Cape Verde Tour: Three Islands, a Thousand Impressions

Type: JourneysExperience: NatureExperience: CultureExperience: BeachTarget Audience: FamiliesTarget audience: CouplesContinent: AfricaCountry: Cape VerdeTransportation: With a private driver

Aug. 19

Written by Jan Bikkembergs

⁍ Journeys ◦ Africa ◦ Cape Verde ◦ Nature ◦ Beach ◦ Gastronomy ◦ Family ◦ Couples ◦ Private Driver

Highlights

An archipelago that never ceases to amaze you

✓ You'll discover three completely different islands, each with its own character, landscape, and way of life.

✓ You'll hike along some of Santo Antão's most beautiful trails, where lush valleys, dramatic mountain ridges, and the Atlantic Ocean provide a constant backdrop.

✓ You'll get to know Cape Verde through music, cuisine, and encounters with locals who are happy to introduce you to their island.

✓ You'll end your trip on the golden-yellow beaches of Sal, where sun, sea, and relaxation provide the perfect finale to a diverse journey.

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The Bounty Beach Restaurant Balinese Bed.jpg

Luxury Tour of Cape Verde

Ask someone about Cape Verde, and chances are they’ll immediately think of sun, sea, and sand. And rightly so, but that’s only a small part of the story. Above all, this archipelago shows just how different islands can be, even when they’re barely an hour’s flight apart.

Your journey begins in Mindelo, a city where music never seems far away. A guitar plays on a terrace, a band rehearses in a small square, and in the harbor, fishermen return with their catch of the day. The relaxed atmosphere is contagious, and before you know it, you’ll find yourself strolling leisurely through colorful streets and lively markets.

After a short ferry ride, Santo Antão appears on the horizon. High mountain ridges rise out of the ocean, making it immediately clear why hikers from all over the world come here. Yet it’s not just the views that leave a lasting impression. It’s just as much the little encounters along the way—a friendly greeting, lunch at someone’s home, or a cup of strong Cape Verdean coffee among the plantations.

The last few days take on a whole new rhythm. On Sal, mountain trails give way to wide sandy beaches, beach bars, and an ocean that seems to come in every shade of blue. An island where you don’t have to plan a thing and where the days fill up on their own.

This island-hopping tour not only lets you discover different islands, but also different sides of Cape Verde.

Itinerary

Mindelo is the kind of city that immediately makes you want to go exploring. From your charming boutique hotel, you can look out over the bay as colorful fishing boats come and go. After your flight, you’ll have time to take your time getting to know the city and soak up the laid-back Cape Verdean atmosphere.
The next day, you’ll discover why Mindelo is called the cultural capital of the archipelago. Accompanied by a local guide, you’ll stroll through the historic streets, past colonial facades, lively squares, and the colorful fish and vegetable market. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about Cesária Évora, the singer who put Cape Verde on the world map. After lunch, you’ll head into the interior of the island with your driver. You’ll pass through the fishing village of São Pedro, drive through volcanic landscapes, and reach Monte Verde, the highest point on São Vicente at 774 meters. On a clear day, the view extends all the way to Santo Antão, Santa Luzia, and São Nicolau. End the day with a refreshing dip in Baía das Gatas, a natural bay where the locals also like to cool off.
After a short ferry ride, the steep mountains of Santo Antão rise out of the ocean. Your driver will be waiting for you at the harbor to take you on a scenic drive along the old mountain road, one of the most beautiful routes in the archipelago. That drive alone makes the crossing worth it.
The first hike begins in Espongeiros, a small mountain village surrounded by agricultural terraces. You’ll follow old trails past fields and farms, while the views of the Chã de Pedras valley unfold one after another in rapid succession. Over the next few days, you’ll discover a different part of the island each time. The spectacular coastal trail between Cruzinha and Fontainhas winds high above the Atlantic Ocean, past steep cliffs and small fishing villages. Fontainhas itself looks like a colorful balcony built against the mountainside.
The Ribeira da Torre Valley and the lush Paul Valley also reveal a completely different side of Santo Antão. You’ll hike among coffee plants, sugarcane, mango, and guava trees, have lunch with local families, and discover how agriculture still shapes daily life here. The national stew, cachupa, tastes better nowhere than in a simple little restaurant in the middle of the valley, prepared with ingredients that were literally harvested just a few meters away.
Back in Mindelo, a completely different experience awaits. Together with Tchicau, you’ll first visit the local market. She knows almost every vendor personally and carefully selects the ingredients for lunch. Only then will you head into her kitchen, where the recipes don’t come from a cookbook but have been passed down from generation to generation for years.
As the aroma of garlic, fresh herbs, and slow-cooked cachupa fills the room, Tchicau talks with obvious enthusiasm about her life, her family, and Cape Verdean cuisine. It’s an experience that goes far beyond just cooking.
After a short domestic flight, you’ll arrive on Sal, the sunniest island in the archipelago. From your hotel, you can walk right onto Santa Maria Beach, where the Atlantic Ocean seems to constantly change color.
If you get up early, you can watch fishermen bring their catch ashore at the pier. Large tuna and swordfish are processed right there, while curious locals and seagulls watch the spectacle. Later in the day, kitesurfers take over the beach, and a relaxed vacation atmosphere takes hold.
During an island tour, you’ll also discover the lesser-known side of Sal. You’ll visit the colorful fishing port of Palmeira, admire the famous Blue Eye of Buracona—where sunlight makes the water glow a vivid blue—and drive through Terra Boa, where mirages give the landscape an almost surreal appearance.
You’ll experience a truly special moment in Pedra de Lume. In the ancient salt crater, you’ll float almost weightlessly on the mineral-rich water—an experience often compared to the Dead Sea. Further on, you’ll walk through Shark Bay, where young lemon sharks swim right along the coast. They’re harmless, but it’s incredibly impressive to see them up close.
The rest of your stay is entirely up to you. A walk on the beach, a good book under a beach umbrella, or a long lunch with a view of the sea... Sal invites you, above all, to take a moment to fully savor everything you’ve experienced on this trip.

