18 days in Cape Verde in January 2025 (page 2 of 3)

Thanks Ptitortue! It’s the descents I’m worried about because of my knees. Thanks for the hiking names—I’ll check those out.

Hi there, In winter, Transavia operates direct flights from Paris to São Vicente if that helps. And EasyJet is quite recent. For Santiago? I’d say it really depends on the overall length of your trip. Inter-island transfers here are always a bit unpredictable, so always allow some extra time. If you’ve got 2 weeks, I think SV + SA is already amazing! If you’ve got 3 weeks, then maybe consider another island. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Santiago, but there are still some really gorgeous spots!! But I feel less at ease there, I’d say. I went back in June for a few days between Fogo/Brava and Maio, but my impression was still pretty much the same. But as others have mentioned, you could opt for a multi-city flight that lets you land on one island (e.g., Santiago) and leave from another (e.g., São Vicente). Marie

Thanks Bruno, that's really nice of you. I'll check via Barcelona (I didn't know about that stopover) because via Lisbon the schedules aren't convenient unless I book two separate tickets. With Transavia, it's almost half the price to get to Mindelo.

After that, it obviously depends on how much time you'll spend in Cape Verde, because the logistics there can involve long and unpredictable transfers—you need some flexibility. The ideal would be landing in Praia, transferring to Santo Antão (via Mindelo), and returning from São Vicente.

We're not limited on time, but beach resorts don't really appeal to us—maybe a day or two max. Same for cities. We're mostly into rugged landscapes with some vegetation (at least a little), not just volcanic terrain (like Fogo or Lanzarote), and we'd prioritize accommodations in inland villages. I initially thought about arriving and leaving from Mindelo to go to Santo Antão, but we might explore that island pretty quickly, so landing in Praia could be a good idea. If you remember any nice places to stay (good value for money) in São Vicente, Santo Antão, or even Praia, I'd love to hear about them. Did you do Praia-Mindelo by ferry or by plane? Have a great day.

You can easily spend 2 weeks in Santo Antão without getting bored! ;O)) Especially if you love hiking and valleys with vegetation. On Santo Antão, you can aim for several accommodations in different parts of the island or do a bit of traveling around. Marie

Hello,

In winter, Transavia offers direct flights from Paris to São Vicente if needed. And EasyJet is quite recent.

Yes, but I'm closer to Lyon. Actually, I was talking about Transavia but meant EasyJet. Price-wise, it's much more interesting than with TAT. With both airlines, you have to make an overnight stopover (on the way there) in Lisbon. I don't think TAT offers a hotel night. With EasyJet, don't even think about it. And the departure is at 6 AM!

If you have 2 weeks, I think SV+SA is already great! If you have 3 weeks, then why not consider another island indeed

I have as much time as I want, but beyond ten days on the same island, maybe that's enough? I'm mainly interested in hikes, but I don't want to overdo it either... and I'm not really drawn to desert islands. Fogo? I prefer islands with vegetation, canyons, and rugged terrain.

But as others mention, you can opt for a multi-city flight that lets you land on one island (e.g., Santiago) and leave from another (e.g., São Vicente).

I think I'll go for a flight from Lyon to Lisbon to São Vicente and return from Praia to Lisbon to Lyon.

You can easily spend 2 weeks without getting bored on Santo Antão! ;O))) Especially if you like hiking and valleys with vegetation. On Santo Antão, you can aim for several accommodations in different parts of the island or do a multi-stop trip.

It'll be day hikes... I think you know Santo Antão pretty well. I'll get back to you for some info. First priority: accommodations (inland?) to potentially find circuits (loops) that don't require too much transport. If you have different accommodations to recommend, I'm all ears. One question: Do the ferries between the islands work well?... When the sea isn't rough 😉 Should I allow extra time in case of cancellations?

