THE BEST OF CAPE VERDE

Individual Round Trip

Santiago, Fogo, São Vicente, Santo Antão, Sal
Getting a complete impression a la carte: from inexpensive to sophisticated.

On this trip, with the help of our suggestions, you put together your dream trip on your own. We’ve set the basic framework: a trip that includes the four main islands of the archipelago and the organisational structure (flights, accommodation, transfers), and on each island an excursion to the main attraction.

However, it is up to you to decide where you would like to stay, whether in typical guesthouses or higher-class accommodation, or if you would like to discover the country on your own on the days without a programme, or rather if you would like to book an additional excursion.

With us, you can put together your very own personal trip. We would be happy to book your international flight to Cape Verde for you.

It is bookable throughout the year at the date of your choice!

Day 1: Santiago – Arrival in Cape Verde

When you arrive at Santiago airport, you will be transferred to your accommodation in the capital, Praia. Your hotel is on the plateau, which is the historic centre of the town. From here you can easily find the vegetable market and numerous shops, restaurants, and bars on foot.

Day 2: SANTIAGO – Excursion to Cidade Velha

Initially, you will get to know the historical part of the capital Praia. With a guided walk on the plateau, you’ll visit the colonial-style main square and then observe the lively hustle and bustle of the colourful fruit and vegetable market. We then continue to Cidade Velha, which is the first settlement and capital of the archipelago and belongs to the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. The fort offers a view of the sea and the town which you will then get to know during a short tour. With the slave banner and the first church in West Africa, you can witness the era of the pirates and seafarers.

Day 3: SANTIAGO – Free day

Free day at Santiago. Overnight at Plateau.

Optional excursion: Island Tour to the green interior
Enjoy an island tour in the south of the most African of all Cape Verde Islands. You’ll wind your way through green landscapes, past small villages, and mountain scenery. During various stops, you have the opportunity to breathe fresh mountain air and enjoy the colorful landscape of this island of volcanic origin. During a coffee break in the shade of the highest mountain on the island, the ‘Pico da Antonia,’ you can strengthen yourself for the further drive through one of the greenest valleys of Cape Verde back to the hotel.

Day 4: FOGO – Island capital São Filipe

Today you will leave Santiago. After a short flight to the neighbouring island of Fogo, you will be expected and taken to your accommodation, which is located in the centre of São Filipe. Together with your roadbook in English, you will discover the lovely island capital of Fogo. The colonial, small-town charm of São Filipe with its well-kept squares and historic manor houses will delight you. Night in Sao Filipe.

Day 5: FOGO – The volcano and the crater area

After breakfast, you will set off for the famous volcanic crater – in serpentines, you will pass small villages, a hilly country, isolated small herds, and lava formations up to an altitude of 1,700m. Take a walk and marvel at the black lava landscape formed during the most recent eruptions in 1951, 1995, and 2014. Fumaroles and sulphur deposits illustrate the island’s name – fire. As you walk across the black rock, you will see some scattered vines in volcanic soil, the basis for the rich Fogo wine. You will have a typical lunch in a nice family-run guesthouse.

Day 6: SÃO VICENTE

After a short transfer to Fogo airport, you will fly on to São Vicente via Santiago. At the airport, your driver will be waiting to take you to your accommodation in the centre of the colonial port city of Mindelo, from where you can easily reach the historic centre and nearby restaurants and shops on foot.

Day 7: SÃO VICENTE – The cultural port city of Mindelo

You’ll explore Mindelo in the morning. While discovering lively markets and historic squares, you’ll get to know the city from its cultural side. The afternoon is at leisure. You may feel like relaxing on the city beach Laginha and taking a dip in the Atlantic Ocean?

Day 8: SANTO ANTÃO – Into the green north

Early in the morning, you will reach Santo Antão by ferry. At the port of Porto Novo, your driver will welcome you. Along the histo ric pass road, you drive into the green north of the island and have spectacular views again and again. Later, you will enter the greenest valley of Cape Verde. You go through tropical vegetation past sugar cane and banana fields and see mango and papay a trees. In an idyllic restaurant you will have lunch with the local dish “Cachupa” before heading to Ponta do Sol to your accommodation.