Practical Information

Duration 11 days, 10 nights

Indicative price €2.850 per person

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ⓘ 
This estimated price is subject to change. The estimated price includes a private driver and accommodations but does not include flights. With Pegase Tailored, we bring your travel dreams to life, fully tailored to your wishes. No standard package—just a unique journey so you can discover the world on your own terms.

Best time to visit

Our highlight from the trip

"I always look forward to the ferry ride between São Vicente and Santo Antão. In the distance, you see the green mountains slowly growing larger, while the ocean around you turns a deep blue. That first glimpse of Santo Antão remains, for me, one of the most beautiful arrivals I know.”

Maïté Quijo, Luxury Travel Advisor

Featured hotels

Casa Da Djedja, São Vicente

From the terrace, you can look out over Mindelo Bay, where colorful fishing boats slowly sail into the harbor. Casa Da Djedja feels more like an elegant Cape Verdean mansion than a traditional hotel. It’s small-scale, personal, and ideally located for exploring the city on foot.

Palmeira da Cruz Ecolodge, Santo Antão

After a day of hiking, there’s no better place to enjoy a local beer than on the terrace at Palmeira da Cruz. Surrounded by mountains and lush greenery, you’ll truly feel at home here, in tune with the rhythm of Santo Antão. Its peaceful setting and warm welcome make it a wonderful base for the island’s most beautiful hikes.

Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort, Sal

The beach literally starts right at the edge of the resort. During the day, you can alternate between the ocean, the pool, and the beach bar, while Santa Maria is within walking distance for a cozy lunch or an evening stroll along the boardwalk. A relaxing way to end a trip full of wonderful experiences.

Featured experiences

In the Footsteps of Cesária Évora

In Mindelo, it seems her voice has never completely faded away. On a walk through the city, you’ll discover the cafés, squares, and narrow streets that are closely tied to Cape Verde’s most famous singer. Your guide will not only tell her story, but also explain why music still plays such an important role in daily life.

Cooking with Tchicau

Not a sterile cooking studio, but a warm, homey kitchen where everyone spontaneously joins in. Together, you’ll first visit the market, after which you’ll prepare traditional dishes using ingredients purchased that very morning. In between cooking, there’s at least as much time for stories as there is for recipes.

Hiking on Santo Antão

There are few places where hiking feels as natural as it does here. Old mountain trails lead you past terraced plantations, colorful villages, and lookout points where you find yourself pausing again and again. Not because you have to, but because the view is simply too beautiful to just walk right past.