Hi Jean-Michel

>>Yes, but I’m closer to Lyon. Depending on where you are, you might also want to check flights from Geneva. Sometimes the layover times are better. Worth looking into. I’ve been doing quite a few round trips for 15 years now, and I often opt for a quiet night in Lisbon to ensure my flight to Cape Verde the next day because layovers are often *super* short. Otherwise, I’d take a chance with back-to-back flights on TAP, and if there’s ever an issue, TAP’s customer service is pretty good (can’t say the same for other airlines). If I missed my flight to CV, TAP covers everything—hotel, meals, taxi.

>>I’ve got all the time I want, but beyond ten days on the same island, is that enough? I’m mostly into hiking, but I don’t want to overdo it either… and I’m not really into desert islands. Fogo? I prefer places with vegetation, canyons, and rugged terrain.

Got it. It really depends on the island. On Santo Antão, you could easily spend 10 days or more, alternating between hiking, sightseeing, relaxing, and soaking up the local vibe. And if you’ve got time, head all the way to Tarrafal de Monte Trigo. Fogo? After Santo Antão, it’s my second favorite, tied with Maio! ;O) The volcanic part is pretty desert-like and moon-like, but the atmosphere at the foot of the volcano in Cha das Caldeiras is magical! There are also greener spots, and if you’ve got time, you could aim for Brava!!

>>I’ll be doing day hikes… Priority is accommodations (inland?) to find circuits (loops) that don’t require too much transport.

Day hikes make it tricky to find loops, and you’ll always need *some* transport to get to or from the trails. If you grab the island’s hiking map, you’ll already have a good idea of possible routes.

>>One question: How reliable are the ferries between islands?… When the sea isn’t rough 😉 Should I build in some buffer time in case of cancellations?

Either way—whether it’s flights or ferries—the best advice here is to build in buffer time! ;O) They work okay but not perfectly, with lots of schedule changes and cancellations. You’ve gotta stay flexible! Between SV and Santo Antão, it’s great—no worries! Between Santiago and Fogo, it’s more or less okay. For the rest, it’s long and unpredictable. Between SV and Santiago, I *strongly* recommend flying!

>>I think you know Santo Antão pretty well. I’ll reach out for more info.

I live there! ;O) Marie

Hi Jean-Michel

>>Yes, but I’m closer to Lyon. Depending on where you are, you might also want to check flights from Geneva. Sometimes the layover times are better. Worth looking into. I’ve been making quite a few round trips for 15 years now, and I’ve often opted for a quiet night in Lisbon to ensure my flight to Cape Verde the next day because layovers are often *super* short. Otherwise, I’d take a chance with back-to-back flights on TAP, and if there’s ever an issue, TAP’s customer service is actually pretty good (can’t say the same for other airlines). If I missed my flight to CV, TAP covered everything—hotel, meals, taxi.

I can save Jean-Michel some time here because I faced the same question in July, usually flying out of Geneva: prices were prohibitive, almost double at the time. Not to mention the insane parking costs, and getting to Geneva from Lyon by train is another hassle... I’ll admit I played it like Marie—1h40 layover (with boarding doors closing 40 minutes early) in Lisbon from Lyon on a single TAP ticket. There was still another flight to Cape Verde later, and honestly, a night on the airline’s dime wouldn’t have been the worst! Just don’t try this with EasyJet—guaranteed night at the airport!

I think I’ve found the perfect deal. Since I live between Lyon and Marseille, I’ll leave from Marseille because Transavia has direct flights to Praia. Way more convenient than going through Lisbon, where you’d have to do an overnight layover with a departure at 6 AM the next day!

Hi there, If you have any ideas for hiking starting points (on Santo Antão) and places to stay that are as close as possible to these starting points, I’d love to hear them!

Hi there! As a base for exploring, you could consider: -Ponta do Sol: First off, you can swim there, which is rare on Santo Antão. It’s also the starting point for the coastal hike to Cruzinha/Cha d'Igreja (return by car or fishing boat). From Ponta do Sol, it’s easy to head to Ribeira da Torre (Xoxo hike) or explore the hikes around the Ribeira Grande valley and nearby areas—like Coculi, Figueiral, Cha de Pedras, Caibros, etc. There are plenty of accommodation options here (Booking or Airbnb), but for cozy family-run guesthouses, check out Chez Sissi, Casa Celeste, or BB Djassi, for example.

