Adventure Hiking in Cape Verde

An absolutely incredible trip with some jaw-dropping landscapes and once in a lifetime experiences!

Cape Verde is a wonderful country with a unique atmosphere and culture, and Santiago and Fogo remain off the beaten path compared to more touristic islands. It really feels like an adventure and Bu Country team is there to make sure you enjoy it all to the fullest. The experience on Pico do Fogo, exploring the giant caldera and sleeping below the volcano with a jaw-dropping view is one of the best experiences I ever had, along with running down the volcanic sand slopes which is simply out of this world. The Santiago island also has incredible landscapes and pieces of history to discover in the Calabaceira valley and Tarrafal.

Ricardo, our main guide, was amazing throughout, great at sharing details about the culture, history and environment/fauna/plants of the islands, and making sure we had a great time. He even stayed longer and added some visits on our last day to make sure we saw all the places we were interested in in Tarrafal!

The entire Bu Country team was super available, with Admilson responding within minutes when we had some questions in Fogo and before the trip. Even Admilson’s mother is involved with a super fun cooking class. The guides in Fogo were nice too, especially Edmar who did the Sao Felipe tour. Waldir (the other Fogo guide) shared a bit less about the island’s culture during the hikes, yet the Fogo wine tasting with him was fascinating (he makes his own wine and had some great details to share).

We did not encounter any ferry nor plane cancellations during our trip but Admilson had made sure to book both transports both days to give us peace of mind, which was really nice :)

All in all, I totally recommend this trip. It has the right balance of adventure and relaxation, and is great to understand the local culture too. The team will be there to solve any concerns, and ensure you have a great time!

Looking back at the trip, I had an amazing time with a great group of people. Its hard to comment on the itinerary as it is published, as nothing really went to plan on our trip! Due to issues with transport to Fogo we did almost everything in a different order with some extras thrown in. The time on Santiago was lovely, I particularly enjoyed swimming and picnicing at Cuba Pool, and the beach at Tarrafal was very nice. The volcanic landscape of Fogo was amazing and I am really glad we were able to go. The hike to the top was challenging but manageable and running down was a lot of fun. Our time in Fogo was moved to the end of the trip as there were issues with planes and ferries. We went over thinking everything was sorted, but we did run into more cancellations and get stuck on the island, causing some of us to miss onward flights, and a lot of stress about when and how we would get back to Praia. I would say book the trip, but be willing to be very flexible. The itinerary is an idea not set in stone. Consider booking flexible flights or allowing a bit of extra time on the island after the trip finishes. The local team were amazing and did everything they could to make sure we still enjoyed our time and made it home in the end. Big thank you to Bu Country.

What a fantastic, memorable adventure!! Beautiful country, lots of great hiking in some stunning and varied scenery (Fogo was a real highlight), fun beach / swimming time, culture, history, wine tasting – and all in the company of a truly fantastic group of people.

Ricardo, our guide, was brilliant – knowledgeable with a sense of fun. The local tour operator was excellent and we always felt we were in the best hands. They worked around the clock to manage the challenges posed by inter-island travel and to ensure we had the very best time possible. When flight cancellations meant our itinerary needed to change, we had a number of added bonuses, such as hiking to the top of Pico de Antonia (the highest mountain on Santiago) and cooking and dancing with the tour owner’s mother.

Cape Verde is wonderful, but inter-island travel can be difficult. The local tour operator went above and beyond to manage the various flight and ferry cancellations, but if you are the type of person who expects their holiday to run like clockwork and gets annoyed with any itinerary adjustments (and the occasional lack of hot water), then this is not the trip for you. If you are happy to go with the flow and make the most of what each day brings, then don’t hesitate to book this trip. We all had so much fun!! 80+ countries, but this was my first time being stranded on a volcanic island and getting rescued by a cargo ship!

Some recommendations:

• Leave yourself a bit of leeway with international connections home in case of transport issues.
• Check your travel insurance covers the cost of a new flight home if you miss your connection due to domestic flight/ferry cancellations (not all do).
• Bring plenty of Dramamine (or other strong travel sickness pills) in case you have to catch the fast ferry.

Very enjoyable trip!

Well organised, competent team with good selection of activities. Highlights were the trip to Fogo and the hikes on that island. The run down the volcano was absolutely amazing. Would argue the hike up to the village on Fogo is actually more challenging than the climb up the volcano due to the humidity! The rest of the hikes were a little more sedate, but picturesque and a lovely way to see the island. Felt like the right balance for a relaxing but active holiday.

Our overall guide was new to his position but what he lacked in experience he made up for in enthusiasm and kindness - really enjoyed spending a week with him. The other local guides were great also, although one of them only spoke French (which wasn’t a huge problem for our group as we had two fluent French speakers!)

Personally enjoyed the food offerings, but if you aren’t a fan of seafood/meat/rice you might find Cabo Verdean cuisine very limiting. Vegetarians in our group were catered to but weren’t thrilled with their choices - I suppose a risk you take with a restrictive diet on a remote island off the coast of Africa, where vegetarianism isn’t really a thing.

Accommodation sufficed but don’t expect luxury - and as my 3rd MBA trip if you’re expecting 4* then maybe not the type of trips for you - was a little rough around the edges - cold showers etc. Absolutely adored the accommodation on Fogo.

Would recommend - go, relax, embrace the island culture and don’t rush and you’ll have a ball.

Difficult to give a proper review for this trip, as the ending left a sour aftertaste. Due to a sandstorm all our flights got cancelled and most of us got food poisening at the end, from the same restaurant. Which of course isn't the organisations fault, but we also didn't hear anything/any concerns from the organisation.

Here a list with my key take aways:

• Good packed itinerary, although not always correct with timing or seasonal todo's.
• First day was a bit weird, with a very short and slow hike, lots of stops and visiting (for me) uninteresting buildings. End of the first day we went to an Italian restaurant, which for me was weird since this was our first day in Cape Verde?
• Let go of having things on time and no stress!
• Very cold or boiling hot showers. Wifi not always working in first hotel in Praia.
• Fogo island was an amazing experience! Food, wine, accommodation, swimming in the black sand ocean.
• The hikes later on in the itinerary where great, very knowledgeable french speaking guide, learned a lot about the surroundings and plants
• Wild swimming and swimming and snorkeling in the ocean at Tarafal also great authentic experiences! Tarafal beach just looks like something of a movie.

Overall:

• It is an adventure, water/wifi isn't always working. The food (for me) wasn't great, they couldn't cater to vegetarians, even though this had been indicated when booked. If you then aren't a fish lover and don't like most meats, it's not super.
• the overall guide just wasn't what you would expect, in my opinion he didn't seem to be up for the task or really enjoy/have passion for his job. We however learned this was a stand-in for the usual guide who was sick.
• Swimming here is amazing as the water is just lovely! Bring your snorkel!
• You really get the know these two islands, Fogo + Santiago and have an authentic adventureous experience!

Wonderful itinerary with a mix of nature and culture experiences. Accommodations were very reasonable and some restaurants were excellent. It's almost all included, and is very good value for money. However, if you want to make your experience better consider the following: If you have been to a mountain before, go on top of Pico de Fogo by yourself. The path is very well marked, with a little bit of scrambling at the end, and most people can make it in 1hr30min or maximum 2 hours. We went up extremely slow, taking about 3-4 hours including many long breaks. I was not allowed to go ahead despite requesting it repeatedly. We didn't go to the very top (which will require help from a guide). We didn't go inside the crater (which will require help from a guide). Going down was the only fun of the day. Make sure to visit the Concentration Camp in Tarrafal. Skip the beach, skip the boat or something else but make sure to don't skip the concentration camp.

A bit of a mix. I’m giving it 4* because in the end I had a good time, but it ended up being in a way different to what I expected and signed up for. Details below.

Positives:

• varied trip, from intense (actual adventure) hiking in Fogo, to walking through a gorgeous Avatar-like valley, to swimming in a pool formed from cooled lava. Every day was different.
• Properly saw the entirety of two islands- a real excursion.
• the owner, Admilson, was friendly and proactive, adapting to situations. Helped immediately when there were flight cancellations, helped schedule additional trips etc. The guides were friendly and generally knowledgeable (with the exception of a trainee guide who had to step in due to an illness… he was just friendly).
• Fogo… everything about those two days was fantastic- scenery, hikes, accommodation, food.
• Food was simple, natural and tasty, though the vegetarians struggled.

Cons:

• I signed up to adventure hiking but only got that on one day- the summit of Fogo. The rest was generally a gentle short walk or swimming for those who wanted it. I’d describe this as “exploring Cape Verde”, not adventure hiking. I would have wanted more, especially gove. The beauty of the nature.
• As mentioned, the main guide was sick and we ended up getting a trainee guide. He was nice and genuinely cared about us but knew nothing… and actually made stuff up that turned out wrong when we looked it up.
• Accommodation in Santiago was not great. In no room did I have both hot and cold water (in Praia it was either or, and in Tarrafal it was lukewarm), and in Praia the internet didn’t really work.

There is no doubt that this was an adventure. Some of it was much better, some of it unexpected, and the odd thing was certainly worse. I'll give it 5* because it was unforgettable, we made some great friends, and it would have been really difficult to put a trip like this together without MBA. I'd definitely do another MBA, but I might ask a few more questions before departure. Highlights: The big hikes; there could be more of these; the scenery is stunning! Our walking guide Gibril was amazing. Summiting the volcano; a great buzz! The wild swimming; dreamlike! Staying at Casa Marisa under the stars; once in a lifetime! The music at Quintal da Música in Praia, extraordinary! Lowlights: dreadful vegetarian food. The local guides had no idea what this meant, despite plentiful availability in the markets of good ingredients. We ended up writing a list of suitable options for the guide in desperation and hunger. Flights cancelled due to the Bruma Seca Saharan wind which cancelled all flights and delayed our return home by 3 days. Beware!

We also had a trainee guide who was lovely, but very inexperienced. This was due to illness of the original guide, and not their fault, but he had no idea for the first few days before getting up to speed.

We laughed and enjoyed each other's company, the great volcano wine and the beautiful scenery.

100% recommend Cape Verde hiking. A fab mini adventure full of fun.

This is a truly fantastic week of hiking in a destination few tourists get to. Fogo is wonderful and certainly one of the most unique destinations you'll ever hike in. There is a good mix of tough hikes and more genital walks.

However, on going issues with domestic flights and accommodation might mean the itinerary changes a little. But it's all absolutely worth it!

Well organised, great accommodation, local hosts were fantastic 10/10 Always a lottery when sharing a room - room mate this time was awful :(

As always with MBA, this trip did not disappoint. For anyone looking for some challenging hiking, great food, interesting wildlife and unique experiences, Cape Verde is the place to be. The trip to Fogo was definitely a once in a lifetime, the landscape and volcano hike were truly unforgettable. That being said, the hikes on Fogo proved to be more of a challenge than expected - mainly due to the heat and difficulty of the terrain. However anyone with a good level of fitness should still be able to enjoy it. Thank you so much to the hosts for making our time in Cape Verde so much fun :)

Cape Verde was superb, and a trip that I will never forget. Fogo island is best described as an "otherworldly experience". At times if felt like being on a desolate and lonely planet. Top tip for climbing Pico Do Fogo, make sure you bring a scarf for protection from the volcanic dust, and I would also recommend hiking trousers. The food throughout the trip was delicious, I ate like an "Emperor". You will be well looked after if you love seafood.

