dossier

Tropical Trails of Cape Verde

Travel Information

Season: From mid March 2008 then year round.

Climate: Tropical arid climate:
Cooled by the Alizé winds from October to June.
Hotter and more humid from July to September.
Cape Verde is in a subtropical zone. Average temperatures range from 24°C/75F in January and February to 29°C/84F in September. The average annual rainfall for Cape Verde is 2.7 in, with September being the wettest month with 1.3 in. Conversely, the months April to July record less than one millimeter of rainfall each. The climate is arid, but Cape Verde's position in the Atlantic contributes to moderating the climate that otherwise would be as dry as continental Africa at the same latitudes.

The first Hotel:  Depending upon flight arrival time: either in Santa Maria or Espargos.

End of Tour: The standard tour ends on the island of Sal on day 12. 

Access:  Fly to Funchal. The first hotel is in Machico, about 20 minutes drive from the airport.

End of Tour: After breakfast on Day 8. The last hotel is in Funchal, about 45 minutes drive from the airport.

What's Included

The price is based on two people sharing a twin or double room and includes dinner on 6 evenings (main course and dessert), 11 breakfasts, 7 picnic lunches and 1 restaurant lunch are also provided.

Private vehicle transfers.
Internal flights: Sal –Sao Vincente (return).
Boat tickets days 3 & 10 on the regular ferry line.
Luggage transfers between accommodations, except on ferries and planes when you are responsible for carrying your own bags.
Route Notes with technical description of the itinerary, 1:50000 scale map with itinerary traced and general information.

Not Included

Visa. A visa is required by USA/Canadian citizens and most other nationalities for entry into Cape Verde. This is not included in the brochure price. Our office will arrange for your visa to be ready for collection on arrival in Cape Verde for a fee of $100. This fee will be added to your invoice.
Dinners on days 1, 3, 4, 10 & 11, lunches on days 1, 10, 11 & 12, drinks, insurance, personal items and any entrance fees to parks, monuments, etc. are not included.
The price does not include international flights to and from Cape Verde.

This Sherpa tour is 12 days long but can easily be extended.  Inquire for extra night pricing.

Note that before you book international flights, we need to check that we can book your internal flights (included) from Sal to Sao Vincente on Day 2 and Sao Vincente to Sal on Day 11. Note that we cannot be held responsible for delayed or cancelled internal flights. We have built the program to hopefully give you enough time if there are delays, for example you fly out of Sal the day after your internal flight.

Visa

United States citizens (and most other) nationals require a Tourist Visa to enter Cape Verde. This is not included. At present these are obtained by our office submitting your details to the various authorities in Cape Verde before your entry. On arrival you collect the visa at immigration. The charge is $100 payable with your final balance. Note that Visa information may be subject to change at short notice!

Level of Difficulty

Fitness: We grade this tour as moderate; anyone used to hill walking with a daily height gain/loss of up 1000m should find the tour easily within their capability. Most days are a lot easier than this. Walks are often on wide trails or on cobblestone paths.

Day Stages: The duration of walk­ing per day varies. Walking day stages are only between 1.5 and 5 hours, giving you time to  have a look at different things or rest if it is too hot. Bear in mind that there is also quite a bit of internal travel included.

Waymarking: It is necessary to follow the route descriptions  provided, together with the maps.

Accommodation & Meals

Accommodation is on a bed and breakfast basis for 11 nights with 6 evening meals ncluded, in local hotels /cottages. These are of a European standard, but please remember that this is Africa and there may be problems with power or water from time to time.

Nights 1 & 11: In Santa Maria or Espargos: Most will stay in Santa Maria where you stay in a small modern hotel built in a colonial style. It is 200m from a broad white sandy beach.

Nights 2 & 10: In Mindelo. Here we use a family run hotel with a wonderful terrace, bar and restaurant providing a view over the bay.

Nights 3 & 4: In Porta Nova. A smaller family run hotel is home for two nights; it is close to the sea.

