An Active Cultural Exploration across Four Islands
Hiking Cape Verde
Overview
If island-hopping, pristine hiking trails, and a welcoming culture of music and storytelling sound intriguing to you, then our adventure in far-flung Cape Verde is for you. On this 10-island archipelago off Africa’s West Coast, topped by the 9,280-foot Pico do Fogo volcano, we’ll hike rugged landscapes, explore seaside villages, meet local artists, and hear the islands’ unique forms of music, including the haunting melodies of morna, sung in Cape Verdean Creole. We’ll explore Santo Antão, São Vicente, Fogo, and Santiago islands, and visit the home of Cape Verde’s legendary songstress Cesária Évora.
Arrive: São Vicente, Cape Verde
Depart: Praia, Cape Verde
Highlights
- Hike and explore four volcanic islands, each with its own atmosphere and landscape
- Hear Cape Verde’s soulful traditional music, sung in Cape Verdean Creole
- Visit the home of the famed singer Cesária Évora
- Climb Pico do Fogo, the highest mountain in Cape Verde
- Take a “cachupa” cooking class with a local family in a private home
- Taste local wines grown in Cape Verde’s volcanic soil
Itinerary
Arrive in Cape Verde and ferry to scenic Santo Antão, an island of rugged canyons and small villages. We’ll hike across the lush crater of the extinct Cova volcano, visit a historic Jewish cemetery, the village of Sinagoga, and enjoy our seaside hotel.
On São Vicente Island, recognized as the music capital of Cape Verde, our hikes bring us along coasts and beaches, including spectacular Baía das Gatas beach. We’ll explore the lively port city of Mindelo, where we can visit the home of the late Cesária Évora, who reached worldwide fame as a singer of traditional Cape Verde music.
On Fogo Island, with its striking volcanic landscape, we’ll hike in the crater of towering Pico do Fogo (or to the summit, for those up to the challenge), then head to our guesthouse on São Filipe, the island’s laid-back town, set on a high cliff above a black-lava beach. Much of Cape Verde’s goat cheese is made on this island.
After a morning hike, we head to a private home for a hands-on “cachupa” cooking class. Making cachupa is a traditional process that includes pounding maize using a mortar and pestle. Fly to Praia on Day 9, and depart on Day 10.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated a Level 3+, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. You will need to be comfortable hiking 3-5 miles a day, being on your feet for up to 7 hours a day, and hiking on uneven surfaces. The trails can often be rocky with sections that are quite steep. Trail conditions, weather, and the group’s level of fitness can affect hiking times and pacing.
Average Hiking Day
Review Trip Level Details
- 4-6 miles
- 3-4 hours
- 1,500' ascent/descent
- Day 7: 5 hours, 6-7 miles, 3,800' ascent/descent (easier alternatives available)
Our hikes are in a rugged volcanic landscape and many of the trails are on rocky and uneven ground, so it is important that your footwear is comfortable and has a good hiking sole. Occasionally there are steeper paths and steps on the coastal walks, and the ground can be uneven, with some sharp rocky areas. Hiking distances are normally measured in hours, not miles, since many maps aren't really accurate enough to assess how far we walk up and down volcano trails.
Hiking poles: if you prefer using poles on rocky and uneven surfaces, please bring your own from home. They are not available for purchase in Cape Verde.
Hiking poles: if you prefer using poles on rocky and uneven surfaces, please bring your own from home. They are not available for purchase in Cape Verde.
We strongly urge you to train for your trip, as your enjoyment will be highly dependent on your level of fitness. The best training for a hike is to hike, especially over hills or rough terrain. Next best are running, swimming, bicycling, or other cardiovascular exercises. Stair-climbing machines are excellent preparation for hiking uphill. Your feet should also be well prepared—make sure your hiking boots are sturdy, comfortable, and thoroughly broken-in. Altitude is generally not a problem on this trip. However, some people still experience a few problems when they first reach high altitude. Slight headache and sleeplessness are the most common symptoms.
Cape Verde has a subtropical and dry climate, cooled by the trade winds. There is good weather year-round, with a fairly constant temperature between islands, averaging between 86°F and 77°F. Cape Verde is part of Africa's Sahelian arid belt and there is rain between August and October, usually in brief downpours.
Our accommodations have been chosen as much as possible for their ambiance and history and are delightful for the local color and dining that they offer. These rustic and well-located hotels are clean and comfortable, but since they are often in historic buildings, the rooms are not always of uniform or international size. Our leaders do their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. Single rooms can be requested but are not always available, due to the limited space in the hotels. If you prefer a single room, please make your request as early as possible.
Cape Verdean cuisine is influenced by West African, western European, and Portuguese foods. Staple ingredients include corn, beans, rice, cassava, fried potatoes, and vegetables such as carrots, squash, and kale. Fish are a mainstay on the islands, including fish stews such as caldo de peixe, grilled fish dishes, plus fish specialties such as buzio (conch stew). Pork and chicken dishes are also popular, as are pastas and seafood soups.
Client Testimonials
"If you want to be completely off the tourist treadmill, this is a trip for you! Each island was different; from the lush, fog shrouded valleys and cobblestone paths of of Santo Antão, the black sand and lava strewn beaches of São Vicente, the picturesque hillside villages and the island's fishing culture with boats as practical as they are colorful. Of course. no trip would be complete without a volcano summit! I never felt each hiking day was the same and there was a good mix of physical and cultural moments."
Anne J.
Long Beach, CA
"For those willing to embrace the challenges, it is a fascinating peek into a very different place and culture. We had good hikes in a rugged but beautiful land and some wonderful cultural experiences."
Luisa F.
Westport,CA
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Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult.