Cabo Verde Coastal Hike Extended Version

Depending on your arrival time, take your first steps into Cape Verdean life with a stroll through Mindelo, the lively port city often considered the cultural capital of the archipelago. Wander along colourful cobbled streets lined with elegant colonial buildings, explore the bustling vegetable and fish markets, and make your way towards the bay and beautiful Laginha Beach.

If you arrive on a Sunday, Mindelo reveals a different rhythm. The city centre may be quieter, but Laginha Beach comes alive as locals gather by the sea to swim, relax and spend time together — a wonderfully laid-back introduction to the island and its way of life.

Meals included: None.

Leave Mindelo in the morning and set off to discover the landscapes of São Vicente, travelling first towards Monte Verde, the highest point on the island. From here, wide-open views stretch across Mindelo, the Atlantic and the neighbouring islands before you descend towards Baía das Gatas, a sheltered bay known for its calm waters and much loved by locals.

Continue along the spectacular Praia Grande coastline to Calhau, a small fishing village surrounded by São Vicente's stark volcanic scenery. If you feel like stretching your legs, you can also take an optional 45-minute walk around an ancient coastal volcano, passing petrified lava flows and natural blowholes shaped by the ocean.

In the afternoon, travel back through the green oasis of Calhau, where farmers cultivate small plots of land and grow produce destined for Mindelo's markets.

A driver will accompany you throughout the day, allowing you to explore the island comfortably and at your own pace. Please note that this is a driving service rather than a privately guided tour; a private guide can be arranged on request.

Meals included: Breakfast and picnic

After breakfast, transfer to the port and board the ferry for the one-hour crossing to Santo Antão. As you arrive in Porto Novo, your private driver-guide will be waiting to take you into the spectacular landscapes of the island's western valleys.

Following the rugged coastline, travel past ancient lava flows, black-sand dunes and striking deposits of white pozzolan before heading inland through Ribeira das Patas. Towering volcanic dikes rise above a surprisingly fertile valley, where cultivated terraces and small villages contrast with the dramatic volcanic scenery. Continue across the Alto Mira Pass and into a quieter, more secluded side of Santo Antão, where rural life still follows the rhythms of the land.

You can choose between two hiking options to explore this beautiful valley on foot, depending on how far you feel like walking. If trail conditions allow, the day also includes a visit to the wild coast of Ribeira da Cruz, where imposing basalt columns rise above a black-sand beach.

At the end of the excursion, your driver will take you to your accommodation for the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast and dinner

Distance: 4,5 km or 5,5 km

Elevation Gain: + 212 / - 453 m or + 343 /- 483 m 

This morning, follow the scenic coastal road before turning inland into the beautiful Paul Valley, the greenest and most fertile valley in the Cape Verde archipelago. Here, Santo Antão reveals an unexpectedly lush side: steep slopes are carved into terraces where coffee, bananas, guavas, sugar cane and orange trees grow alongside a colourful variety of vegetables.

Choose between two hiking options and explore the valley on foot at the pace that suits you best, walking through cultivated landscapes shaped over generations by the people who live and farm here.

In the late afternoon, leave Paul behind and continue towards the Ribeira Grande Valley, where you will settle into your accommodation for the night.

Meals included: Breakfast, picnic and dinner 

Distance: 4 km or 6 km

Elevation Gain: +130 / -350 m or +550 / -750 m  

Today takes you through the contrasting landscapes of the Caibros and Garça valleys, beginning among the remarkable suspended irrigation channels of Caibros. Continue into the lush upper reaches of Garça Valley, with views over the reservoir below, before reaching Chã de Igreja, a peaceful village brightened by flowers.

From here, travel onwards to Cruzinha, a small fishing village perched dramatically above the Atlantic, where powerful waves meet Santo Antão's rugged coastline. If you are looking for a longer adventure on foot, you can choose an optional hike from Cruzinha to Fontainhas, or continue all the way to Ponta do Sol along one of Cape Verde's most spectacular coastal trails.

On the return journey, stop in colourful Fontainhas, its houses scattered across the steep hillside with wonderful views over the coast, before continuing to Ponta do Sol. At the end of the day, transfer to your accommodation for an overnight stay in this lively seaside village.

Meals included: Breakfast

Distance: 10 km

Elevation Gain: -10/+300 m

This morning, head into Ribeira da Torre, one of Santo Antão’s most impressive volcanic valleys, where steep cliffs and rocky peaks rise above a surprisingly green and fertile landscape.

Your walk follows old paths and traditional irrigation canals into the valley’s rural heart, where generations of farmers have cultivated the steep slopes. Pass through the agricultural village of Rabo Curto before beginning your descent among fields of sugar cane and yams, surrounded by the crops and terraces that make this part of the island so remarkably lush.

Two hiking options are available, giving you the freedom to choose the distance and pace that feel right for you. At the end of the walk, transfer back to your accommodation.

Meals included: Breakfast and picnic

Distance: 5 km or 9 km

Elevation Gain: +850 / -850 m or +450 / -450 m 

Spend your final morning on Santo Antão at your own pace in Ponta do Sol. Once an important gateway to the island, with its main port and former airport, the village is now a peaceful place to linger: follow the streets down towards the Atlantic, watch the fishing boats moving in and out, and enjoy a few quiet hours by the sea.

In the afternoon, journey across Santo Antão’s mountainous interior towards Porto Novo, travelling along the spectacular Route des Corde. This historic cobblestone road winds high through the mountains, making the transfer itself a memorable last glimpse of the island. From Porto Novo, take the 5:00 pm ferry to São Vicente and transfer to Mindelo for your overnight stay.

