Half Day Tour to Porto Cavaleiros/Salinas
This tour begins with a visit to São Filipe, one of the prettiest towns in Cape Verde and which through its preservation and patrimony is a candidate for World Heritage. In Porto Cavaleiros a working port where even today the boats are still unable to anchor because of the agitated state of the sea. Food and supplies for consumption by the inhabitants is done by barges and sometimes the ships have to continue on their way without stopping – which often causes difficulties for the islanders in terms of essentials. Next on the tour is Salinas, a small fishing port in the middle of the black volcanic rock and where the sand, as with the majority of Fogo beaches, is also an impressive volcanic black in colour. This is an excellent opportunity for taking photographs and to take a dip in the natural swimming pools carved out of the rocks by the sea.
Price guide: £31 per person, based on 2-3 people. £27 per person, based on 4 people.
Full Day Tour – Chã das Caldeiras
This excursion is considered by many visitors to the island to be the most impressive in Cape Verde.
The 1700 metre climb to the crater of Chã das Caldeiras begins as soon as you leave São Filipe. From the start until you reach the summit the stunning views are endless. The ground grows darker as you climb, until you reach the crater of the volcano and see what is best described as a lunar type landscape, where the land, houses and sand are all black. The population of Chã das Caldeiras is small and somewhat unique as you can quite often see the infamous Creoles with blond hair and blue eyes.
Lunch is a picnic in a rustic crater house, served with Fogo wine and cheese produced in the local area, fried fish and local fruit (drinks are not included).
If advised at the time of booking, local guides can be arranged to organise a climb to the top of the volcano - Pico do Fogo (2829 metres). The climb takes 2 ½ to 3 hours and the descent by the slippery volcanic sand, about 1 ½ hours. In Chã das Caldeiras there is still time to visit a Wine Producing Cooperative Society.
Price guide: £47 per person, based on 2-3 people. £43 per person, based on 4 people.