STAY
Type of stay :
Circuit
Island(s) :
Santiago
São Vicente
Santo Antão
Localities visited :
Cidade Velha, Rui Vaz, Mindelo, Salamansa, Baia das Gatas, Espongeiros, Caibros, Chã d'Igreja, Cruzinha, Fontainas, Ponta do Sol, Paul, Pombas, Xoxo
Length : 13 days
(included 8 of walking)
Santo Antão is the island that is becoming the world capital of trekking, you will travel all over the north-east to discover its incredible patchwork of colors and breathtaking landscapes.
The island of Santiago is steeped in history and the places of memory are also great places that nature lovers can visit on foot, before reaching a charming sanctuary of endemic plants.
The island of São Vicente is smaller but it concentrates a surprising variety of panoramas that you will cross greedily before reaching its small capital, Mindelo, nestled between a sparkling harbor and emblematic small reliefs, a city considered the coolest of the archipelago.
The highlights of this stay:
- Hiking on the three islands
- Detailed roadbooks
- Visit of a botanical garden
- The view from Monte Verde
- Sumptuous landscapes
INFO
Day 1 SANTIAGO - First step in Cape Verde
Welcome to Santiago, the biggest island of Cape Verde; its culture, atmosphere or lifestyle are more African than the rest of the Archipelago, because of geographic and historic circumstances. Closer to the mainland, the island was the first to be discovered, then colonised - it was later used as a huge slaves warehouse, as the slave ships called at the port before they dared the waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
We spend the night in Cidade Velha, the former capital of the country. Remnants of the times where the city grew to the pace of slavery trade are still found today; the UNESCO recently listed the small city as a World Heritage Site.
Included services
- Transfer airport - acomodation
- Night at hotel Quinta da Ribeirinha or similar
- (-/-/-)
Day 2 SANTIAGO – Discover Cidade Velha
Hike at Ribeira Grande // circa 3 hours // +/- 200 m // level 2-3
This first hike leads us to a huge canyon that we first follow before sinking into the dense vegetation covering its valley, down to the dry river bed where we discover countless baobabs and mango trees.
The scent of sugar cane becomes stronger by the minute - an unmistakable sign that we're approaching a distillery producing the famous grogue, the local rum. But let us not get distracted: we scan the trees in order to spot a Passarinha. We don't want to miss the sight of this tiny Kingfisher with amazing blue wings. Night in a lodge at the feet of Santiago's peak.
Included services:
- Roadbook for the trek
- Lunchbag
- Entrance fee for the Fortress
- All transfers according to program, included luggage
- Dinner + night at Quinta da Montanha or similar
- (B/LB/D)
Day 3 SANTIAGO – arount the Quinta
Hike to São Jorge // circa 2 hours // - 500 m // level 2-3
On today's to-do list: discover new scents while walking through a eucalyptus forest, in the shade of the island's highest mountain. This rural region of traditional agriculture will allow us to discover the botanical diversity that Cape Verde has to offer - including a good amount of endemic species. Later, we return to Praia through the greenest regions of the island.
Included services:
- Roadbook for the trek
- Lunchbag
- Entrance fee to visit the Botanical Garden
- All transfers according to program, included luggage
- Night at hotel Santa Maria or similar
- (B/LB/-)
Day 4 SÃO VICENTE - Arrival São Vicente
From the political capital we pass to Mindelo, which jealously watches over its status as the Cultural capital. Mindelo is music, the Carnival, the sailors' taverns - and let's not forget about the view upon the bay, considered as one of the 30 most beautiful bays in the world (no less!). Cesária Évora once sang: "
who does not know Mindelo, does not know Cape Verde"; the barefoot diva brought attention to the town where she was born, and from which she departed. Night in the historic centre of Mindelo.
Included services:
- Transfer acomodation - airport (Santiago)
- Flight Santiago > São Vicente
- Transfer airport - acomodation (São Vicente)
- Night at Aparthotel Avenida or similar
- (B/-/-)
Day 5 SÃO VICENTE - Harbour city & Hike along the coast
Hike to Baia das Gatas // circa 3 hours // -200 m // level 1-2
Equipped with our roadbook so as not to miss anything of the history of Mindelo, we set off for a walking tour of this city. Superbly ignoring the sense of moderation, Mindelo is an excessive city, both when it is bubbling and when it gives itself a few hours of almost comatonous rest at the end of the week to regain strength.
We are bent on our quest towards the dunes of the northeast side of the island. On our way we will cross a charming and lively fishing village before heading to Baia das Gatas where we will enjoy a little swim in the ocean. Finally, is there a better way to end this day than enjoying a ride to the top of Monte Verde? If the fickle weather allows it, we will be able to spot the surrounding islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia. Night in the historic centre of Mindelo.
Included services:
- City tour with roadbook Mindelo
- Transfer starting point of the hike
- Hike with roadbook Mindelo - Salamansa - Baia das Gatas
- Transfer end point of the hike - Monte Verde - Mindelo
- Night at Aparthotel Avenida or similar in Mindelo
- (B/-/-)
Day 6 SANTO ANTÃO – Descent to the valley of Caibros
Hike to Caibros // circa 5 hours // 14, 5 km // +400m/-1350 m // level 3
Nous commençons notre découverte de Santo Antão en prenant l'ancienne route qui traverse l'île et au long de laquelle s'égrènent les vues à couper le souffle. Sur un haut plateau notre voyage continue à pied. Des espaces vides, des paysages visitant toutes les nuances du rouge, l'accueil des capverdiens ; ça n'est que le début de cette expérience inoubliable. Après une possible dégustation du fromage de chèvre typique de la région, nous descendons dans une vallée verte où nous passons la nuit dans une pension familiale.
Included services:
- Transfer hotel - harbour
- Ferry São Vicente > Santo Antão
- Transfer Harbour - starting point of the hike
- Luggage transfer
- Lunch bag
- Roadbook for the trek
- Dinner + Night at Casa Zeca (Caibros) or similar
- (B/LB/D)
Day 7 SANTO ANTÃO - The passage for Chã d'Igreja
Hike to Chã d'Igreja //circa 4 hours // 8, 9 km // +850 m / -1100 m // level 3
After the breakfast, we start our wanderings through two beautiful valleys. Learning some words of Cape Verdean creole allows us to exchange more than smiles with the local farmers we encounter. In Santo Antão, it's impossible to imagine passing by somebody without greeting or saying a few kind words. Once we've reached the village, perhaps played ouril (oware game) with locals on the square or ran errands at the local merceria (grocery store), we meet our family for tonight, and enjoy a delicious homemade dinner. Simple, human, typically Cape Verdean. (ON without main luggage)
Included services:
- hike with roadbook Caibros - Cha d´Igreja
- Lunch bag
- luggage transfer to accommodation of day 3
- Dinner + Night at Casa Mité or similar
- (B/LB/D)
Day 8 SANTO ANTÃO – Along the coast
Hike to Ponta do Sol // circa 6 hours // 18 km // +/- 1000 m // level 2-3
Let us not miss a second of this wonderful day - we give an early start to one of the most spectacular hikes of Cape Verde: the one along the coast. We are accompanied to the right by the base of steep, if not vertical cliffs, while we are bordered to the left by the endlessness of Atlantic Ocean. Small paths used by shepherds lead us through exceptional landscapes, each curve revealing new surprises. We conceived this tour as the most beautiful of the island.
Included services:
- Lunch bag and dinner
- Hike with roadbook Cha d'Igreja - Ponta do Sol
- Night at Casa d'Mar or similar
- (B/LB/-)
Day 9 SANTO ANTÃO – day at leisure at Ponta do Sol
Today we go to Ponta do Sol, a pretty small town with fishing port, where we can watch the fisherman coming back with their fresh catch of the day . They go through a very small canal called: Boca da Pistola (the muzzle of the gun).
Included services:
- Night at Casa d'Mar or similar
- (B/-/-)
Day 10 SANTO ANTÃO – Discovery of the Paúl Valley
Hike at the Paùl Valley // circa 4 hours // +/- 250 m // level 2-3
Today, we have a much closer encounter with the greenest and most tropical valley amongst the whole archipelago, the beautiful valley of Paúl. A good catchupa (the national dish) served in a little restaurant in the middle of sugar cane fields will surely delight us. Later in the afternoon, why not visit one of the numerous Grogue distillery of the valley? Night at a small gusthouse at Vila das Pombas - Paúl.
Included services:
- roadbook for the hike in Paúl valley
- Traditional lunch
- Transfer Hotel - Paúl valley (luggage included)
- Night at Aldeia Jerome or similar
- (B/L/-)
Day 11 SANTO ANTÃO – the nearby valley on foot
Hike in Ribeira da Torre // circa 3 hours // -1000 m // level 2-3
Our driver takes us on the old rope of 'corda' to a peak with an incredible panoramic view. From here we walk through a surprisingly fertile and authentic valley. Then we find our driver who takes us back to our accommodation.
Included services:
- Roadbook for the trek
- Lunch bag
- All transfers according to the program
- Night at Aldeia Jerome or similar
- (B/LB/-)
Day 12 SANTO ANTÃO - SÃO VICENTE
We head back towards Mindelo - during the ferry ride, let us stay on the deck, trying to spot dolphins or flying fish. Once on dry land, why not relax at the beach of Laginha, the most Brazilian beach of Cape Verde - located in the middle of the city! Night at the historic center of Mindelo.
Included services:
- Transfer Hotel - Harbour in shared taxi 'colectivo' (Santo Antão)
- Ferry Santo Antão > São Vicente
- Transfer harbour - hotel (São Vicente)
- Night at hotel Aparthotel Avenida or similar
- (B/-/-)
Day 13 SÃO VICENTE - Departure
Alas, the time has come to carefully pack that (those!) bottle(s) of grog in your suitcase - it will help to
mata sodad (kill the nostalgia) once you're home. If you've caught the virus of Cape Verde, you'll come back; don't worry, it happens to many people. See you soon!
Included services:
- Transfer acomodation - airport
- (B/-/-)
