The Two Faces of Santo Antão

Moderate: an average of 4 to 5 hours of activity per day. Average elevation gain of 300 to 500 metres. A good level of fitness is required.

No luggage to carry: you only carry a small backpack containing your picnic lunch and the things you need for the day. Your luggage will be waiting for you at your accommodation each evening.

By vehicle, boat and plane (domestic flights).

Accommodation

• 2 nights in a charming hotel in Mindelo (double room with private bathroom facilities)
• 2 nights in a hotel in Ponta do Sol (double room with private bathroom facilities)
• 1 night in a hotel in Vila das Pombas (double room with private bathroom facilities)
• 2 nights in a hotel or homestay in Tarrafal (double or triple room). The village of Tarrafal is isolated from the rest of the island, and accommodation is more basic than on previous nights.

Please note that, on certain dates, the overnight stays on day 2, 3 and 4 may be swapped, as accommodation options are limited in Cape Verde, particularly on Santo Antão.

Single rooms and individual tents are available at an additional cost: please contact us. Subject to availability and must be requested when booking.

Please note that water is scarce and precious in Cape Verde, and most accommodation uses desalinated water. Cape Verde’s energy production system is being modernised, but on rare occasions hotels may run out of water on certain days, or hot water may be unavailable. All accommodation has bathroom facilities.

Meals

Varied local cuisine using local produce. Dinners are served at your accommodation or in restaurants, while lunch consists of traditional food in local homes or a picnic prepared by your guide. For drinking water, in addition to fountains, you will find mineral water in village grocery shops. Please let us know about any food allergies or special dietary requirements when booking; we will do our best to adapt your meals.

From 5 to 15 participants.

Guide gratuities are optional and at your discretion. To reward outstanding service, a suggested guideline is 5–10% of the total trip cost. Local currency is preferred.

8 days / 7 nights / 4,5 days of hiking.

Guiding

Led by a French-speaking Cape Verdean guide.

During your trip, at certain stops you may have the opportunity to swim at sites where swimming is permitted but there is no lifeguard supervision. We therefore strongly recommend that you remain vigilant and take no risks with your safety, as our guides do not hold the French water safety and rescue qualification (BNSSA).
It is each person’s responsibility to assess their own swimming ability and skills, and those of anyone in their care, in relation to the swimming site before entering the water.

Flights

You will travel on scheduled or charter flights (Air Portugal/TAP, Cabo Verde Airlines, Air Méditerranée or Smartlynx Airlines). Please note that connection times can vary if the trip includes inter-island flights, and flights are often delayed and/or brought forward, requiring us to adapt the itinerary as best we can.

Please note that, on certain dates, the outbound flight may be direct from Paris to Mindelo, with a connecting flight on the return journey. On other dates, flights may include a technical stop (passengers remain on the aircraft) on the outbound and/or return journey. This is particularly the case with Transavia.

For departures from Paris with the group on the scheduled date, Terres d’Aventure provides passengers with assistance from its airport staff in Paris to help with check-in. Please arrive at the meeting time stated in your airport departure instructions so that we can provide this assistance as smoothly as possible.

Please note: if your flights differ from those of the group (departure from a regional airport, an earlier departure and/or a later return), a dedicated mobile number for “airport assistance” will be included in your departure information once your flight itinerary has been confirmed. You can use this number to contact the Terres d’Aventure airport assistants on your departure day if needed.

Meals on board are not included with TAP/Air Portugal. Allow for an additional charge.

Meals on board are not included with TO/Transavia. Allow for an additional charge.
For flights with a low-cost airline such as Transavia, cabin baggage must comply with the following dimensions: 40×30×20cm. The 35-litre backpack recommended for this trip can therefore be packed inside your large, soft-sided travel bag. Please refer to your flight departure information for details.

Reminder: if you book the trip without air travel, you are responsible for the cost of domestic flights. We can arrange domestic flight bookings for an additional charge; please ask your travel adviser. Airport-to-hotel transfers (or vice versa) are also at your own expense.

Meeting point / End of trip

Meeting point

On Day 1 at the airport in Paris.

End of trip

On Day 8 at the airport in Paris.

