Hiking & Trekking
Santiago Island
Santa Cruz is a municipality renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, featuring streams lined with various crops and lush vegetation. Walking through visitors can experience a diverse range of agricultural crops including sugarcane, banana trees, papaya trees, coconut palms, beans, and more. This variety of landscapes and agricultural cultures makes Santa Cruz a unique place to explore and appreciate the natural beauty and local life of Cape Verde.
Rui Vaz, situated in the southern part of Santiago Island at an elevation of 820 meters within the Pico de Antónia mountain range, is enveloped by lush forested expanses and fertile agricultural fields. Renowned for its pristine air quality, it stands as a prime example of Santiago Island's diverse ecosystems. Rui Vaz is notable for hosting a considerable proportion (17%) of Cape Verde's endemic plant species.
The trail through Rui Vaz offers a journey through breathtaking landscapes, weaving past agricultural terrains and verdant forests. Along the way, visitors can immerse themselves in the traditional yet captivating daily life of the region's inhabitants. This trail not only showcases the natural beauty of Rui Vaz but also provides insights into the rich cultural heritage and agricultural practices of Santiago Island.
Located in the southern interior of Santiago Island, São Jorge dos Órgãos is known for being a center of agricultural research and home to INIDA (National Institute of Agricultural Research and Development), which is one of the campuses of the University of Cabo Verde. The village is also famous for hosting the country's only botanical garden.
Furthermore, São Jorge dos Órgãos is renowned for its beautiful landscape, showcasing an impressive variety of fauna, flora, and typical rock formations of Cape Verde. The region is particularly famous for grogue, a traditional drink made from sugarcane and the pilgrimage festival honoring Nhu São Jorge is an important event in the region.
The hiking trail passes through the middle of the river, amidst crops, lush vegetation, and verdant landscapes, with Pico d'Antónia as the backdrop. This trail is known for being both enjoyable and stunning, offering visitors a unique experience in the nature of Cape Verde.
The Serra Malagueta park area is one of the most famous and legendary in the entire island of Santiago and Cape Verde. During a long walk you will have the opportunity to learn more about the fauna, flora, history, volcanic formation of the island. A forest area protected with some escarpments where the presence of endemisms is significant.
The area contains the largest number of endemic plants on the island of Santiago, 14 of which are classified as threatened in Cape Verde's red list.
The Ribeira Grande trail is noteworthy for its historical sites. The journey starts in the small town of Calabaceira north of Cidade Velha. As you traverse the valley, you will come across numerous farms growing sugarcane, bananas, and other vegetables. Along the way, you'll also pass several distilleries producing Grogue (rum), numerous baobab trees, and fascinating rock formations. Finally, you'll arrive at Cidade Velha where you'll encounter the first ornamental street of Cabo Verde and the Sub-Saharan coast, named: "Rua da Banana" and also the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, one of the first Catholic churches in West Africa.
Located in the center of the island, with a magnificent view that provides an exceptional panorama, Pico d'Antónia is the highest mountain on Santiago Island, rising to 1394 meters above sea level.
The trail follows a steep yet spectacular path, winding through curves and switchbacks amidst breathtaking forests and agricultural fields, not to mention the lush vegetation all around.
The landscapes and views surrounding the visitor are simply magnificent, and the journey reveals the grandeur of the mountain. The interaction with the almost untouched nature is profound, with various species of trees and animals along the way. The contour of the mountains is surreal and intriguing, appearing delicately sculpted. This route is a gem for enthusiasts of observing fauna, flora, and volcanic geology.
Ribeira Principal belongs to the municipality of São Miguel, located 50 km west of the capital city, Praia. It is an agricultural settlement comprised of several localities like: Chão de Horta, Hotelão and Mato Curral.
The lush vegetation is a striking characteristic of the region, as well as the rugged mountains that offer breathtaking views through their winding curves. However, what truly impresses is the challenging life of the local residents. Along the way through cultivated areas of maize, beans, pumpkin, and potatoes, it is common to encounter friendly and hospitable residents, including children, as this path also serves as a daily route for the local population.