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Cape Verde walking holidays

The archipelago of Cape Verde is made up of 10 volcanic islands, 9 of which are inhabited today. Scattered in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, Cape Verde has made a name for itself as a great hiking destination. The archipelago was uninhabited until the first Portuguese explorers arrived in 1456 and quickly became an important player in the slave trade. By the 19th century, the islands had become a stopover on the shipping lines to the Middle East and Australia. Today, Cape Verde walking holidays offer incredible landscapes of wild and unspoilt beauty, kilometres of white sandy beaches, arid volcanic ridges and craters, lush green valleys, tropical crops, and a wonderful mix of African and European culture.

The Cape Verdeans fought for many years for independence from Portugal. The archipelago went from a colony to an overseas province in 1951 and became fully independent in 1975. Today, it is one of the most democratic and developed countries in Africa. The official language is Portuguese, but the local population also speak Cape Verdean Creole. A trip to the Cape Verde islands has never been easier to book as the archipelago offers 4 international airports.

Which islands to choose for your Cape Verde walking holidays?

The archipelago is split into 2 parts: The southern islands of Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava are known as the Sotavento ‘Islands protected from the wind’

Maio has a hot climate and a limestone soil. The island was once a great producer of salt that was sold to Brazil, but high taxes put a stop to production in the 20th century and since then, the island lives purely from tourism. Cape Verde Hiking on Maio is for those looking for tranquility, beautiful sandy beaches and swimming opportunities.

Santiago is one of the biggest islands, home to over half of the Cape Verdean population and the bustling capital city of Praia. The island economy thrives from the farming of corn, sugar cane, bananas, mangos, and coffee.

An active volcano dominates the island of Fogo, the Pico do Fogo, culminating at 2 829m making it the highest peak of the archipelago. There are frequent eruptions, the last one dating back to 2014. Vineyards flourish on the slopes of the volcano and produce the only Cape Verdean wine.

Brava is the smallest island of the archipelago and lives mainly from fishing. The population on the island grew mainly due to the eruptions on the neighbouring island of Fogo.

Cape Verde hiking on the Islands in the wind

The 6 other northern islands of the archipelago are known as the Barlavento ‘Islands in the wind'. Santo Antoa lives mainly from agriculture and offers fantastic and varied hiking trails for your walking holiday in Cape Verde, from desert landscape, basalt peaks and the lush green valley of banana and sugar cane plantations. You will also enjoy exploring the fishing town of Ponta do Sol, with its beautiful aligned, colouful houses. 

Sao Vicente is the second most populated island and home to the lively city of Mindelo, the birthplace of the singer Césaria Evora who made the Cape Verdean music famous throughout the world during the 1990’s. The island also hosts many festivals, and is a great start and/or end destination to your Cape Verde walking holidays.

Sao Nicolau has an interesting history. Once a fertile island, many droughts and invasions of grasshoppers put an end to the crops and pirates would often attack the island, forcing the inhabitants to move inland. A walk on this island is through a barren yet striking landscape of mountains and colonial style villages.

The island of Sal (meaning salt in Portuguese) thrived off just that up until the 1980’s and now the island lives mainly from tourism.

Boa Vista is an island famous for sea turtles, music and beautiful sandy beaches and dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Santa Luzia is the only uninhabited island of the archipelago. It was never properly colonized and was home to various famers and cattle and donkeys throughout the centuries.

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Sao Vicente & Santo Antao : exploring the northen islands
      • Cape Verde - Cape Verde
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 8 days
      • From January to May
      • From October to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Comfort

Highlights of the trip

  • A combination of two contrasting islands: Sao Vicente for its cultural and festive side, and Santo Antao for its exuberant nature
  • The varied and unmissable hikes on Santo Antao
  • Small family hotels  to enjoy the true and unique Creole-Portuguese-African hospitality
  • 4 dinners included
  • The hotel swimming pools on Santo Antao, so refreshing after a day's walk in the valleys!
  • Optional : 6 picnics


    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 790 € / pers
An Island hopping adventure in Cape Verde: Sao Vicente, Santo Antao, Fogo, Santiago and Sal
      • Cape Verde - Cape Verde
    • Self-guided
    • Walking
      • 12 days
      • From January to May
      • From October to December

  •   Accommodation choice :

      • Simple
      • Comfort

Highlights of the trip

  • Exploration of 5 islands from north to south of the archipelago among volcanic craters, lush valleys and traditional villages
  • The challenging ascent of the highest peak of the archipelago with a guide: the Pico of Fogo (2829 m)
  • Take off your hiking boots in Sal and just relax on the magnificent white sandy beaches 
  • Internal flights included  + 4 dinners and 1 lunch included
  • A picnic option is available on the hiking islands


    Go private or go guided ! Customize your holidays with a local specialist here 

From 1620 € / pers

Is Cape Verde good for walking?

What can you expect on a Cape Verde walking holiday? The hiking trails are mainly along wide and paved mule paths, linking one village to the next, or on mountain trails. The terrain is volcanic, sometimes gravelly and can be steep in parts. There are no real technical difficulties and very few dizzying passages however, we do recommend our self-guided Cape Verde walking holidays for people with good hiking experience. It is important to bear in mind that the climate is hot and humid which can make the walks more challenging. It is also important to note that waymarkings are not quite up to standard, so you do need to have a good sense of direction, often navigating your way along the small paths created by the locals.

 

What is the best month to visit Cape Verde?

Cape Verde walking holidays are ideal during the winter months as the tropical climate means that temperatures are between 20 and 30° Celsius. It is what we like to call a ‘winter sun’ destination! The dry season is from November through to June. The rainy season is from July through to September and is also the hottest time of year. We do not advise a Cape Verde hiking tour during this period.

 

Where is the nicest place in Cape Verde?

Which islands should you choose for your self-guided Cape Verde walking holidays?

  • Santo Antao is the ideal destination for walking enthusiasts, beautiful landscapes, spectacular viewpoints, tropical valleys and a gentle way of life.
  • Fogo boasts a lunar landscape, and you can climb to the highest point of the archipelago at 2 829m above sea level on this incredible volcanic island! The sheer courage of the local population who live in the crater, their lives structured by the eruptions, can teach us all a life lesson!
  • Sao Nicolau is a discreet island away from mass tourism. We love the black sand beach and the hike up Mount Gordo, one of the most beautiful walks in Cape Verde.
  • Sao Vicente for the festive side and that it provides a gentle introduction to the splendours of Santo Antao.
  • Santiago is the most African of the islands, with an explosion of colour and lively markets.
  • Sal and Boa Vista are ideal for relaxing on the beach after enjoying a walking tour in the rest of the country.

 

As lovely as the hiking trails are on the Cape Verde islands, the real highlight of this destination are the people that you will meet. The locals are incredibly warm and friendly with a fascinating culture. Whether it be in the hotels and guest houses, restaurants or chatting with the taxi drivers, the locals really do make these Cape Verde trips special. It is also a very safe destination: no wild animals, no snakes, no tropical illnesses and no political issues… Just a total change of scenery in a stunningly beautiful and unspoilt part of the world.

 

How many days should I spend in Cape Verde?

It is possible to find direct flights to Cape Verde, but many are connecting flights, so it can take a full day to get there and another day to travel home. This is not just a weekend away destination! Our Cape Verde walking holidays are between 8 to 12 days, depending on how many islands you would like to explore.