On top of this, the trip offered a variety of other experiences, such as a wild dip/swim in a lava pool, hiking through plantations and sampling fruit (that I have never seen before), and the chilled beach life in Tarrafal. An extra special mention goes out to our main man and guide Ailtom, who set the mood in our small group with his knowledge, enthusiasm, punctuality and entertainment!

This trip provided me with some core memories that will stay with me for a long time. It has so much variety, from hiking through plantations, to climbing a volcano and staying in a village on Fogo that felt like Mars, and finishing with some water activities and beach time in Tarrafal, it meant we had such a diverse trip. A word of advice, if you are travelling in a hotter month do not underestimate the challenge of the hiking on Fogo, it will test you! The guides were all wonderful, 5 stars to Ailtom who became a member of our group very quickly, we had such a laugh and with us a being a small group of 4 we were able to get to know each other very well and spend more time learning about the culture from the guides too. Would recommend this to anyone who wants to experience feeling like you've been on another planet for a week!

Amazing trip! The highlight was definitely Pico do Fogo and ‘skiing’ down the lava gravel mountain - epic experience! The hike up was definitely challenging. So many different experiences on this trip made it well rounded and we felt like we got a good glimpse into the culture & food. I highly recommend this trip.

What an fantastic trip. Fogo island and our accomodation there was gorgeous and unique. Pico de Fogo was an adventure, a difficult hike for me but our guide, Jason was amazing and made sure I made it up and down safely. The guide Ailtom, in Santiago was a lovely person to spend time with and had lots of information and surprises for us throughout the week. I reccommend this trip.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to a destination less frequently visited that more than delivered on expectations. The guides Maria and Djeisson (Fogo) were very knowledgable and offered their support and boundless enthusiasm throughout including in difficult circumstances with a flight cancellation on our return from Fogo. The highlight was undoubtedly the hike to the summit of Pico do Fogo, the spectacular views across the island and beyond, and an unforgettable run down the ash covered slopes.

Want to climb the highest point in West Africa? This is the trip for you! What an experience it was! The few days spent on Fogo are well worth the trip to Cape Verde - incredible. Our guide, Maria, was such a bubble of joy also and quick at adapting to problems outside her control. Full marks there.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Cape Verde is a beautiful collection of islands with warm weather over Christmas - what's not to like! Several of the hikes were stunning if a little shorter than advertised (and shorter than I'd have liked). The highlight was hiking up the volcano then running down the ash fields on the side of it - that was a blast. Both the hikes in Tarrafel were also very picturesque. The friendliness of random people we met also stood out. As seems to be the case on all MBA trips (this was my 3rd) the group was great. Fun to be around and generally up for it. The trip has only run 6 times so far I believe and there's a few wrinkles in the schedule to iron out. For example the first hike on Fogo has a 4km very steep uphill section without a view - we could have done a loop nearer the volcano instead. The final day on Fogo felt rather empty save for a beautiful drive to airport. The historical tour we did there was underwhelming and not very historical. The Tarrafel hikes could be double the length. The food was fairly samey and fairly bland (grilled meat/fish and chips is the staple). That felt like a missed opportunity. This trip is a great way to see the Islands of Fogo and Santiago islands in Cape Verde. So I'd certainly recommend it. Just be aware There's a few points where things are rough round the edges - a cold shower here and there or some food that could be better.

Beautiful experience and beautiful people, my highlights were Cha, climbing Pico do Fogo and Serra Malagueta ❤️

This is a great way to experience Cape Verde. Generally the hiking is easy, except for the 2 days on Fogo. Day one is a lot of climbing through the jungle, day two is climbing the volcano slopes (rocky and scree). Also Fogo gets cold at night, so pack accordingly. The local guides were excellent all through the trip, but particularly in adjusting our itinerary when our flight back from Fogo was cancelled, meaning we spent extra time in Fogo.

