INFO

Day 1
Arrival at Praia Airport, where we breathe in our first puff of Cape Verdean air. And there we go - in 4 strokes, we're ready to go! We are in Santiago, the largest Capeverdean island. The culture, atmosphere, life style are more African than in the rest of the archipelago - for geographical and historical reasons. Night in the Plateau, Praia's historic centre.

Included services:
- transfer airport - accommodation
- ON/DBL Hotel Santa Maria. Praia
- (-/-/-)

Day 2 (Hike: 4 hours // +500m (+1640ft) // level : 3)
Along with our guide, we set out to conquer the achadas (highlands) and the ribeiras (valleys) that we knew to be characteristic of Santiago's landscapes. But we surely were not expecting terraced fields, valleys covered with tropical plants, abundant water irrigating a still traditional agriculture... Nor were we expecting to spot one of the monkeys living in the area.

Included services:
- transfer Praia - starting point of the hike
- luggage transfer to accommodation
- guided hike São Domingos - Rui Vaz
- lunchbag and dinner
- ON/DBL Pousada Quinta da Montanha, Rui Vaz
- (B/LB/D)

Day 3 (Hike: 7, 5 hours // +400m // level : 3)
Day 3
A lot of going up and down! This is our favourite hike, no less! It's the most authentic tour, revealing the secret and hidden beauty of Santiago. Most of the time, we have an outstanding view upon the surrounding peaks. The road may be a little long, but that's the price to pay if we want to be alone and off the beaten paths : ) The arrival in Assomada is also a special moment.

Included services:
- guided hike Rui Vaz - Engenhos
- luggage transfer
- lunchbag and dinner
- ON/DBL Hotel Avenida, Assomada
- (B/LB/D)

Day 4 (Hike: 4 hours // -150m / +350m // level : 3)
Departing from a high plateau, we wander through a deserted village before reaching an oasis of mango trees - could a picnic spot be any nicer? But keep your eagle eyes open: you might spot one of those monkeys again! Climbing another achada later enables us to admire the beautiful north region of Assomada. Let us reward ourselves with a little swim in the ocean or a nap on the black sand beach, protected by the shade of palm trees.

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - starting point of the hike
- guided hike Chao Grande - Figueira das Naus
- transfer ending point of the hike - accommodation
- lunchbag
- ON/DBL Casa Strela, Tarrafal
- (B/LB/-)

Day 5
Time flies in Tarrafal, small town to the north of the island, known for its beach and its coconut trees. Goggles and snorkel will be our friends for the day - let them take us on a tour in Ponta d'Atum (the tip of the tuna fish).

Included services:
- ON/DBL Casa Strela, Tarrafal
- (B/-/-)

Day 6
Flight from Santiago. When the plane approaches Fogo, one can't help staring at this dark cone. But what will charm us in São Filipe are the elegant and noble colonial mansions (sobrados), the pretty little streets leading to the ocean and the vivid colours of the Church Nossa Senhora da Conceição. Night in São Filipe.

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - airport
- domestic flight Santiago - Fogo
- transfer airport - accommodation
- dinner in restaurant Pipi´s
- ON/DBL Pousada Belavista, Sao Filipe
- (B/-/D)

Day 7 (Hike: 7 hours // +1100m / -600m // level : 4)
Instead of taking the car to pay a visit to the volcano - let's approach it by foot. You can trust our experience. Hiking uphill on a rocky path following a river bed, we'll reach the crater rim, allowing us to enjoy a 180° view upon the crater, the lava fields and, last but not least - the volcano. It stands before our eyes: quiet, sunny and simply impressive. This point of view is one of the most astonishing of Cape Verde.

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - crater
- luggage transfer to accommodation
- guided hike up the bordeira
- lunchbag and dinner
- ON/DBL Casa Marisa, Cha das Caldeiras
- (B/LB/D)

Day 8 (Hike: 6 hours // +1100m / -1100m // level : 4**)
Before dawn, we eat our breakfast very early because you need to leave early as to avoid the excessive heat of the day. Once we reach the summit (2829 metres/9281 feet), and if the weather allows it, we are rewarded by an astonishing view upon the crater and ancient or recent laval flows. A second reward lies in the descent: we have the choice between running, sliding or rolling down the pozzolan gravel... It's so much fun, we'll want to hike up to be able to go down again!

