Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) is a 10-island Atlantic archipelago with Creole soul: Portuguese and West African influences, slow-swaying morna music, and markets scented with coffee, tuna, and papaya. Independence came in 1975 under Amílcar Cabral’s movement, and the islands have since drawn travelers for hiking, beaches, and live music.

Highlights for 14 days: Santiago’s capital Praia and nearby UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha; Mindelo on São Vicente, the musical heartland of Cesária Évora; and rugged, emerald Santo Antão, home to the archipelago’s most iconic hikes. Expect black-volcanic cliffs, terraced valleys, and wind-brushed golden sand.

Practical notes: The escudo (CVE) is pegged to the euro; cards work in cities but carry cash for villages. Tap water is desalinated—opt for bottled. Trade winds can be strong; seas may be rough in winter. Many nationalities are visa-exempt or e-visa eligible—check in advance.

Praia (Santiago)

Praia is the political and cultural capital perched on ocean bluffs, with the historic Plateau district facing the Atlantic. Colorful colonial facades, markets piled with mangos and atum, and sunset bars over Quebra Canela beach set an easy rhythm.

Just west lies Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde’s first city and a UNESCO World Heritage site where sugar, slavery, and fortifications shaped Atlantic history. North on Santiago, pine-scented Serra Malagueta gives way to the island’s best beach days at Tarrafal.

Getting there + around

• International flights to Praia (RAI): Typical routings connect via Lisbon or African hubs. Search fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Roundtrip from the US/EU is commonly $700–1,150 depending on season.
• Local transport: Taxis within Praia are $2–6. Shared “aluguers” connect towns cheaply (Praia–Cidade Velha ~25–30 min; 150–250 CVE). Carry small bills.

Where to stay (mid-range friendly)

• Hotel Vip Praia (modern rooms, rooftop pool, near Quebra Canela): Book on Hotels.com
• Oasis Praiamar Hotel (oceanfront paths and sea views): Book on Hotels.com
• Hotel Santa Maria (Plateau location for walkers): Book on Hotels.com
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Praia | VRBO: Praia

Days 1–2: Plateau, markets, and Cidade Velha (UNESCO)

• Plateau walk: Start at Praça Alexandre Albuquerque, step into the Mercado Municipal for herbs and papayas, and see the Presidential Palace and Museu Etnográfico (small but insightful on island life). Sunset strolls along the cliff walk above Quebra Canela beach are a tonic.
• Cidade Velha: 20–30 minutes from Praia, this cradle of Cabo Verde holds the stone Pelourinho (slave pillory), Rua Banana (one of the oldest streets south of the Sahara), the 15th‑century Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário, and the hilltop Forte Real de São Filipe with sweeping ocean views.

• Coffee & breakfast: Grab morning pastries and galao at small pastelarias around Plateau (look near Praça Alexandre Albuquerque). Try a slice of bolo de cuscuz with local jam.
• Lunch: Kebra Cabana at Quebra Canela for grilled tuna, octopus rice, and beachside vibes; or simple prato do dia (daily plate) stalls in the Mercado Municipal.
• Dinner: Quintal da Música pairs live morna/coladeira with cachupa rica and lobster; it’s the quintessential Praia night out. For a low‑key option, Ponto d’Encontro serves pizzas, salads, and cold Strela beers.

Days 3–5: Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal beach, and northern Santiago

• Serra Malagueta Natural Park: Pine forests and birdlife with marked trails like the Ribeira Principal loop. Entrance ~200–300 CVE; guides can be arranged in park offices. Views run to jagged ridgelines and rural hamlets.
• Tarrafal: Two hours north, a protected crescent of pale sand and calm water—great for swimming. Pair with a visit to the Tarrafal former prison (Chão Bom), a sobering museum on the Estado Novo era.
• Rabelados art villages: Around Espinho Branco, see folk‑art ateliers run by the Rabelados, a community that preserved older lifeways after the 1940s—painters often welcome visitors.

• Eats up north: In Tarrafal, beach shacks grill moreia (moray eel) and serve percebes (goose barnacles) when in season. Back in Praia, cap nights with pontche (sugarcane punch) at waterfront kiosks.

Travel to Mindelo (São Vicente)

• Flight: Praia (RAI) to Mindelo/São Vicente (VXE) is ~50–55 minutes, often $60–120 one way. Check schedules and fares on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Morning departures maximize your first day.

Mindelo (São Vicente)

Mindelo is Cabo Verde’s cultural stage: pastel townhouses around a deep-water bay, cafés that slide into music bars by night, and a replica Torre de Belém watching ships come and go. This is Cesária Évora’s hometown and the capital of live morna.

Beyond town, soft-sand beaches and lunar hills beckon: Laginha for turquoise swims, Baía das Gatas for a natural lagoon and an August music festival, and wind-carved dunes en route to Salamansa.

Where to stay (walkable + beach access)

• Hotel Porto Grande (classic address on Praça Amílcar Cabral; pool and city views): Book on Hotels.com
• Residencial Jenny (simple guestrooms with bay panoramas): Book on Hotels.com
• Foya Branca Resort Hotel (São Pedro beach; good for plane-spotting and sunsets): Book on Hotels.com
• Browse more stays: Hotels.com: Mindelo | VRBO: Mindelo

Days 6–7: Old town wander and Laginha beach time

• Historic core: Stroll Rua Lisboa to the Mercado Municipal (produce and crafts), peek into the Centro Cultural do Mindelo, and walk the marina boardwalk past the Torre de Belém replica.
• Laginha Beach: Powdery sand and gentle surf within 10–15 minutes’ walk of town. Rent a lounger, swim, and sip a maracujá juice between dips.