Day 9: SANTO ANTAO – Free day

Free day and night at Ponta do Sol.

Optional excursion: to the northeast of Santo Antão
After breakfast, with your driver, you’ll be met at your accommodation. You will once again immerse yourself in the spectacular and green mountain world of Santo Antão. First of all, you will drive to Fontaínhas. The picturesque village on a hillside is one of the most beautiful in Cape Verde and invites you to take a break. You will then drive through the breathtaking Ribeira Grande valley to Chã de Igreja, the village of the church, where you will enjoy a typical lunch with a hospitable family. By the afternoon, you will return to your accommodation.

Day 10: SAL – The Bathing Island

On the ferry back to Sao Vicente and on by plane to the bathing island of Sal, where you’ll be transferred to your accommodation in Santa Maria. There you will be taken to your accommodation in Santa Maria, where you can look forward to relaxing days on the endless sandy beach.

Day 11 / 12: SAL – Day at leisure

To relax in the sun, stroll along the beach, take a bath … Enjoy a few days of real holiday! Let the impressions of the last few days pass in review and discover a new side of Cape Verde: the island of Sal offers kilometres of sandy beaches, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops.

Optional excursion 1:
Sal half day – salt pans, landscapes and fishing villages (approx. 4 hours)

This excursion shows you the most beautiful face of the island of Sal. The day begins with a drive through the salt pans of Santa Maria towards Serra Negra, the only small mountain on the island, which is home to a great variety of birds. The view is impressive. Learn more about the sport, which has grown rapidly all over the world and on the island, as you drive past “Kite Beach” towards Pedra da Lume – the salt flats that gave the island its name. Drive around the Pedra da Lume crater in an off-road vehicle to enjoy the view of the island’s salt pans and their ancient installations (without going into the crater) before returning to Santa Maria via Palmeira, a fishing village.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

Optional excursion 2: The lemonsharks
Start yo ur varied to ur with a visit to the Bo tanical Garden. It is probably the mo st tropical place on Sal and offers a great variety of plants. You’ll have lunch after a short detour to Espargos before heading to the “Bay of the Lemon Sharks”. There you’ll be very close to these animals in knee-deep water. And the last highlight of the day is the salt flats of Pedra da Lume. There you can float weightlessly in the sea salt pool or relax with a mud pack before returning to your accommodation.

Day 13: SAL – Return back home

Who we are:

We have been organising trips to the Cape Verde Islands for more than 15 years with a German/Cape Verdean team of almost 20 people. Together with our drivers and guides, we work hand in hand on all nine inhabited islands of the archipelago. Looking forward to a trip organised by people who know the local area inside out and also have a lot of fun at work.

What you can expect from us:

• Competent advice on planning your trip
• Consideration of your individual wishes when creating the travel offer
• Carefully selected accommodation and drivers
• Qualified English speaking guides
• Varied excursions
• Detailed travel documents
• A 24-hour service number on-site during your trip

Services Included in the price:

• Domestic flights Santiago > Fogo > São Vicente > Sal incl. taxes and fees
• Ferry São Vicente > Santo Antão > São Vicente
• 12 nights in a double room with breakfast including accommodation tax
• Day room on the 13th day of travel
• Additional meals: 1x lunch, 1x packed lunch (optional excursions include additional meals).
• Programme: 3x city tour with guide, 1x island tour with guide, 1x volcano excursion with a guide (guides are English speaking, optional excursions include additional included services)
• All airport, port and other transfers as per itinerary
• Travel documents

Services Not Included:

• Airport tax (3,400 ECV or €31)
• International flights.
  *You are welcome to book your international flights through us: With TAP Air Portugal, from an airport near you.

Booking request individual round trip:

The best of Cape Verde