Cape Verde walking holidays

The archipelago of Cape Verde is made up of 10 volcanic islands, 9 of which are inhabited today. Scattered in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Senegal, Cape Verde has made a name for itself as a great hiking destination. The archipelago was uninhabited until the first Portuguese explorers arrived in 1456 and quickly became an important player in the slave trade. By the 19th century, the islands had become a stopover on the shipping lines to the Middle East and Australia. Today, Cape Verde walking holidays offer incredible landscapes of wild and unspoilt beauty, kilometres of white sandy beaches, arid volcanic ridges and craters, lush green valleys, tropical crops, and a wonderful mix of African and European culture.

The Cape Verdeans fought for many years for independence from Portugal. The archipelago went from a colony to an overseas province in 1951 and became fully independent in 1975. Today, it is one of the most democratic and developed countries in Africa. The official language is Portuguese, but the local population also speak Cape Verdean Creole. A trip to the Cape Verde islands has never been easier to book as the archipelago offers 4 international airports.

Which islands to choose for your Cape Verde walking holidays?

The archipelago is split into 2 parts: 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. Cape Verde Hiking on Maio is for those looking for tranquility, beautiful sandy beaches and swimming opportunities.

Santiago is one of the biggest islands, home to over half of the Cape Verdean population and the bustling capital city of Praia. 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.

Cape Verde hiking on the Islands in the wind

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, from desert landscape, basalt peaks and the lush green valley of banana and sugar cane plantations. You will also enjoy exploring the fishing town of Ponta do Sol, with its beautiful aligned, colouful houses. 

Sao Vicente is the second most populated island and home to the lively city of Mindelo, the birthplace of the singer Césaria Evora who made the Cape Verdean music famous throughout the world during the 1990’s. The island also hosts many festivals, and is a great start and/or end destination to your Cape Verde walking holidays.

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. A walk on this island is through a barren yet striking landscape of mountains and colonial style villages.

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, music and beautiful sandy beaches and dunes that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Santa Luzia is the only uninhabited island of the archipelago. It was never properly colonized and was home to various famers and cattle and donkeys throughout the centuries.