Cape Verde: Best trails of Santiago and Fogo islands

Discover Santiago and Fogo Island's best hiking and trekking trails with a local guide. Go adventure through volcanoes, national parks, green valleys, coffee plantations, UNESCO Heritage Sites, a natural pool and, marvel at the incredible view from top of Cape Verde's highest mountain.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Praia (Santiago Island) – Airport Transfer – Hotel Check in

Stop At: Nelson Mandela-Praia International Airport, Cidade da Praia - Ilha de Santiago - Caixa Postal nº 265, Praia, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 15 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Casa Sodade in Praia (Santiago Island) or similar;
Check-in starts at 2pm.

Day 2: Santiago Island: Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
After a delicious breakfast, be collected from your accommodation in Praia and depart toward the small village of Calabaceira.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Ribeira Calabaceira Cidade, Universidade de Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

Stop At: Cidade Velha of Ribeira Grande - World Heritage Site, Ribeira Grande, Santo Antao Cape Verde
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.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Cidade Velha, Historic Centre of Ribeira Grande, Igreja de Nossa Sra. do Rosario, Cidade Velha, Santiago 1110 Cape Verde
. Have a break for lunch and savor local delights in a typical restaurant right on the seafront.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Pelourinho, W97V+XXR, National Highway, Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
Get to know the history of the slave market, Pilourinho.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Sé Cathedral (ruins), Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
After lunch, visit the ruins of the Sé Catedral, and the Royal Fortress of São Filipe.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Fortaleza Real de San Felipe, Rua de Forteleza, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Know the system of differences against attacks by pirates.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
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.

Duration: 5 minutes

Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Casa Sodade in Praia (Santiago Island) or similar;

Day 3: Trekking in Serra Malagueta Natural Park + Assomada Market + Tarrafal Beach

Stop At: Assomada Market, Durchzugstrassevon Praia nach Tarrafal, Assomada, Santiago 7310 Cape Verde
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).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Serra de Malagueta, Hauptstrasse von Praia nach Tarrrafal, Santiago Cape Verde
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.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Serra Malagueta Natural Park (Santiago), 58PF+65X, Principal, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Tarrafal Beach, Strand von Tarrafal, Tarrafal, Santiago 7110 Cape Verde
After the walk, drive to Tarrafal Beach where you can spend some free time chilling on the shore.
Duration: 2 hours

Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
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.

Duration: 5 minutes

Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Casa Sodade in Praia (Santiago Island) or similar;

Day 4: From Praia: Fogo island Tour to Volcano

Stop At: Praia, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: São Filipe Airport, VGQ8+95W, Rua da Central Electrica, São Filipe, Cabo Verde
Upon arrival, depart toward São Filipe, the capital of the island.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Sao Filipe, Sao Filipe, Fogo
Here, explore “Sobrados” and wander around this charming little town lined with colorful colonial houses.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Municipal Museum, Sao Filipe, Fogo 8220, Cape Verde Adjacent to Casa da Memoria, Sao Filipe, Fogo Cape Verde
Next, head to the Municipal Museum and appreciate the simplicity of the objects that portray the local history.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Igreja Nossa Senhora da Conceicao sao filipe, Fogo, Sao Filipe, Fogo Cape Verde
Visit to a local Church
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Achada Fuma, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Parque Natural do Fogo, Fogo Island, Fogo Cape Verde
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cha das Caldeiras, Cha das Caldeiras, Fogo
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.
Duration: 30 minutes

Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Casa Mariza 2.0 In Chã das Caldeiras (Fogo Island) or similar

Day 5: From Chã das Caldeiras: Pico do Fogo Volcano Hiking

Stop At: Casa Marisa 2.0, Cha Das Calderias, Cape Verde, XJ9G+2GG, Chã Das Caldeiras 8235, Cabo Verde
Get picked up at your accommodation in Chã das Caldeiras and walk with your guide until reaching the foot of the Volcano.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Pico Do Fogo, Cha das Caldeiras, Fogo Cape Verde
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.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Parque Natural do Fogo, Fogo Island, Fogo Cape Verde
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Cha das Caldeiras, Cha das Caldeiras, Fogo
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


Duration: 10 minutes

Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Casa Mariza 2.0 In Chã das Caldeiras (Fogo Island) or similar

Day 6: Hiking Chã das Caldeiras – Coffee Plantation – Mosteiros & Dip into a Natural Pool

Stop At: Monte Velha, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 3 hours

Stop At: Mosteiros, Mosteiros, Fogo
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Estrada Salina, Estr. Salina, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Sao Filipe, Sao Filipe, Fogo
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

Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
•
•
Accommodation included: Pipi's Guest House In São Filipe (Fogo Island) or similar

Day 7: From Fogo: Praia City Tour & Praia By Night

Stop At: Fogo, Cabo Verde
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.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Aeródromo, São Filipe, Cabo Verde
Catch your flight back to Santiago and say goodbye to Fogo.
Duration: 35 minutes

Stop At: Plateau, Praia, Cabo Verde
Arrive at Praia Airport and be trasnfered to the City Center.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Praia City Hall, R. Serpa Pinto Praca Alexandre Albuquerque, Praia, Santiago Cape Verde
Take a break for the lunch and then head to the historical center of Plateau.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Quartel Jaime Mota, Av. Andrade Corvo, Praia, Santiago Cape Verde
Start the walking discovery tour through the Jaime Mota Military Barracks, passing by the Presidential Palace and the Alexandre Albuquerque Square.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Monumento de Diogo Gomes, R. Pedro Alvares Cabral, Praia, Santiago Cape Verde
The statue of the official discoverer of Santiago Island.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Praca Alexandre Albuquerque & Av Amilcar Cabral, Praia, Santiago Cape Verde
Guided visit t the main square.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Mercado Municipal di Praia, R. 5 de Julho, Praia, Santiago Cape Verde
In the Municipal Market (closed on Sundays), meet locals and find a diversity of local fruits and vegetables.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Quintal da Música, Av Amlicar Cabral, Av Amilcar Cabral, Praia 7600, Cabo Verde
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
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
•
•
•
Accommodation included: Casa Sodade in Praia (Santiago Island) or similar;

Day 8: Goodbye Cabo Verde

Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
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
Duration: 15 minutes

Meals included:
•
No accommodation included on this day.

You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.

If you cancel at least 7 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is no cancellation fee.
If you cancel between 3 and 6 day(s) in advance of the scheduled departure, there is a 50 percent cancellation fee.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, there is a 100 percent cancellation fee.