In summary
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Sports
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Duration15 days
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LevelConfirmed
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DestinationCape Verde / Santo Antão
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AgeFrom the age of 18
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CO₂-Emissions8.8 kg CO2
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Type of stayIn a group
In a few words
A journey to discover the most beautiful islands of Cape Verde . Your adventure begins in the Windward Islands, São Vicente and Mindelo, the cultural capital of the archipelago, where you'll be welcomed by the rhythm of mornas and coladeiras. An hour's boat trip will take you to the mountainous island of Santo Antão . A landscape divided between mountains and agricultural valleys awaits you, where you'll encounter its villagers along numerous mule tracks. You'll be captivated by the beauty of the scenery and the kindness of the locals. Next, it's time to head south to the Leeward Islands . On the island of Fogo, you'll stay in a stark and magnificent setting, in the heart of the caldera . Climbing Pico do Fogo and taking in the view of the archipelago's islands stretching into the distance will be the highlight of your trip. The trip ends on the island of Santiago, where you will enjoy your last walks along the seafront…
The highlights
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The discovery of 4 islands of the Archipelago: São Vicente, Santo Antāo, Fogo and Santiago
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The ascent of Pico de Fogo and the grandiose universe of its caldera
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The varied landscapes: mountains, green valleys, terraces, coastal paths, volcanoes
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Photos
Sport
Level
Hiking / Trekking
For those wishing to hike for up to 6 hours a day and/or cover an elevation gain of 600 to 800 meters, both on and off-trail. High-altitude sections are possible. You engage in a sporting activity once a week, hike regularly, and are in very good physical condition.
In figures
Hiking
- Average duration/day: 4h30
- Average distance/day: 14 km
- Average daily elevation gain: 455 m
- Average daily descent: 628 m
Management
During this stay, a supervisor will be present to guide and assist you.
Supervisor
Supervisor
Based in Mindelo for many years, our local partner guarantees a successful active travel experience, thanks to its guides and logistical infrastructure. During your trip, you'll be accompanied by adventure guides, fully committed to helping you discover unique places in the heart of nature. Let them guide you…
Program
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FLIGHT TO SAO VICENTE - VISIT TO MINDELO - BEACH
- Breakfast not included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner included
Flight Paris - Sao Vicente. We will be met by our guide at São Vicente airport and transferred by aluguer (local bus) to Mindelo. We will check into our hotel in the center of Mindelo. Depending on our arrival time, we will stroll with our guide through the streets of Cape Verde's cultural capital, where we may also visit the beach.Day 1 -
BOAT TO SANTO ANTÃO - HIKE FROM THE COVA CRATER TO THE LUSH PAUL VALLEY.
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 100 m
- Negative elevation 750 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early start for the ferry crossing from São Vicente to Santo Antão, the most mountainous island in the archipelago. After an hour's journey, we arrive in Porto Novo. We take a shared taxi (aluguer) along the Corda (main road) to reach the Cova crater, the starting point of our hike. Among pine and eucalyptus trees, we skirt this depression, situated at 1300 meters altitude, a testament to the island's volcanic past. The crater's interior is a magnificent patchwork of cultivated fields. The precious clouds that bring coolness and humidity to the Paul Valley cling to the hillsides. We then descend the 77 switchbacks of the beautiful stone mule track to reach the small farming village of Cha De Manuel Dos Santos, in the heart of the valley. As we progress, we emerge from the fog, and the panoramic view over the entire valley is superb.Day 2 -
PAUL BOCA DE FIGUEIRAS VALLEY - VILA DAS POMBAS
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 800 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This hike, which takes us through breathtaking landscapes to discover the Paul Valley, is truly enchanting. We walk along cultivated terraces before having lunch at Sandra's, where we enjoy an unobstructed view of the distant ocean. We discover an ingenious, mountainous, and rural world of terraces and their man-made irrigation channels. We hike to Boca de Figueiras, where we meet the locals and experience rural Cape Verdean life. In the late afternoon, we settle into a small family-run guesthouse in Vila das Pombas, on the oceanfront, in the heart of a remote village lulled by the sound of the waves...Day 3 -
Sinagoga - ribeira grande valley - ponta do sol
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 450 m
- Negative elevation 700 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
From Paul, we set off by minibus to Sinagoga, a small, colorful village, and then on to Lombo Branco, "the white shoulder," named after the white stone called pozzolana, visible as an outcrop on the mountain. Our hike begins in Pinhao and passes through small, remote villages, across terraced fields, with the ocean as a backdrop. Here, a few specimens of a very old tree called the dragon tree still remain. Upon arriving in Ribeira Grande, we take the opportunity to explore the town, depending on the schedule, before being driven to Punta Do Sol, on the coast, where we spend the night.Day 4 -
Coastal hike towards Fontainhas and Cha de Igreja
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 15 km
- Positive elevation gain 600 m
- Negative elevation 500 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
This morning in Ponta do Sol, we'll have the chance to see the fishermen returning from the open sea, bustling with activity as they sell the fruits of their labor. Then begins an impressive coastal hike. We reach the village of Fontainhas via a mule track clinging to the hillside, which, around a bend, offers a breathtaking view of this colorful village perched high in the remote valley! We cross a pass at 200 meters altitude where a dike, a vein of basalt rock, juts out. We descend into the winding paved path towards the sea, which leads us to the small village of Corvo, then on to Forminguinhas where we'll have lunch overlooking the ocean! The path meanders between cliffs and the sea, its landscape sculpted by the wind. At the end of the day, we reach Cruzinha da Garça, a small fishing port, and then Cha de Igreja, a charming little village slightly inland.Day 5 -
MOCHO VALLEY - CHÂ DE PEDRAS.
