Walking Cabo Verde – 2027

Itinerary 

Thu. 14th Jan.: Fly to São Vicente
Arrive at Cesária Évora International Airport also known as São Pedro Airport in São Vicente, arriving on the morning TAP flight coming from Lisbon (flight not included), scheduled to land at 12:40.
Your France Outdoors guide will meet you at the airport before the short transfer (around 20 minutes) to the Casamarel Hotel in Mindelo where you will spend your first night.
Afternoon to discover Mindelo. The town has preserved some beautiful 19th-century buildings in the typical colonial architectural style from its port’s heyday: the former customs house, built in 1860; the covered market, dating from 1878; the former British consulate, built in 1870; and the People’s Palace. The town centre, with its colourful façades, is brimming with music bars, galleries and artists’ studios. A visit to Mindelo is also an opportunity to sample local specialities, including banana and papaya jams and coconut ponche, sold in the town’s lively markets.
Dinner included at the hotel.
Fri. 15th Jan.: Transfer to Santo Antão
Free morning before a one-hour ferry crossing brings you to Porto Novo.
Santo Antão is the most mountainous island in Cape Verde. With its high peaks and deep valleys, the scenery is simply spectacular.
Porto Novo is located in the dry part of the island, you will transfer to Ponta do Sol, around 1h30 drive, where you Boutique hotel Luz da Lua is located. Recently renovated, this intimate hotel has just ten rooms, a swimming pool and a rooftop restaurant, making it an ideal base for your stay.
Ponta do Sol is nestled at the foot of the mountains and facing the Atlantic Ocean, it enjoys a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. Its colourful old houses, with their colonial architecture, and its cobbled streets now form part of the island’s historical heritage. It is one of the island’s most charming towns.
Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast and dinner included. Picnic lunch not included
Sat. 16th Jan.: Walk 1- coastal walk to the Fontainhas ruins
No transfers
Walk from the hotel and enjoy the fantastic views over the West coast.
Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Sun. 17th Jan.: Walk 2 – Cova Crater – Paul Valley
45min to 1h transfer each way
Walk through the spectacular volcanic caldera of Cova, nestled at an altitude of over 1,100 metres. Part of the Cova–Paúl–Ribeira da Torre Natural Park, this is one of Cape Verde’s most iconic landscapes.Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Mon. 18th Jan: Walk 3 – loop from Cidade das Pombas
20 to 30 min transfer each way
Superb loop walk with breathtaking views over terraced fields
Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Tue. 19th Jan.: Walk 4 – Curral das Vaccas walk
1h20 to 1h40 transfer each way
Today’s walk explores the drier central part of the island, offering a striking contrast to the lush valleys of the north.
Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Wed. 20th Jan: Walk 5 – Xôxô Rock Formation
20 to 30 min transfer each way
Valley with strange rock formations where the charming village of XôXô (pronounced Sho-Sho) perches dramatically on a knife-edge mountain ridge. You’ll walk through terraced fields of sugar cane and banana groves, following irrigation canals back to the river bridge where locals cultivate yam in the fertile valley below.
Night in Boutique hotel Luz da Lua in Santo Antão
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Thu. 21st Jan.: transfer back to São Vicente
Afternoon Ferry – free time
Night in Mindelo on São Vicente
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Fri. 22nd Jan.: São Vicente
Stay in São Vicente – walk or sightseeing or free time
Night in Mindelo on São Vicente
Breakfast included. Picnic lunch and dinner not included
Sat. 23rd Jan.: Farewell!
Transfer to the airport for your 1:30 pm flight to Dublin.
Breakfast included – lunch not included