Nights 5, 6 & 7: In Ponta do Sol. Another small family run hotel on the sea front.

Nights 8 & 9: In Coculi. Here for a change you are more inland staying in traditionally built cottages with a pool and gardens.

Outline Itinerary

Day 1: Flight for the island of Sal. Depending upon flight time either, stay in nearby Espargos (late flights) or in Santa Maria (20 min transfer). Dinner is not included. Night at a hotel in Espargos or Santa Maria.

Day 2: Flight from Sal to Mindelo on the island of São Vicente. Mindelo is a small Portuguese colonial city with European architecture in a magnificent bay. Lunch at the hotel in Mindelo. In the afternoon, cross the island (by vehicle) via the central oasis then walk in the petrified lava of the coast of Praia Grande. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Mindelo, which has a panoramic terrace.
(1½ hours, +100m / -100m)  (Walk can be done day 10 if domestic flight times dictate.)

Day 3: Boat transfer (1 hour) to our hotel in Porto Novo, an animated coastal town on the southern side of Santo Antão Island. After check in transfer from Porto Novo to Ribeira das Patas (30 min) on the desert like South West part of the island. Walk in canyon landscapes, past volcanic peaks and through hamlets. Transfer back to Porto Novo (30 min).  Dinner not included, first night in Porto Novo.
(4 hours, +400 m/-400m)

Day 4: Transfer (1 hour) along a magnificent road that crosses the mountains to the North West of the island, from Porto Novo to Alto Mira, the village at the top of the Alto Mira valley. Walk down the remote Alto Mira valley to the sea passing isolated hamlets with tropical cultures. Transfer back from Ribeira da Cruz to Porto Novo (1 hour 30 min) Dinner not included. Second night in Porto Novo.
(5 hours, +400 m/ -1000m)

Day 5: Transfer to the hills in the centre of the island. Walk in the crater of Cova bordered by pines and mimosas with a spectacular descent into the valleys on its northern side. Dinner and first night in a hotel in Ponta do Sol by the ocean.
(3¼ hours, +100 m / - 1250 m)

Day 6: Transfer to the start of your walk at Pinhao (20 min).  Walk in the small valleys perched above the ocean. Transfer back from Sinagoga to Ponta do Sol (30 min). Dinner and second night in Ponta do Sol.
(5 hours, +700 m / -700 m)

Day 7: Transfer to Villa das Pombas. Climb up to the luxuriant Ribeira of Paul, hamlets, terraces of banana trees and sugar canes, "rum distilleries", basaltic cliffs. Dinner and third night in Ponta do Sol.
(4¼ hours, + 650 m / -400 m)

Day 8: Balcony trail by the sea along the spectacular coast, ‘perched’ village of Fontainhas and the fishing village of Cruzhinha. Beautiful transfer from the valley of Garca via Ribeira Grande (45 min).
Dinner and first night in charming hotel at Coculi, which has a swimming pool.
(5 hours, + 500m / -500m)

Day 9: Discovery walk of rich tropical valleys of Ribeira Grande, villages, agriculture and majestic mountains. Dinner and second night in Coculi.
(4¼ hours, +500m / -500m)

Day 10: By vehicle discover the spectacular "road of the cord" (1h30). Boat back to Mindelo. Free time in Mindelo. Lunch and dinner not included. Overnight in Mindelo.

Day 11: Flight to Sal. Transfer to Santa Maria (20 min). One night at the hotel in Santa Maria coastal village.  Lunch and dinner not included.

Day 12 : If flying on an early morning flight, early transfer to the airport, otherwise, morning in Santa Maria then transfer to Sal Airport. Fly in the afternoon.

Singles

This self-guided tour is based on two people sharing. It is not suitable for people traveling alone due to rugged terrain and remoteness of some of the walks. It is possible to book single rooms however as long as the booking is for at least 2 people who are planning to walk together. There is a supplement for a single room available on request.