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 4h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 700 m
- Negative elevation 600 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Today, we hike inland, leaving the ocean behind. We ascend the Mocho Valley through a more arid landscape and continue to the Ladeira de Garça pass, at an altitude of 700 meters. In Ribeirao, we take a shared taxi (aluguer) to the village of Cha de Pedras, nestled in an agricultural valley, where we spend the night.Day 6 -
Ascent to the Lagoa plateau – return to Porto Novo and boat to Mindelo.
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 12 km
- Positive elevation gain 1000 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
To end on a high note, we embark on a hike to "Lin de Corv" towards the Lagoa and Cova plateaus, along a trail overlooking the valley. We walk from one rum distillery to another, where there are plenty of opportunities to taste excellent rum. As we approach the plateau, the landscape softens, and the peaks of the island's west coast come into view. We enjoy one last time the view of the sea, the Pitons, mountain streams, and the dramatic terraced fields. After the hike, we travel by vehicle to the island's ridges, where the Cova crater opens up, followed by Porto Novo. Depending on the time, a safe swim nearby is possible at the beach. The ferry then takes us back to Mindelo. The evening and dinner are at your leisure in Mindelo, allowing you to soak up the city's festive and musical atmosphere.Day 7 -
SAO VICENTE/SANTIAGO FLIGHT
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
Depending on the departure time, we will head to São Vicente Airport to catch our flight to Praia Island. Depending on the arrival and departure times the following morning, we will spend the night either in Praia town or in Cidade Velha. * The domestic flight may sometimes be rescheduled to the day before or the day after, depending on availability, or even replaced by a ferry crossing. The itinerary would then be adjusted.Day 8 -
SANTIAGO / FOGO - LITTLE PICO HIKE
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 300 m
- Negative elevation 300 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
We take a morning flight to the neighboring island of Fogo, landing at São Filipe Airport. From there, we transfer by shared taxi (aluguer) to the village of Châ das Caldeiras, located at the foot of the volcano at an altitude of 1700 meters. We gradually ascend above the black sand beaches of São Filipe to enter the lunar landscape of the caldera. We arrive in the afternoon and settle into our accommodation. If our arrival time allows, we hike to Pico Pico, the site of the last lava flow in 2014. *The domestic flight may sometimes be rescheduled to the day before or the day after, depending on availability, or even replaced by a ferry crossing. The program would then be adjusted.Day 9 -
ASCENT OF PICO DO FOGO
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 6h
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 1000 m
- Negative elevation 1000 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner included
An early start saw us set off to conquer Pico do Fogo, the highest point in the archipelago, rising to 2,829 meters. The trail was a bit steep, winding through volcanic ash and rocks… But the view from the top was magnificent. The descent was a fun and fast one through the volcanic soil (a mixture of dust, ash, and volcanic cinders).Day 10 -
FROM THE CALDEIRA TO MOSTEIROS - SANTIAGO
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 15 km
- Negative elevation 1400 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
We leave the desert caldera for a beautiful descent into Cape Verde's largest forest. We make our way among eucalyptus, mimosa, coffee, orange, lemon, papaya, and banana trees to the village of Mosteiros. The contrast between this lush vegetation and the caldera's stark, mineral landscape is striking. Transfer to São Filipe airport where we take a flight* to Praia, on the island of Santiago. *The domestic flight may sometimes be rescheduled for the following day, depending on availability, or even replaced by a ferry crossing. The program would then be adjusted.Day 11 -
TARRAFAL
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
We will visit the towns of Praia and Assomada. Transfer to Tarrafal, a beautiful town in the north of the island, after visiting the Serra de Malagueta forest. * The domestic flight may sometimes be rescheduled to this day instead of the previous day, depending on availability, or even replaced by a ferry crossing. The program would then be adjusted.Day 12 -
Tarrafal - Ponta Preta Lighthouse
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 5h
- Distance 20 km
- Positive elevation gain 400 m
- Negative elevation 400 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Without a transfer today, we'll begin our hike to the Ponta Preta lighthouse, where we can enjoy magnificent hillside views. We'll hike back and forth today, and in the afternoon, we'll enjoy a refreshing swim at Tarrafal de Santiago beach. Overnight in a residential area.Day 13 -
Tarrafal - cidade velha
- Activity Hiking
- Duration of the activity 3h
- Distance 10 km
- Positive elevation gain 150 m
- Negative elevation 150 m
- Breakfast included
- Lunch included
- Dinner not included
Morning transfer along the coastal road and visit to the town of Cidade Velha and its fortress. The town was originally called Ribeira Grande (the Great Valley) and was the economic center of the archipelago. This former capital, the cradle of Cape Verdean history, is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is protected by the São Filipe Fortress. Walk in the "Ribeira des Aguas Verde" (Green Waters Ribeira). If we were unable to do so on day 8, we will also take a walk in the Cidade Velha valley, among the cultivated fields.Day 14 -
FLIGHT SANTIAGO: FRANCE
- Breakfast included
- Lunch not included
- Dinner not included
Free time depending on flight schedules and transfer for your return flight to France.Day 15
Note
This program, which offers the opportunity to visit a large part of the archipelago, requires inter-island travel by boat and plane. As boat and flight schedules are frequently subject to change, the itinerary may be modified or reversed. In any case, we will adapt as best we can and do our utmost to maintain the program's integrity as much as possible. You will be informed of any program changes either before your departure or during your stay.
