Trip Snapshot

Sao Vicente The cultural capital of Cabo Verde, the city of musicians, Mindelo exudes an undeniable charm. It was here that Cesaria Evora lived and sang from bar to bar for years before becoming an international star. This is also the place where the carnival and the Baia das Gatas festival take place, two events full of festivities and music. You can enjoy strolling from the fishing port to the beach on the other side of the bay, past colonial houses with colourful facades. The atmosphere is festive and lively: as evening falls, with a grogue in hand and a morna in their heads, a small captain, a young musician, and a foreign traveler talk about their vision of the world as they contemplate the light that sets over the bay. Santo Antao An hour by boat from Mindelo, we arrive at the port of Porto Novo on the island of Santo Antao. There is no sign yet of any luxuriant vegetation... Patience. We have to reach Ribeira Grande, in the north, by a paved road that crosses the mountain. Soon, with the altitude, pines, and eucalyptus appear while the landscapes are unleashed with beauty. A succession of peaks, precipices, deep valleys lead us to the long-awaited green ribeiras. There, mango trees, papaya trees, avocado trees, bougainvilleas, sugar cane plantations, and grogue factories, the local rum, are not a mirage! Sal Head for the small village of Santa Maria and its 8 km of white sandy beach bordered by ultramarine blue sea. Several hotels invite you to stay in front of the ocean for a 100% beach holiday. With its colonial-style houses with colors faded by the sun, its restaurants, bars, and discotheques, Santa Maria promises you pleasant moments.