Cape Verde Hiking Tour - São Vicente & Santo Antão

Day 1: Arrival in Mindelo, São Vicente
Day 2: Ferry to Santo Antão | Porto Novo – Espongeiros – Ponta do Sol, 5.4 mi. (8.7 km)
Day 3: Ribeira da Torre, 4.6 mi. (7.5 km)
Day 4: Ponta do Sol – Fontainhas – Cruzinha Coastal Trail, 9.3 mi. (15 km)
Day 5: Cabeçadas de Garça, 3.3 mi. (5.3 km)
Day 6: Chã de Igreja – Boca Coruja – Coculi – Vila das Pombas, 3.3 mi. (5.3 km)
Day 7: Paul Valley, 6.2 mi. (10 km) / 4.7 mi. (7.6 km)
Day 8: Ferry to São Vicente | Monte Verde, Baía das Gatas, Praia Grande, Calhau, Mindelo
Day 9: Departure from São Vicente

All distances are approximate.

Day 1: Arrival in Mindelo, São Vicente
Arrive in Mindelo, the cultural hub of São Vicente, having been transferred from the airport. In the company of your experienced guides, you'll enjoy a relaxed walking tour, exploring the Place de l’Étoile, the markets, and the seaside streets with their colonial-style houses, as well as Mindelo's central square and Craft Museum (tour included). Depending on availability, there may also be the opportunity to join an authentic weaving or pottery workshop, followed by a swim at Laginha Beach. Your tour will also visit the Mural de Cesária Évora, an inspiring mural in the city where Cabo Verde's musical legend was born. Cesária Évora's songs – a soulful expression of the 'morna' genre – carry powerful evocations of love, nostalgia, 'sodade' (bittersweet yearning), and pride for the Cabo Verdean culture and people. (L, D)

Sample accommodation: Casamarel

Day 2: Ferry to Santo Antão | Porto Novo – Espongeiros – Ponta do Sol, 5.4 mi. (8.7 km) | Elevation gain: +270 m
Your day begins with a scenic ferry crossing (approx. 1 hour) from Mindelo to the island of Santo Antão – Cape Verde's most celebrated hiking destination. You'll start your first hike along the dramatic 'Rope Road', exploring the lunar landscapes of Santo Antão's southern foothills up to the island's highest point. From the breathtaking Cova Crater, you'll hike along ridges lined with towering pine trees and fragrant mimosas. On clear days, the ridges afford stunning panoramic views down each of the island's slopes. At the end of your hike, you'll be transferred to Ponta do Sol, a small fishing port famed for its colorful harbor, dramatic cliffs, and relaxed island vibes. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Hotel Tiduca

Day 3: Ribeira da Torre, 4.6 mi. (7.5 km) | Elevation gain: +560 m
In the Ribeira da Torre, you'll spend the day hiking a dramatic volcanic valley surrounded by towering cliffs and rocky outcrops. This is where you'll get a real flavor for rural life on Santo Antão, descending through flourishing fields of sugarcane and yams as the trail and irrigation canals lead you to the picturesque village of Rabo Curto. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Hotel Tiduca

Day 4: Ponta do Sol – Fontainhas – Cruzinha Coastal Trail, 9.3 mi. (15 km) | Elevation gain: +770 m
Today's hiking route is the highlight of the tour – the Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha Coastal Trail, widely regarded as the most spectacular hiking trail in Cape Verde. This oceanside route offers awe-inspiring views every step of the way as you hike a paved trail alongside Santo Antão's phenomenal coastal peaks. The sound of waves crashing against the island's perimeter are your constant companion, creating an atmospheric backdrop as you admire views of Fontainhas' colorful cliffside houses and Cabo Verde's Atlantic Coast. By the time Cruzinha appears on the horizon, you'll understand exactly why Cabo Verde is earning a reputation as one of the world's most rewarding hiking destinations. At the end of this magnificent hike, check in for two nights at the Mamiwata Eco Village, a collection of cliffside villas with balconies affording spectacular sea views. High above the ocean and nestled in the island's rocky outcrops, Mamiwata is celebrated for its sustainability credentials, yoga temple, and outdoor pool overlooking the Atlantic. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Mamiwata Eco Village

Day 5: Cabeçadas de Garça, 3.3 mi. (5.3 km) | Elevation gain: +320 m
Having woken up to a stunning view at Mamiwata, you'll enjoy breakfast before being transferred to Cabeçadas de Garça. Here, you'll explore the upper section of this incredible valley – the most agriculturally active on Santo Antão. This little-traveled trail leads you through lush green valleys nestled beneath rugged volcanic cliffs. The route descends into the enclosed valley before climbing again into vibrant sugarcane fields, where a ridge leads you past volcanic peaks to Manta Velha – the greenest part of the region. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Mamiwata Eco Village

Day 6: Chã de Igreja – Boca Coruja – Coculi – Vila das Pombas, 3.3 mi. (5.3 km) | Elevation gain: +330 m
In the morning, you'll be transferred through the mountain landscapes of the Garça Valley. In the wide Ribeira Grande Valley, you'll begin your hike between the region's majestic ridges and peaks. Along the route, enjoy the sensory experience of hiking amongst banana trees, sugarcane crops, cassava shrubs, and sweet potato fields, watered by the irrigation canals that stream down the mountainsides. At the end of your hike, you'll be transferred along the Santo Antão coast to Vila das Pombas. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Hotel Tienne del Mar

Day 7: Paul Valley, 6.2 mi. (10 km) / 4.7 mi. (7.6 km) | Elevation gain: +320 m / +310 m
Start your morning with a short transfer to the magnificent Paul Valley, renowned as the greenest and most cultivated valley in Cabo Verde. Here, you'll hike through a lush, undulating landscape of terraces planted with coffee, bananas, guavas, sugarcane, oranges, and vegetables. Choose from a longer or shorter hike. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Hotel Tienne del Mar

Day 8: Ferry to São Vicente | Monte Verde, Baía das Gatas, Praia Grande, Calhau, Mindelo
Today begins with a transfer to Porto Novo to catch the morning ferry back to São Vicente. Once you've checked into your downtown hotel, it's time for an island tour, starting with Monte Verde – São Vicente's highest point. From the peak, soak up the panoramic views of Mindelo and the surrounding islands. Continue to Baía das Gatas ('Cat Shark Bay'), a favorite vacation spot of the Cabo Verdeans. The beautiful Praia Grande beach offers another chance to enjoy a swim or sunbathe before you continue to Calhau – a small fishing village. There'll be the option for a short walk around an ancient volcano, where waves crash onto the petrified lava and fumaroles. After a leisurely lunch in Calhau, you'll transfer back to Mindelo for your final evening in Cape Verde. (B, L, D)

Sample accommodation: Casamarel

Day 9: Departure from São Vicente
It's time to say goodbye to the incredible islands of Cabo Verde. Enjoy a convenient transfer back to the airport according to your flight schedule. (B)

Accommodation is in a carefully selected collection of charming boutique hotels and eco-lodges, chosen for their comfort, warm hospitality, and spectacular oceanfront and mountainside settings.