Cape Verde walking holidays, South Islands

Description of Cape Verde walking holidays, South Islands

This tailor made, eight day walking holiday in the southern islands of Cape Verde can be booked as a guided or self-guided walking holiday, getting around using inter-island flights and shared taxis, ‘Aluguars’, to get to and from the trails and your hotels.

Flying in to Sal and on to Praia, or direct to Praia from Lisbon, you’ll start your trip on the island of Santiago. Here you can explore the UNESCO-protected old capital of Cidade Velha and the scenic mountain trails around your hotel. There will be the option to climb Pico d’Antonio, the highest mountain, or take a more leisurely walk through the Serra Malagueta Natural Park.

From São Filipe on the island of Fogo, you can choose the climb to the top of Mount Pico volcano, or take a walk through lava fields, cool forests and banana and coffee plantations.

While the guided walking is graded as moderate, with only a few steep walks and sheer drops, the self-guided walking is graded as moderate to challenging, due to the combination of altitude, lack of infrastructure and the fact that trails are not well marked, making your walking notes essential. As such, it is recommended that only confident walkers book this trip on a self-guided basis. However, less experienced walkers will find that being led by a local guide will only add to the experience, offering a greater insight into island life (you may even be invited in for a cup of Cape Verdian coffee).