Approximately two weeks before departure, you will receive departure information specifying the meeting time and location, your guide’s name and contact details, and your flight numbers and times. Your electronic tickets will be included.

A number of our trips offer opportunities to swim along the way or at the end of the day. It would be a shame to miss out. However, please bear in mind that your trip leaders are not lifeguards; you therefore swim under your own responsibility and at your own risk.

Member of Agir pour un Tourisme Responsable (ATR)

Since 2012, Grand Angle has been a member of ATR, the leading association for more responsible tourism. We design our trips – on foot, by bike and on snow – to invite everyone to discover the world differently: with curiosity, respect and kindness.

As a member of the board of directors since 2018, we actively help the sector move towards more meaningful practices. In practical terms, we focus on:

• Transparency in our practices and pricing
• Respect for our partners and local communities
• Protecting the environment on every trip

We also share the values of the traveller’s ethical charter, which encourages everyone to take simple steps to protect the places they visit and foster meaningful encounters.

Travelife Partner

Since 2025, Grand Angle has been recognised as a Travelife Partner, an international label that certifies our responsible environmental, ethical and sustainable management practices, both within our company and in our work with partners and the organisation of our trips.

This label, the second level of a rigorous international certification programme, recognises our concrete actions in support of responsible tourism. We are actively working towards the next level, Travelife Certified, in line with our sustainable development policy

All year round

You must pack all your belongings in 2 bags: 1 backpack and 1 large soft-sided travel bag.

1 - The backpack:
A hiking backpack with a capacity of approximately 35 litres will be useful for carrying your personal belongings during the day. It will also serve as your hand luggage when travelling, carrying any fragile items (camera, etc.), valuables (when your accommodation has no safe) and any medication you may need. It will travel in the cabin on flights. Cabin baggage is generally limited to 10kg per person.

** For flights with a low-cost airline such as Transavia, cabin baggage must fit within the following dimensions: 40×30×20cm. Your 35-litre backpack can therefore be packed inside your large soft-sided travel bag. Refer to your flight information documents for details.

2 - The large soft-sided travel bag:
This should contain the rest of your belongings. You will have access to it each evening. It will be transported by porters and/or animals and/or vehicles.
Before departure, you will receive luggage labels so that you can identify your bags with your name and address, making it easier to gather the bags together on arrival at the airport. This bag will travel in the hold on flights. Your checked baggage allowance will be stated in your flight information documents or on your ticket.
Our recommendations:
Pack as much as possible in your checked baggage and keep only what is absolutely essential for your journey in your hand luggage. Wear your hiking clothes on the plane and take your essential items with you (in case your luggage is delayed).

Please note that airport security checks have become very strict: pack knives, scissors, nail files and spare batteries in your checked baggage.

• 1 sun hat or cap
• 1 scarf
• T-shirts (1 for 2 or 3 days of walking). Avoid cotton, which takes a very long time to dry; choose short-sleeved T-shirts made from breathable fabric
• 1 base layer top (same advice as above) or long-sleeved shirt
• 1 lightweight fleece jacket
• 1 pair of cropped trousers, capri trousers and/or shorts
• 1 pair of trekking trousers
• 1 pair of comfortable trousers for the evenings
• 1 simple, lightweight Gore-Tex-type jacket
• 1 swimsuit
• Underwear
• Walking socks (1 pair for 2 to 3 days of walking). Avoid cotton “tennis” socks, which take a very long time to dry and carry a high risk of blisters; choose socks made with Coolmax, for example.
• 1 pair of hiking boots with good ankle support (Vibram-type soles)
• 1 pair of sandals or casual shoes for the evenings

Adjust the clothing list to suit the season you choose to travel in.

• 1 pair of excellent-quality sunglasses
• 1 pair of telescopic walking poles (optional): make ascents and descents easier and are very useful on rough or slippery terrain
• 1 water bottle (at least 1,5 litres)
• 1 head torch or torch and batteries
• 1 pocket knife (pack in your checked luggage)
• 1 small pouch (preferably waterproof) for your money
• Toiletries: preferably choose biodegradable products
• 1 towel: quick-drying towels are available
• Quies earplugs (optional)
• Toilet paper and 1 lighter to burn it
• Sunscreen and lip balm
• Bags for rubbish
• Strong plastic bags to protect your belongings
• 1 small sewing kit
• Remember a cup for grog made with “local rum”!