-Val de Paul: Perfect for hikes on this side—Figueiral de Paul, the Cova crater (doable from Ponta do Sol too, via the famous Corda road, for instance). Down in Vila das Pombas, you’ll find affordable guesthouses like Misourino, Aldeia Jerome, Oasis, or Luz d'Sol. Higher up in Val de Paul, there’s Sandro’s guesthouse, which is great for hikers. For something a bit fancier, try Aldeia Panoramica, Aldeia Manga, or Kaza d'Vizin, etc.

-You could also stay up in the hills, like at Casa Espongeiro near Espongeiro, for walks around Lagoa or Pico da Cruz, or for hikes down to Coculi or Cha de Pedras. But it’s less convenient for exploring since you’ll need to arrange transport to get back up after your hikes.

-Ribeira das Patas/Cha de Morte on the other side of the island: Chez Suzy, Chez Lizy... From there, you can head to Alto Mira or the Norte plateau via Bordeira.

-Tarrafal: Cantinho da Preta

I highly recommend getting the official hiking map (if it’s not sold out) — it really helps with orientation and gives you a great overview of the hikes. Marie

Thanks for all this info! I also found this while browsing Komoot: www.komoot.com/fr-fr/highlight/3980002

Hey there :Pousada do Sossego? You know it? visitsantoantao.net/comer-e-dormir/

replied in the other thread! ;O)

Thanks for all this info! I also found this while browsing Komoot: www.komoot.com/fr-fr/highlight/3980002

Yeah, one easy loop and two loops that are already a really good level. But there are some great sections along the road.

Yes, an easy loop and two loops that are already quite challenging. But there are some great sections along the way.

Thanks

Hi there, I just booked our flight tickets for January, departing from Marseille. Direct round-trip flights. Outbound: Marseille/Praia and return: Sal/Marseille with Transavia, priced at 378 € per person including one checked bag. I just realized that domestic flights aren’t exactly cheap, though! Can you confirm that overnight ferries no longer exist? That was going to be such a great solution for us... No wasted time. Otherwise, have you ever taken these ferries anywhere other than São Vicente/Santo Antão? They seem to be running normally, right? They post the schedules and fares on their website..

But I really recommend getting (if it’s not out of stock) the official hiking map—it really helps a lot with orientation and getting an overall view of the hikes.

I usually rely on apps (Komoot, Wikiloc, etc.) on my phone, but yeah, a map does give a better overall view. Which one do you recommend, then? What brand or edition? And what’s the "8" about? Otherwise, is this the one: https://www.librairie-voyage.com/ab-karten-carte-de-randonnees-cap-vert-santo-antao-2024.html?srsltid=AfmBOoolMLbKMBGwB1iks4b5CLuFE5ePiM80PJORtOnVeTIS4AehW-H5

Hello,

Marseille/Praia and return Sal/Marseille with Transavia for 378 € per person including 1 checked bag.

Not a bad price! But I hope you’ve planned at least 3 weeks because you’ve just added another island—and another transfer...

No, 4 weeks! Departure January 10th, return February 7th.😉 By the way, did you book your domestic flights directly with the Cape Verdean airline (which one, by the way?) because I could only find them (simulations) through intermediaries like eDreams, and I'm not too keen on that!

I'd like to do Santiago / Fogo / São Vicente / Santo Antão / Sal, where I have my return flight to Marseille.

Okay, you reassure me—4 weeks, you’ll have plenty of time! I’d booked everything in advance, making sure to leave enough wiggle room to cover any possible delays or cancellations. Never through platforms, always direct. I even changed a flight once I was there. https://www.caboverdeairlines.com/

Thanks! Actually, I had seen it but thought that company had gone out of business! Do you think it’s modifiable after booking? For an extra fee, I assume? I’d quite like to do Santiago/Fogo by ferry if it’s not more unpredictable than the plane... but in that case, I’d need to go back through Praia by plane (Fogo/Praia/São Vicente)...