Staying at three different places on Santiago, this week includes guided walks to the highest peak (1392m), around the beautiful Malagueta Natural Park and down to the fascinating coastal town of Cidade Velha. Most meals are included on this holiday and where a walk is not advisable due to poor weather, a suitable alternative will be provided by our guide.
You will be met in Santiago airport and transferred to your mountain hotel in Rui Vaz (45 minutes).
Today you will walk from the hotel with your guide down through the spectacular green and craggy mountains of Santiago's interior to the cool and pretty village of Sao Jorge with its national botanical garden where they are trying to grow endemic species and conserve those threatened with extinction. You return by the same path to Rui Vaz.
A short drive to Monte Xota and you start the walk up this dramatic twinned peak mountain, the highest on Santiago (1392m). The path passes through forests, past farms and along dramatic steep sided ridges. The final ascent is up a steep crumbly slope and is not for everyone. The ascent takes 2-3 hours and the descent about the same. This walk is weather dependent so your guide will assess which day will be best to do it on.
Today we drive into the Malagueta National Park (60-90 minutes) to the start of our walk at 900m. The path climbs gently ascending 150m through the reforested areas of the park before descending into a valley passing through small farmsteads where you can stop to try grogue or buy fruit and often we see kingfishers here. The walk ends in Hortelao village with its cafe.
Today you are free to relax in Tarrafal with its sandy coves, clear sea and busy fishing port nestling beneath the dramatic Elephant Mountain.
After a 60 minute transfer to the market town of Assomada, you begin your descent to the coast passing through the arid mountains into the fertile valleys below. On a clear day, you might glimpse the silhouette of Fogo's volcanic cone and maybe even the grey-headed kingfisher. After arriving in the fishing village of Ribeira da Barca, you are transferred to your hotel in Praia.
This pretty walk takes us through plantations of manioc, potatoes and papaya and into the dramatic Ribeira Grande canyon with its 400 year old baobab trees. You finish at Cidade Velha on the coast, a fascinating town having once been a key part of the Portuguese empire. You can still see the numerous churches and the Fortress above the town is worth visiting. After looking round Cidade Velha you will be driven back to your hotel in Praia.
Today you will be transferred to the airport (10 minutes) for your return/onward flight.
Accommodation in twin share, en-suite rooms on a breakfast only basis throughout (dinner is included at Quinta Montanha), return airport transfers on Sal and Santiago, 1 x return inter-island flight per person, 5 x guided walks with transfers and lunch, visas, island representation and air ticket reconfirmation.
International flights, meals not specified above, insurance, additional excursions on free days, tips, items of a personal nature or any other items not specifically mentioned above.
All prices indicated are per person, are for guidance only, and are subject to final confirmation at the time of booking with the Travel Specialist who provides the service. For any holidays displayed without an indication of price, a quotation can be obtained from the Travel Specialist through our enquiry system.
Accommodation in twin share, en-suite rooms.
Hotel and airport transfers. Also one inter-island flight.
Seven breakfasts, five lunches and three dinners.
Experienced tour guide throughout.
1. Where a walk is not advisable due to poor weather, a suitable alternative will be provided by the tour guide.
2. Easter supplements may apply.
There are lots of different international flight options to Cape Verde, so whenever we give you a flight quotation, we will quote you the cheapest and most appropriate available price.
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Island Holidays Walking and Trekking Holidays Guided Walking Holidays
Independent
Cape Verde Islands
8 days
Praia
Hotels.
Year round
Moderate