Included services:
- guided hike Pico Grande
- lunch and dinner
- ON/DBL Casa Marisa, Cha das Caldeiras
- (B/L/D)

Day 9
All good things must come to an end: we have to part with the island of Fogo. We bid farewell (despedida) to the volcano, as heartbroken as if we had to leave a dear friend. And what a huge friend!

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - airport
- domestic flight Fogo - Santiago
- transfer airport - accommodation
- ON/DBL Hotel Santa Maria, Praia
- (B/-/-)

Day 10
Domestic flight from Santiago to Boavista - the sandy island.

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - airport
- domestic flight Santiago - Boavista
- transfer airport - accommodation
- ON/DBL Hotel Boavista, Sal Rei
- (B/-/-)

Day 11 (Hike: 7 hours // +/- 0m // level : 2)
We are leaving the tiny little town, which builds the capital of this huge island and we are moving towards the interior of magical Boavista. We're passing by the big 'all-inclusive hotels' and step by step we are moving away from civilisation.
Here we are immersed into a salty air with the omnipresent sea and sand (even our luggage will be full of sand, this is the proof of our passage through the 'island of dunes' as Boavista is often called).
The contrast of colors, the isolation, the big horizon: there is only Robinson Crusoe missing. Overnight & Dinner in caves on the beach - just about 30 meters from the sea.

Included services:
- transfer accommodation - starting point of the hike
- luggage transfer
- guided hike Sal Rei - Varandinha
- lunch and dinner
- ON/tent Praia de Varandinha
- (B/L/D)

Day 12 (Hike: 3, 5 hours // +/- 0m // level : 2)
Day 12 Hike 3, 5 hours // Level 2 // -/+ 0m
It is probably not needed to advice us to enjoy and take advantage of the beach and the sea from the morning on, we'll want to do that even before opening our eyes.
The water is splendid, but we have to get out of it, to be able to start our second hiking day. We are never far from the sea, because we are walking along the beach to discover the unforgettable coasts of the island... and no one will ever say anything, if at every walked kilometer we feel like jumping into the water again.
We will face some 'Fata Morganas' and have to be careful not reach them by swimming - otherwise someone would have to come and pick us up in Brazil : -). Dinner at a local family's house in the most ancient colony of the island. Night on the rooftop of a local family's house under a sky full of stars.

Included services:
- guided hike Varandinha - Povoacao Velha
- luggage transfer
- lunch and dinner
- ON/on roof terrace of a host family, Povoacao Velha
- (B/L/D)

Day 13 (Hike: 6, 5 hours // -350m / +350m // level : 2-3)
After the walks in the plains by the beach, today is the day of hiking with the climbing of the highest point of the island: Rocha Estancia - 357 m high. We will have lunch in a small local farm surrounded by a baobab tree, almond- and tamarind trees... a real little oasis. Our batteries completely recharged and full of energy, we will take the direction of the famous desert of the island: it is here that we will camp tonight. But before all this, we will enjoy jumping in the sand, rolling down the dunes again and again - because in the desert we can become small children again, there is no one there to tick us off.

Included services:
- guided hike Povoacao Velha - Viana
- luggage transfer
- lunch and dinner
- ON/tent desert of Viana
- (B/L/D)

Day 14
It is time to leave the island before we decide to stay here for life: the archipelago is big and still has a lot of surprises to discover - and maybe we will meet Robinson Crusoe on one of them.

Included services:
- transfer to accommodation or airport
- (B/-/-)

PRICES

Included
Included services:
domestic flights Santiago > Fogo > Santiago > Boavista incl. taxes
13 overnights with breakfast, incl. overnight tax
Included meals: 4x lunchbag, 4x lunch, 8x dinner
program as described: 8x hike with englishspeaking guide
All airport-, harbour- and other transfers mentioned in the program
our 24/7 emergency service

Not included services:
Visa for Cape Verde (25 EUR)
Travel insurance
Not mentioned meals and all drinks
tips
All services that are not mentioned

Included meals are mentioned as follows:
B= breakfast; LB= Lunchbag; CB=coffeebreak; L= lunch; D= dinner

Price per person

3015 € per person, based on 2 people

2434 € per person, based on 4 people

Extra charge (optional, price per person)

150 € for a single room (when available)