Cape Verde: The No-stress Archipelago That Reconciles Adventure, Nature, And Human Encounters
Need for fresh air, salt, and landscapes that tell a story? Less than six hours by plane, Cape Verde unfolds its volcanic trails, blonde dunes, and its legendary mantra "no stress". Perfect for unwinding without giving up on adventure.
A breath of adventure... within a wing's reach.
Six hours by plane from Paris, a minimal time difference (-2 hours in winter) and voila! You are thrust between Africa, the Atlantic, and Portuguese influences. The archipelago welcomed just over one million visitors in 2023, a +12% increase compared to 2022, yet it retains an end-of-the-world atmosphere thanks to the scattering of its islands. Here, the tourist checklist is traded for an embraced slow life: cafés resonating with morna music, inter-island ferry crossings, nights spent with locals. Cape Verde is to be savored slowly, backpack on or camera slung over your shoulder.
Ten Islands, Ten Temperaments: A Quick Overview
Impossible to confuse them!
- Santo Antão: dizzying cliffs and tropical valleys.
- São Vicente: Mindelo, cultural capital and secluded beaches.
- Sal: pink salt flats and weightless swimming.
- Boa Vista: 22 km of beach at Santa Monica and 19,320 turtle nests by 2024.
- Santiago: historical cradle, colorful markets, Serra Malagueta park.
- Fogo: an active volcano at 2,829 meters, black vineyards.
- São Nicolau: primary forest and zero mass tourism.
- Brava: the garden island accessible only by sea.
- Maio: sleepy villages and pink salt flats.
- Santa Luzia: a total nature reserve, visits by permit only.
As many characters as there are patches of lava: ideal for putting together a tailor-made itinerary.
Santo Antão: the "Queen of Trails"
Hikers dream of it, many return to it. In the Paúl valley, terraced crops tumble down towards the ocean while the peaks of Fontainhas seem to hang in the void. There are more than 200 km of marked trails, from family-friendly paths to ridges reserved for seasoned legs. Bonus: the welcome from grogue producers (a traditional rum) who readily open the doors to their "trapiches". A small caloric break, big discussions about sugarcane: that's the Cape Verdean hiking experience.
Climbing an active volcano, tasting a lava wine.
Here, the setting is dark and lunar. The Pico do Fogo can be climbed in 3 hours 30 minutes by athletes, a bit longer if you stop to breathe (and admire) the scoria. Up there, a 360° panorama over the Atlantic. On the way back, stop at Chã das Caldeiras: 1,000 inhabitants, two craters, and vines growing in the ash. The family-owned cellars offer a robust red wine, a testament to the local resilience after the 2014 eruption. A terroir like no other, literally born from fire.
São Nicolau & Maio: The Luxury of Silence
No giant resorts, no noisy bars. On São Nicolau, you pass through the forest of Monte Gordo and then emerge onto the rocky chaos of Carbeirinho – a guaranteed wow. Maio, on the other hand, boasts pristine beaches where you're more likely to encounter fishermen than beach towels. By bike, you reach Calheta, chat with artisans weaving traditional trajin caps, and forget the very concept of time. Some call it "slow travel," here it's just daily life.
Boa Vista: From Sahelian Dunes to the Turtle Nursery
Imagine a mini-Sahara set upon the water. The Deserto de Viana provides a playground for sandboarding or minimalist photography. Further south, Santa Monica beach unfolds 22 km of blonde sand without a single building. From June to October, loggerhead turtles come here to lay their eggs: more than 90% increase in nests over five years thanks to conservation programs. From March to May, humpback whales can also be observed offshore. A life-sized biology classroom, accessible by boat from Sal Rei.
Underwater, another planet
Diving into colonial shipwrecks at São Vicente, snorkeling with harmless rays and sharks at Sal, traditional trolling fishing around Santiago... The archipelago lives up to its reputation as a year-round aquatic spot. Water temperature: an average of 23°C, with visibility that can reach up to 30 meters in the summer. Even beginners can enjoy it thanks to French-speaking centers and protected lagoons.
Travel Responsibly with ITCV
Since 2021, the Instituto do Turismo de Cabo Verde has been certifying eco-friendly accommodations, funding community hiking trails, and aiming for a 25% increase in nature/culture stays by 2026. In practice: homestays in Fajã d'Água (Brava), local guides trained on the biosphere in Boa Vista, or plastic waste sorting on the trails of Serra Malagueta. Travel thus becomes an act of direct support to the island communities.
N.B. (Nota Bene)
The climate is semi-arid and mild: an average annual temperature of 24°C, slightly warmer on Sal and Boa Vista, cooler in the highlands of Fogo. The local currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (1 € = 110 CVE). Direct flights from Paris to Sal or Paris to Praia take 5 hours and 45 minutes. No vaccinations are required, but don't forget your sunscreen – the sun is generous even under the trade winds.
