 8
Goodbye Cabo Verde
1 stop
40
Praia
Start your last day with a delicious breakfast at your accommodation in Praia and then enjoy your free time according to the flight schedules. Check out from the accommodation and at agreed time be picked up and transferred to Nelsom Mandela international airport. Take your international flight back home and say goodbye to "La Morabeza Crioula". Hotel check-out time: 12h00
15 minutes • Admission ticket free

Additional info

• Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
• Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
• • This tour starts and ends in Praia (Santiago Island);
• • The rum production season runs from January 1 st to May 31st
• • Please bring passport, hiking shoes, sandals/flip flops, confortable shoes, a towel, a hat, swimwear, and sunscreen;
• • Lunch and diner includes fish, meet or main dish + dessert + water. Vegetariam food available upon request.

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