The archipelago is split into 2 parts, offering a variety of hikes and activities to enjoy on your Cape Verde walking stay. The southern islands of Maio, Santiago, Fogo and Brava are known as the Sotavento ‘Islands protected from the wind’

Maio has a hot climate and a limestone soil. The island was once a great producer of salt that was sold to Brazil, but high taxes put a stop to production in the 20th century and since then, the island lives purely from tourism.
Santiago is one of the biggest islands, home to over half of the Cape Verdean population. The island economy thrives from the farming of corn, sugar cane, bananas, mangos, and coffee.
An active volcano dominates the island of Fogo, the Pico do Fogo, culminating at 2 829m making it the highest peak of the archipelago. There are frequent eruptions, the last one dating back to 2014. Vineyards flourish on the slopes of the volcano and produce the only Cape Verdean wine.
Brava is the smallest island of the archipelago and lives mainly from fishing. The population on the island grew mainly due to the eruptions on the neighbouring island of Fogo.

The 6 other northern islands of the archipelago are known as the Barlavento ‘Islands in the wind'. Santo Antoa lives mainly from agriculture and offers fantastic and varied hiking trails for your walking holiday in Cape Verde.
Sao Vicente is the second most populated island and home to the lively city of Mindelo, the birthplace of the singer Césaria Evora and host of many festivals, a great start and/or end to your walking tour in Cape Verde.
Santa Luzia is the only uninhabited island of the archipelago. It was never properly colonised and was home to various famers and cattle and donkeys throughout the centuries.
Sao Nicolau has an interesting history. Once a fertile island, many droughts and invasions of grasshoppers put an end to the crops and pirates would often attack the island, forcing the inhabitants to move inland.
The island of Sal (meaning salt in Portuguese) thrived off just that up until the 1980’s and now the island lives mainly from tourism.
Boa Vista is an island famous for sea turtles, its music and beautiful sandy beaches and dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.