Nature & Adventure in Cabo Verde
The volcanic adventure of Cabo Verde: born from fire, this is an archipelago of volcanoes and breathtaking landscapes.
Nha Cabo Verde, aventura vulkánika: Nasidu di fogo, és nôs arquipélagu di vulcôis i paisagens impurissáv.
Despite having three volcanoes in Cabo Verde - Fogo, Brava and Santo Antão - the entire archipelago is made up of stories and memories of fire and lava, giving the islands a very strong personality. Although there has been no volcanic activity since the settlement of Brava and Santo Antão, the volcano on the island of Fogo is still active.
Vulcão do Fogo: the grandeur of a giant
The Volcano of Fire is the highest point in the entire archipelago and also the only active volcano in Cabo Verde. In 2014, it spewed rivers of lava but despite this, safety for residents and visitors is fully guaranteed. At the cone of the volcano, which rises to 2829 meters above sea level, the arid landscape is marked by agricultural production. Here, vineyards are cultivated responsible for producing a high alcohol content wine with a very distinctive taste.
How to get to Volcano of Fire
To reach the top of Volcano of Fire, it's worth hiring a mountain guide to lead you on your six-hour hike due to its steep incline and endless natural wonders unique only to this island such as Fumaroles - small openings in the ground through which volcanic gases like sulfur are released - and lunar-like colors and textures caused by volcanic stones and ashes.
See this and other images at www.almadeviajante.com
Support Services
Travel agencies are best suited for safe exploration organized around this island. The Chãs das Caldeiras Tourist Guides Association also offers guide services.
Precautions
Stay hydrated, use sun protection measures, wear comfortable footwear.
What To Do On The Island Of Fogo
- Hike up Pico do Fogo - summit at Volcano of Fire;
- Climb Pico Pequeno - subsidiary exit from volcano;
- Walk along Caldeira until Mosteiros;
- Visit Winery at Chã de Caldeiras.
Brava Volcano: Merging with the Sea and History
The island has several volcanic evidences throughout its territory, but it is in Fundo Grande where one of the largest volcanic craters on the island is located. The Caldeira, as it is locally known, has a diameter of about 1.5 kilometers and is surrounded by steep cliffs of volcanic rock.
How to Get to the Brava Island Volcano
To get to Caldeira in Fundo Grande, it's important to have the support of local tourist guides because although there are several trails and pedestrian routes and walking isn't extremely difficult, the area is risky and there are various instructions from local authorities that must be followed.
See this and other images at www.got2globe.com
Support Services
On the island, there are a series of transportation services both private and public. Hotels also provide excellent quality support services.
Careful Considerations
Hydration, sun protection, and comfortable footwear should be taken into consideration.
What to Do in Brava
- Appreciate idyllic landscapes at lookout points:
- MiraGrandeza;
- MiraGloriosa;
- MiraGraciosa;
- MiraBeleza;
- Nova Sintra;
- Visiting the huge crater at Fundo Grande;
- Visit Natural Pools at Fajã de Água;
- Go hiking:
- Trilho do Mato until Pico das Fontaínhas;
- Trilho do Mato Grande until Chão de Aguada Cachaço;
- Trilho between Furna e Vinagre.
Santo Antão Volcano
Santo Antão is renowned for its rugged topography, deep valleys, and stunning landscapes formed by its volcanic origins. Cova do Paúl is one of the prime examples of these landscapes on the island.
Situated in the northern region of Santo Antão, Cova do Paúl is an extinct volcanic crater, now transformed into a fertile valley.
The crater's bowl, with its deep concave shape, cradles a patchwork of agricultural fields, creating a spectacle that is a feast for the eyes.
The terraced fields here are cultivated with an array of crops, from sugarcane and bananas to maize and beans, presenting a colorful mosaic against the backdrop of rugged volcanic ridges.
How to get to Santo Antão Volcano
Once in Porto Novo, you can arrange for a taxi or join a guided tour to visit Cova do Paúl. The route from Porto Novo to Cova is quite scenic, passing through craggy landscapes, terraced fields, and steep valleys
The journey to Cova do Paúl is an experience in itself. With every turn, the scenery unfolds like a living painting, with the crater gradually revealing itself in its full splendor.
For those keen on hiking, Cova do Paúl offers numerous trails that meander through the crater's heart, offering unique perspectives of this geological wonder.
Support services
Guided tours are available, where local experts share fascinating stories about the volcano's history, the island's culture, and the unique ecosystem within the crater
Precautions
Hydration, sun protection and comfortable footwear should be taken into consideration.
Famous Trails of Santo Antão
- Trail of Vale do Paúl (Paúl)
- Trail from Pinhão to Lombo Branco and Sinagoga (Ribeira Garça)
- Trail from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha (Ribeira Garça)
- Trail from Tarrafal to Monte Trigo (Porto Novo)
- Trail from Vale da Ribeira da Torre, Xôxô to Ribeira Grande (Ribeira Garça).
Thousand enchanted hikes: where nature and adventure come together to capture hearts
Cabo Verde is synonymous with unique natural beauty. The idyllic scenery always provides a stage for exceptional experiences. Cabo Verde, with its ten islands, is full of hiking trails that promise to delight nature sports enthusiasts. Taking a trail on any of the archipelago's islands is experiencing the essence of Cabo Verde.
Trekking Trails
Ponta de Sol Route - Island of Santo Antão
- Vila Maria Pia, Ribeira Grande
- Difficulty level: Difficult
- Distance: 14.2 km
Vale Route - Island of Santo Antão
- Vila das Pombas, Paul
- Difficulty level: Difficult
- Distance: 5.1 km
Fogo Peak - Island of Fogo
- Fogo Natural Park
- Difficulty level: Difficult
- Distance: 8.2 km
Riu Karamboa to Sal Rei - Island of Boa Vista
- Boa Vista
- Difficulty level : Easy
- Distance : 4.8km
Tarrafal - Monte Trigo - Island of Santo Antão
- Tarrafal, Porto Novo
- Degree of difficulty : Difficult
- Distance : 13km
Chã das Caldeiras - island of Fogo
- Mosteiros, Santa Catarina do Fogo
- Difficulty level: Moderate
- Distance: 12.4 km
Running Trails
Fogo - Island of Fogo
- Chão das Caldeiras
- Distance : 8.99 km
- Elevation gain: 1011m
Rincão - Island of Santiago
- Grutas Águas Belas
- Distance : 11.47 km
- Elevation gain : 301m
Ribeira Seca - Island of Santiago
- Ribeira Seca
- Distance :10,25km
- Elevation gain:113m
Walking Trails
São Pedro - Island of São Vicente
- Dona Amélia Lighthouse, São Vicente
- Degree of difficulty : Easy
- Distance :6km
Vila Ribeira Brava - Island of São Nicolau
- Cachaço
- Degree of difficulty : Difficult
- Distance :10.5km
In addition to these routes, many others can be enjoyed. Scattered across each island, there are trails that cater to all tastes and physical abilities. However, they all have in common the ability to leave magnificent images imprinted in the memory of those who dare to truly know Cabo Verde.
Explore Cabo Verde
Sun and beach, mountain trails, landscapes of a nature that so easily springs up everywhere and a wealth of customs and traditions that does not translate into any price: Cabo Verde is a paradise that rests by the sea.
With the morabeza of the people and the magic that is only found in Islands of sun and sea, this archipelago is a universe of experiences to discover.