• Coffee & breakfast: Café Lisboa for espresso and pastel de nata; Pastelaria Morabeza for fresh rolls and fruit tarts.
• Lunch: Nautilus plates grilled swordfish and tuna steaks; Kalimba Beach Club at Laginha mixes ceviche and beach cocktails.
• Dinner: Taverna is beloved for small plates (octopus, local cheeses) and good wine; Casa Café Mindelo serves Creole classics and often hosts intimate music nights.
• Nightcap: Seek out morna at small bars around Praça Nova; order a shot of grogue from Santo Antão.

Days 8–9: Baía das Gatas, Monte Verde, and beach-hopping

• Baía das Gatas: A calm lagoon 20–25 minutes by taxi (≈ $6–10). Great for a long, lazy swim; the annual music festival (usually August) draws islanders from everywhere.
• Monte Verde: Drive up to São Vicente’s high point for an island panorama—on clear days, you can spy Santo Antão. Pair with a stop at Salamansa for wind and waves.
• São Pedro: Near the airport, São Pedro’s beach glows at sunset; locals sometimes offer boat rides to the lighthouse cove when seas allow.

• Seafood fix: O Caranguejo specializes in crab and shellfish; simple, fresh, and filling after a beach day.

Travel to Santo Antão (Porto Novo, Ponta do Sol & Paúl)

• Ferry: Mindelo to Porto Novo (Santo Antão) is ~1 hour on modern ferries, usually 2–4 sailings daily. Expect ~1,000–1,400 CVE ($10–14) each way; buy tickets at the Mindelo terminal. Morning crossings are typically calmer.

Santo Antão (Porto Novo, Ponta do Sol & Paúl Valley)

Santo Antão is hiker heaven: terraced green valleys tumbling to the sea, basalt ridges, and switchback paths carved by hand. Here the trade winds catch sugarcane fields that feed the island’s famous grogue distilleries.

Base yourself in coastal Ponta do Sol or the Paúl Valley for quick trail access. Even short village walks deliver cliff-edge views and stone-lane charm.

Where to stay (for hikers)

• Ponta do Sol: Walk-to-trail guesthouses with sea views; easy access to the coastal path toward Fontainhas.
• Paúl Valley (Ribeira do Paúl): Farm stays surrounded by papaya and sugarcane; great for the Cova–Paúl descent.
• Search availability: Hotels.com: Ponta do Sol | VRBO: Ponta do Sol

Days 10–11: Cova crater to Paúl Valley (signature hike)

• Cova–Paúl trail: Take an aluguer up to the Cova volcanic crater (cool, misty pine forests), then descend ancient switchbacks into the lush Paúl Valley—papaya, breadfruit, coffee shrubs, and stone hamlets around each bend. 10–14 km; 4–6 hours; moderate difficulty.
• Grogue tasting: In Paúl, traditional trapiches (distilleries) run in the spring harvest; outside the season, some offer tastings of grogue and ponche made with honey or coconut.

• Eat & recharge: In Paúl, small family eateries serve cachupa and tuna steaks; in Ponta do Sol, Musica do Mar overlooks the breaking surf—perfect for grilled limpets and fresh passionfruit juice.

Days 12–13: Coastal path Ponta do Sol–Fontainhas–Cruzinha

• Coastal traverse: One of Cabo Verde’s great walks hugs cliffs from Ponta do Sol through the postcard village of Fontainhas (terraces clinging to a ravine) to Cruzinha. 14–16 km; 5–7 hours; rolling ups and downs with dramatic sea views. Arrange a pickup in Cruzinha or hire a local guide to ease logistics.
• Ribeira Grande & viewpoints: Spend a recovery half-day exploring Ribeira Grande’s town square and viewpoints; at dusk, watch fishermen cast lines at Ponta do Sol’s old landing ramp.

• Food & cafes: Try garden-to-table plates in Paúl (seasonal vegetable curries, goat stews). For a sweet pick‑me‑up, ask for doce de papaya or a slice of homemade flan.

Day 14: Return to Mindelo and fly onward

• Ferry back: Porto Novo to Mindelo in ~1 hour. Allow buffer time for sea conditions.
• Flights: Continue to Praia (≈55 minutes, $60–120) or connect internationally from São Vicente. Compare options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Budget tips (aimed at mid-range ~50/100)

• Use aluguers for inter-town moves (Praia–Tarrafal ~800 CVE; Porto Novo–Ponta do Sol 500–700 CVE). Taxis are best late at night.
• Eat where locals do: prato do dia lunches 400–700 CVE; seafood grills 800–1,500 CVE. Live-music dinners cost more but are worth the atmosphere.
• Guides for major hikes (~€30–50/day) add safety and context; split costs if traveling as a pair.

In two weeks you’ll collect the best of Cabo Verde: the stories of Praia and Cidade Velha, the music and beaches of Mindelo, and the crisscrossing stone paths of Santo Antão. Expect trade winds, warm people, and a pace that lingers long after you leave.