Overall this was a good trip. A few highlights contributed to that. In particular, the guide on Fogo (Jason/Djeisson) was amazing. He is extremely knowledgeful and shared his knowledge of plants, nature, the history of the volcano, life in the Cha, etc. That part of the trip, including the volcano hike, fully lived up to expectations. Accomodation in the crater valley was also very good. As for the Santiago part, I was less impressed. That part of the trip was described as offering really interesting views into the local nature - plants, birds, monkeys etc. Unfortunately the local guide there shared little information on any of these sights or opportunities. I was particularly sorry for this to happen at the hike of the Serra Malaguena that was described in the programme as a particular opportunity in this regard. Both guides were great at managing unforeseen events, such as flight delays. The hotels in Praia and Tarrafal offer a mix of rooms of very varying quality. You can be lucky to get at view and windows to get fresh air, and you can be less lucky to get neither.

Cabo Verde truly is a lost paradise. With friendly locals, great food and terrific atmosphere, this adventure hits my top five! I urge everyone to go and discover this tiny nation off the West African coast and experience everything it has to offer!

The trip was a fantastic experience with a good group dynamic and balance of activities. The highlight for me was summiting Pico do Fogo (plus coming down fast through the ash!) and staying overnight in the crater. However, all other parts of the itinerary were carefully planned and excellent fun! I was particularly impressed with the local guides who were warm and helpful and also gave valuable insights into Cape Verdean life. Our return flight from Fogo was unexpectedly cancelled but they worked amazingly quickly to check us into a hotel and arrange an alternative activity for the next morning - the bonus swimming at Salinas was absolutely spectacular (arguably worth staying on Fogo for!).

I'd recommend Cape Verde to anyone with a taste for adventure who wants to go somewhere quite different! I hope to go back sometime to explore the other islands and look forward also to investigating other trips offered by MBA - I was very happy with my first experience of this company.

A great dive into Cape Verdean culture and geography. Ascending the Picos de Fogo volcano was a fun and fulfilling trek, but swimming in an ocean pool near Sao Fillipe was unforgettable. Our group meshed quickly, almost effortlessly. Our guide, Maria, worked very hard to give us the best experience possible. Very appreciative of her efforts. A friendly and progressive island paradise. There are big things in the future for Cape Verde, I'm fortunate to have experienced some of the best parts of this Atlantic archipelago!

The guide team was so warm, fun, and knowledgeable - they went above and beyond to ensure that we had a great trip. We had 4 guides over the course of the itinerary, so that we could get as local an experience as possible in each place. The bungalows and hikes in Fogo were one-of-a-kind - truly a unique trip!

An amazing experience in a wonderful country, with great food, great scenery, and after some steep and tricky climbing- even better views.

Fogo most certainly the highlight of the trip!

Hiking in Cape Verde was a great experience. What a lovely country to explore! The scenery and mountains were beyond my expectation- you must visit to experience it. Great food, great locals, great hikes, untouched tranquil valleys and beaches. You must sign up if you like great hikes with local flavours.

This trip exceeded all of my expectations. The scenery is beautiful and it was a real privilege to tour around with local people who taught us so much about the environment, culture and history. Fogo is such a unique experience, and amazing to stay in the caldera with a view of the volcano out of our bedroom window. The hikes on Fogo were hard, the views and sense of achievement 100% worth it. Tarrafal at the end and the much easier hikes are the perfect way to unwind. Special thanks to Elder, Ailtom and Admilson for looking after us so well. Hope to be back soon to discover the other islands!

If you love hiking and want to experience the unique culture of Cape Verde then you will LOVE this trip. I had such a good time and learned so much, I definitely want to return and explore the other islands. Fogo is unlike anywhere I've ever seen before, and Santiago is like a paradise. Our guides Ailtom, Elder and Djeisson (and co-ordinator Admilson) were fantastic, so welcoming and such cool guys. A perfect introduction to this awesome country!