Accommodation
- Days 1 to 14
The accommodations for this trip to Cape Verde are chosen for their location relative to your itinerary and for their immersion in local life. This sometimes means somewhat basic conditions. Hot water may not always be available, and single rooms are not always possible. We do our best to accommodate requests, but please understand that you don't travel to Cape Verde to stay in "luxury" accommodations, but rather for the unique atmosphere! "Residencials" are similar to simple hotels. Pensions are family-run accommodations (smaller than residencials). Only one night is spent in a dormitory.
Access
Departure
Aéroport De São Vicente
Day 1
End of stay
Santiago
Day 15
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Price details
The price includes
- International flights departing from Paris on the tour dates
- Domestic flights and ferries
- Local transfers with the group related to the circuit program
- Full board accommodation (except for meals indicated in the daily itinerary)
- Supervision by a tour guide and a local team
The price does not include
- Entry fees to the territory
- Meals not included in the program
- Drinks
- Tips for the local staff (at your discretion)
Options
- Single room supplement for the entire stay except at Cha Manuel Dos Santos. : CHF201.26 / person
- Flex fare and insurance
Practical information
Specific formalities
Specifics
Before your departure, check with the embassy or consulate regarding the entry and stay requirements for your destination country. You can also find this information on the France Diplomatie website ( https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/dossiers-pays/ ).
In the case of flights with stopovers operated by different airlines, also check the entry requirements of the countries you are transiting through.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in compliance, particularly regarding the validity of your identity documents (for example, some countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months after your return) , visa requirements, necessary vaccinations, and health recommendations. And don't forget to consider any customs restrictions and other potential requirements of your destination or transit country.
ℹ️ Information may change up to the departure date, remember to regularly check official websites.
Equipment
Equipment to bring
- A pair of walking sticks
- Plastic bags for waterproofing your belongings
- Earplugs (the roosters and dogs wake up early)
- A toiletry bag
- Sunscreen cream (face and lips)
- A headlamp and a pocket knife (always useful when traveling)
- A water bottle of at least 1.5L, lightweight and insulated
- A tropical insect repellent (always useful too)
- A scarf or neck warmer (useful for descending into the volcanic rock, to protect your nose from the dust)
Clothing to bring
- High-top hiking boots (suited to rough terrain) must possess three qualities: sturdiness, good foot and ankle support, and waterproofing. Choose boots with non-slip and relatively rigid soles.
- Light shoes or sandals (ideal for evenings and stops in towns and villages)
- Hiking socks
- Shorts or bermudas
- Lightweight, loose-fitting trousers
- Synthetic fiber T-shirts (they have the advantage of not sticking to the body and drying very quickly)
- Warm sweater or fleece
- Gore-tex type mountain jacket (for the evening in the caldera and during the ascent of Pico de Fogo)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- A swimsuit and a bath towel (swimming possible at Punta dos Salinas and Cidade Velha)
- A pair of gaiters for the day at Pico de Fogo (especially for the descent through the volcanic rocks)
They traveled with us
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Decathlon Travel Partner
The Paulin team
4.4/5
(1440 reviews)
• 453 stays
For over 30 years, our local partner has been designing adventure walking trips around the world. Specializing in small-group treks, they cater to both casual hikers and seasoned trekkers seeking unspoiled natural environments and a return to the essentials. Their key strength? They own their own agencies in over 30 countries, guaranteeing complete trip creation from start to finish, without intermediaries. This direct, on-the-ground expertise ensures memorable active experiences and total freedom amidst breathtaking landscapes.
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