Personal medical kit
Have your doctor approve this list of items for your personal medical kit:

• Your usual medication
• Pain relief: preferably paracetamol
• Anti-inflammatory tablets
• Anti-inflammatory ointment
• Anti-diarrhoeal medication
• Antispasmodic medication
• Intestinal antiseptic
• Anti-sickness medication
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics: bring enough for 8 days of treatment
• Eye drops (for dust irritation or eye inflammation) and antibiotic eye cream
• Cold and sore throat remedies (lozenges)
• Biafine
• Elastic adhesive bandage (such as Elastoplast, 6 cm wide)
• Assorted adhesive dressings + antiseptic swabs + Steristrip
• Second-skin blister dressings (Spenco SOS Ampoules, available from sports shops, pharmacies, health and beauty shops, etc.)
• Water purification tablets (Micropur forte or Aquatabs), or you can buy mineral water (not included; extra charge)
• Emergency blanket
• Mosquito repellent effective in tropical regions

First aid kit
A first aid kit supplied by the agency is entrusted to your tour leader.

Equipment provided
Picnic equipment.

Passport

French, Belgian and Swiss nationals need a current passport valid for 6 months after the return date. For other nationalities, we are available to help you with the necessary procedures.

To cover all eventualities, make sure your passport has the required or a sufficient number of blank pages (usually 3, including 2 facing pages).

Emergency passport: this document is not accepted everywhere, so before applying for one, check that it is recognised by the country you are travelling to; also check whether it requires you to apply for a visa (this may be the case even in countries where ordinary passport holders are exempt).

If you are travelling with your children, please note that all minors, regardless of age, must now have their own passport. French law states that minors travelling with both parents, or with either parent, do not need authorisation to leave the country. However, this document is compulsory (since 15 January 2017) if the child is not accompanied by a parent. In this case, the child must present: a passport (or identity card, depending on the destination country’s requirements); an authorisation to leave the country form, signed by a parent with parental responsibility (the authorisation form is available on www.service-public.fr); and a photocopy of the signing parent’s identity document.

When a minor travels with a parent whose surname they do not share, it is strongly recommended that they either carry proof of their parent-child relationship (https://www.service-public.fr/particuliers/vosdroits/F15392) or present an authorisation to leave the country (Cerfa form no. 15646*01), duly completed and signed by the other parent, together with a copy of that parent’s identity document. This authorisation does not remove the need to complete any other destination-specific formalities concerning minors.

New security measures have come into effect at airports: electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) must be charged and working for all flights to or via the United States and London. Security officers must be able to switch them on. As a precaution, keep your charger within easy reach. If your device has a flat battery or is faulty, it will be confiscated. As this measure may be extended to other airports, we recommend charging your electronic devices before your flight, wherever you are travelling.

Driving licence: to avoid any difficulties, it may be useful to obtain an international driving permit or, failing that, a certified translation of your French driving licence, even when travelling to countries outside Europe that officially recognise French driving licences.

Visa

Since 1 January 2019, French, Belgian and Swiss travellers no longer need a visa to visit Cape Verde. However, they must either (the recommended option) register before departure at www.ease.gov.cv and pay the airport tax of 30 euros online, or complete the formalities and pay on arrival. For travellers of
other nationalities, we are available to help you with the application process.

Please note! A tourist tax applies to all travellers over 16 years of age: 2 euros per person per day, payable to your accommodation provider if it is not included in your tour operator’s price.

Vaccinations

Compulsory vaccinations
Yellow fever vaccination is only compulsory for travellers arriving from an infected area, which may include those arriving from Senegal. It must be administered at least 10 days before departure.

Recommended vaccinations
As always, wherever you travel, it is important to be vaccinated against:

• diphtheria, tetanus and polio;
• hepatitis A and B (if you do not have confirmed immunity);
• whooping cough (its resurgence among adults, even in France, makes vaccination advisable for any trip) and measles (especially for children)

And, perhaps less routinely:

• typhoid;
• rabies (especially for children). For meningitis during an epidemic, the quadrivalent A/C/Y/W vaccine (Menveo or Nimenrix).