If you prefer to spend your last day walking, an optional hike from the Cova crater offers a completely different perspective. Follow a panoramic ridge across semi-arid highlands, through pines and mimosas and past small fields of maize, sweet potatoes and beans. In clear weather, views open up across both sides of Santo Antão, offering a beautiful farewell to the island before your return to São Vicente. An early departure from Ponta do Sol is required for this option.

Meals included: Breakfast and picnic

Distance: 7,5 km

Elevation Gain: +400 / -400 m

Today, leave São Vicente behind and fly to Fogo, with a mandatory stopover in Praia, Cape Verde’s capital. On arrival in São Filipe, you will be welcomed and transferred inland towards Chã das Caldeiras, an extraordinary village set inside the vast volcanic crater of Fogo.

Settle into your family-run guesthouse for the next two nights and take some time to absorb the dramatic surroundings, dominated by the island’s volcanic peaks and dark lava landscapes. Depending on your arrival time, you may also have the chance to set out on a first hike to Petit Pico — an exciting introduction to the volcanic heart of the island.

Meals included: Dinner

Wake up surrounded by the extraordinary volcanic landscape of Chã das Caldeiras and prepare for one of the most memorable walks of the journey. Together with your local guide, set off across the crater and begin the ascent of Pico do Fogo (2,800 m), the highest peak in Cape Verde.

The trail climbs through a stark landscape of volcanic rock and vast lava fields, with views opening progressively across Fogo and towards the Atlantic Ocean. After reaching the summit, descend back into the crater and return to Chã das Caldeiras for a second night in this remarkable setting.

At the end of the day, there is one more taste of the volcano waiting for you: enjoy a tasting of wine produced directly in the crater.

Alternative for non-hikers:

If you prefer not to climb Pico do Fogo, spend the day discovering the island by road instead. Travel south before heading north through Cova Figueira, a traditional village overlooking the ocean, and continue across Fogo's most recent lava flows towards Mosteiros.

Known as the “Garden of Fogo”, Mosteiros has a more humid climate that allows an impressive variety of crops to flourish. Continue to Pai António, where a short walk with your driver takes you among traditional cultivations of coffee, corn, quince and lemon trees. There will be time for lunch in Mosteiros before continuing to Salinas, a small natural harbour where colourful fishing boats shelter between the beach, lava and ocean.

Return towards São Filipe through the hills of western Fogo, passing small farms and panoramic viewpoints along the way. Stop in São Lourenço to visit its church and see the largest baobab tree on the island before concluding the excursion.

Meals included: Breakfast. Picnic included just in the hike unencumbered.

Distance: 8,5 km

Elevation Gain: +1100 / -1100 m

Today, leave the stark volcanic landscapes of Chã das Caldeiras behind and descend towards the coast on foot. As you lose altitude, Fogo transforms around you: dark lava fields gradually give way to eucalyptus and mimosa forests, fragrant orange groves and coffee plantations, revealing the greener side of the island.

Your walk ends in Mosteiros, a charming town on Fogo's northeastern coast. From here, transfer along the scenic coastal road to São Filipe, where you will spend the night. Your main luggage will travel separately from Bangadeira directly to your accommodation, leaving you free to enjoy the walk with just your daypack.

Alternative for non-hikers:

Spend the day discovering São Filipe, one of the most charming towns in the Cape Verde archipelago. Wander along its cobbled streets as they descend towards the Atlantic, admire the colourful houses and discover the beautifully preserved Sobrados, elegant buildings inherited from the island's Portuguese colonial past.

If you would still like to explore a little on foot, an optional two-hour hike in the Zambujeiro area offers an easy way to discover Fogo's rural landscapes. Walk past small stone farmhouses with tiled roofs and cultivated fields, with baobabs and flamboyant trees adding splashes of colour along the way.

Meals included: Breakfast. 

Distance: 12 km

Elevation Gain: + 100 / - 1200 m

Today, leave Fogo behind and fly back to Santiago, connecting through Praia. On arrival, your local driver will welcome you and transfer you to your guesthouse in the heart of the capital, where you will spend your final night in Cape Verde.

Depending on your flight schedule, use the rest of the day to discover Praia at your own pace. Explore the historic Platô district, browse the colourful stalls of Sucupira Market, or head towards the coast for a walk around Quebra Canela and Prainha. It is a chance to experience the energy of Cape Verde’s cultural and administrative capital before your journey comes to an end

Meals included: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule and flight back home. 

Meals included: Breakfast

For our trips, we always choose accommodation with private rooms and private bathrooms. In rare cases, shared accommodations or shared bathrooms may be provided, so we recommend carefully checking the inclusions section to understand the type of accommodation included in the trip you are interested in.  

We place great importance on the choice of accommodations and select hotels with care and attention. We understand how essential it is to rest well after a day of walking. We always prefer cozy and characteristic establishments, preferably family-run, that fully embody the spirit of the place and offer hospitality with courtesy and comfort.  

Where, due to the nature of the route, accommodation options are limited, we choose the one that best aligns with our standards.

This is a flexible walking trip, suitable for travellers who enjoy being active but don't necessarily want to hike every day. On several days you can choose between two walking options, depending on your energy and preferred level of challenge, while some of the more demanding hiking days also offer a ready-made non-hiking alternative to explore the island by road and on shorter walks.

The trails are well-used but generally unmarked, crossing a variety of volcanic, mountainous and rural landscapes. Some walks involve significant ascents and descents, particularly the climb to Pico do Fogo, so a good level of fitness is recommended if you plan to complete the full hiking programme.

The flexibility of the itinerary, however, means you can take the trip at your own pace: walk more when you feel like it, choose the easier option on other days, or enjoy the alternative programme when you prefer a break from hiking.