Malaria prevention
Preventive medication can be dispensed with, except on the island of Sao Tiago during the rainy season (July to October), when the low risk can be prevented by taking Nivaquine. Protection against mosquitoes using repellents, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and clothing that covers the skin, both during the day and at night, is all the more essential as it also protects against other insects that transmit parasitic or viral diseases (particularly dengue, which is endemic with periodic outbreaks, or Zika virus).

Other risks
Protecting yourself means following the advice in our general recommendations on food, environmental and behavioural risks. Access to safe drinking water is a recurring problem throughout the archipelago, with a risk of foodborne and waterborne infections everywhere outside the large hotel complexes.

Zika virus: transmitted by the same mosquito as dengue and chikungunya, the disease was not considered serious (fever, rash and joint pain, resolving in around eight days) until severe neurological complications appeared during the outbreak in Brazil in newborn babies whose mothers had been exposed to Zika virus. The risk of microcephaly, which can cause severe disabilities in children, leads us, in line with the recommendations just published by France’s High Council for Public Health, to advise pregnant women, particularly in early pregnancy, to consult their doctor to assess whether their travel plans are appropriate.

Practical information
Medical facilities are inadequate. In the event of a serious problem, evacuation to Dakar or France will be arranged after contacting the travel assistance company.

Embassy of Cape Verde
3, rue Rigny
75008 Paris
Tel.: +33 (0) 142127350

Consulate of Cape Verde in Marseille
7, rue Félix-Éboué (place Sadi Carnot)
13002 Marseille
Tel.: +33 (0) 491918194

Dialling code from France: 00351

• 2 hours in winter and -3 hours in summer

Cape Verde has a dry tropical climate, with a very short rainy season from August to September. This is also the hottest season, with temperatures around 30°C. For the rest of the year, from October to July, the sky is blue, with a few clouds drifting in the trade winds. The average temperature is 25°C, slightly cooler in the mountains and moderated by the winds and the influence of the ocean. Ocean temperatures range from 21° in winter to 26°C in summer. Autumn, winter and spring are the ideal seasons for walking on the islands of Cape Verde.

TRAVELLER’S TIP

To make the most of your stay in Cape Verde, it is important to understand the practical conditions you will encounter during your trip before you set off. Minor logistical issues with transport or supplies may arise, requiring patience, good humour and a willingness to keep an open mind as you adapt to local realities.

The sun is very strong in Cape Verde, although this is not always obvious because the wind and ocean keep temperatures moderate. You should therefore protect yourself effectively from the sun and bring suitable clothing, a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. You also need to drink plenty of water.

Petty crime exists in Cape Verde, as it does elsewhere. To avoid bag snatching, take basic precautions when walking around towns with a camera, mobile phone, handbag or similar belongings.
It is also sensible to leave your passport, money and valuables at your hotel. Your guide can offer useful advice on this.

Celebrations and nightlife
Music, dance and popular song are central to Cape Verde’s living culture. Various venues host live music in the early evening, although this is not a regular occurrence everywhere. Most celebrations tend to take place later at night, often after midnight.

Safety
Your route may include stretches with exposed drops. Feel free to ask your travel adviser for more information.

Official language: Portuguese; Cape Verdean Creole is also spoken, and French is often understood in towns.

The local currency is the Cape Verdean escudo. 1 € = approximately 110,27 Cape Verdean escudos (as of 07/10/2024).
International credit cards are increasingly accepted. However, please note that MASTERCARD is not accepted at all cash machines or SISP payment terminals. VISA is more widely accepted. Caixa Economica bank does not charge a currency exchange commission. Some tourist establishments accept payment in euros.

Olizane “Découverte” guides - Cap-Vert - Editions Olizane
Les îles du Cap-Vert - M.P de Pina - Editions Khartala
Guide des îles du Cap-Vert - P. Sorgial - Editions Sorgial
Le Moulin et le Pilon - N. Cabral - Editions l’Harmattan

Guidebooks and maps are available at the Voyageurs du Monde travel bookshop at 48 rue Sainte-Anne 75002 Paris