14 Days in Cabo Verde
Trip Overview
Two weeks, four islands. Sal's salt-crusted shores first, then Santiago's colonial capital by air, Fogo's volcanic vineyards by sea, and Boa Vista's ochre deserts last. Mornings melt into sugar-soft beaches. Afternoons burn through pine-scented mountains. Nights swing to live morna under star-drunk skies. Beach time balances with cultural dives, shifting every 3-4 days to keep the pulse quick.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
November to June for ideal weather and calm seas
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Beach lovers, Hiking enthusiasts, Music lovers, Food explorers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Salt Craters & First Dips
Sal
Touch down on Sal, explore the lunar salt crater, and float in the Dead Sea of Cabo Verde.
Morning
Pedra de Lume salt crater visit
Drop into the rust-colored crater where seawater shrinks into shining salt pans. The brine holds you so tight you can flip pages mid-float. Workers rake white crystals that crack like fresh snow beneath your boots.
Pay at the entrance booth - no advance booking needed
Lunch
Café Djadsal
Afternoon
Santa Maria beach orientation walk
Walk the 8km crescent where fishermen stitch bright nets beside technicolor boats. The sand squeaks, warm as bread from the oven. Pause for grogue at a palm-thatched barraca.
Evening
Sunset dinner at Morabeza Beach Club
Order the cachupa stew while the sky flames mango-orange over the Atlantic.
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Maria town (Hotel Morabeza)
Walkable to beach bars and the pier where day boats depart
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring water shoes - the salt can burn small cuts
Day 1 Budget: $120
2
Sharks & Shipwrecks
Sal
Swim with lemon sharks and explore a rusting Spanish cargo ship.
Morning
Lemon shark snorkeling at Shark Bay
Wade into warm shallows where 3ft lemon sharks slide between your knees. Their skin rasps like sandpaper if you dare a touch. The water stays gin-clear to 15ft.
Book through your hotel - local guides know shark feeding times
Lunch
Barracuda Restaurant
Afternoon
Buracona & Blue Eye snorkeling
Scramble down lava rocks to the Blue Eye, a submarine cave lit electric blue by sunlight. Then snorkel with parrotfish in Buracona's natural pool.
Go at 11am when light hits the Blue Eye well
Evening
Live morna at Ocean Cafe
Sip ponche while Cesária Évora's voice drifts through the palms.
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Maria (Hotel Morabeza (second night))
No need to pack up yet
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Apply sunscreen twice - the equatorial sun reflects off water and sand
Day 2 Budget: $150
3
Kites & Dunes
Sal
Master kitesurfing on Kite Beach or ride 4WDs through white dunes.
Morning
Kitesurfing lesson at Kite Beach
Master the trade winds blowing steady at 15-20 knots. Your coach has you body-dragging through turquoise water within sixty minutes. The lagoon sits waist-deep, built for beginners.
Book through Manta Wind & Kitesurf School - they speak English and French
Lunch
Cape Fruit
Afternoon
4WD dune bashing to Terra Boa
Charge across snow-white dunes straight from a Sahara film set. Pause at Terra Boa where the horizon dissolves into sky. The sand stays cool despite the blazing sun.
Split a 4WD with other travelers at your hotel
Evening
Beach BBQ at Ponta Preta
Fresh catch grilled over coconut husks while dolphins play in the surf
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Maria (Hotel Morabeza (third night))
Rest before island-hopping tomorrow
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Pack a scarf for the dune trip - sand gets everywhere
Day 3 Budget: $180
4
Cidade Velha & Colonial Whispers
Santiago
Fly to Santiago and walk through the first European city in the tropics.
Morning
Flight Sal → Praia + drive to Cidade Velha
The 45-minute flight drops you onto Santiago's green slopes. Twenty minutes later you're in Cidade Velha where black stone churches crumble beside mango trees swollen with fruit. Sea salt and bougainvillea scent the air.
Book flights through Bestfly - they allow 23kg baggage
Lunch
Adega da Sol
Afternoon
Cidade Velha walking tour
Climb the 15th-century Royal Fort where cannons still aim at vanished pirate routes. Walk the stone slave steps where chained feet once clacked. Swallows echo through cathedral ruins.
Hire Zezé - he tells stories his grandfather told him
Evening
Grogue tasting at Quintal da Música
Try aged grogue that tastes like smoky honey while musicians tune their guitars
Where to Stay Tonight
Central location near Plateau district's restaurants
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring a hat - Cidade Velha has zero shade
Day 4 Budget: $170
5
Serra Malagueta Cloud Forest
Santiago
Hike through pine-scented mountains where endemic birds dart between juniper trees.
Morning
Serra Malagueta National Park hike
Ascend through cloud forest where moss pads the trail and eucalyptus perfumes the air. Spot the endangered Malagueta warbler sporting a yellow Mohawk. The summit spills Santiago's wrinkled coastline at your feet.
Start at 7am when clouds lift from the peaks
Lunch
Parque Natural snack bar
Afternoon
Assomada market
Lose yourself in Cabo Verde's largest market where women sell rainbow beans and boys push coconuts in wheelbarrows. Chili smoke and sweet papaya rot thicken the air. Taste grogue straight from the still.
Go on Wednesday or Saturday when it's busiest
Where to Stay Tonight
Praia (Hotel Praia Mar (second night))
Easy access to tomorrow's early ferry
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring layers - it's 10°C cooler in the mountains
Day 5 Budget: $140
6
Praia Street Art & Plateau Views
Santiago
Explore Praia's painted alleys and watch the sunset from the old town walls.
Morning
Plateau historic district walk
Begin at Alexandre Albuquerque square where old men slap cards under almond trees. Pass pastel Portuguese buildings now sheltering art galleries. The Presidential Palace's marble stairs blaze white against cobalt sky.
Lunch
Ipanema
Afternoon
Quebra Canela beach & street art
Quebra Canela's black sand beach wears murals of slavery and independence. Waves crash in Portuguese rhythm. Local boys offer bodyboarding lessons for a few escudos.
Negotiate board rental directly with the guys on the sand
Evening
Fogo-bound ferry prep and sunset
Pack light for tomorrow's ferry while the sun drips into the harbor from old fort walls.
Where to Stay Tonight
Praia (Hotel Praia Mar (third night))
Last night before island transfer
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Download offline maps - WiFi can be spotty in Praia
Day 6 Budget: $130
7
Ferry to Fire Island
Board the 4-hour ferry to Fogo, the volcanic island where grapes root in lava soil.
Morning
Praia → São Filipe ferry
The 9am ferry cuts sapphire water where flying fish skip like stones. Pack seasickness pills, the channel kicks. Watch Santiago fade to a green smudge as Pico do Fogo's perfect cone rises.
Buy tickets the day before at the port office
Lunch
Snack bar on ferry
Afternoon
São Filipe orientation
Check into a black-stone guesthouse inside the colonial grid. Coffee roasting and woodsmoke scent the streets. Cobblestones wind between houses painted blue and yellow like Easter eggs.
Evening
Harbor sunset at Casa Marisa
Watch fishermen haul nets at dusk over octopus stew that tastes of pure ocean.
Where to Stay Tonight
São Filipe (Pensão Bela Vista)
Colonial house with volcano views and breakfast included
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring cash - São Filipe has one temperamental ATM
Day 7 Budget: $120
8
Pico do Fogo Ascent
Climb the 2,829m volcano through lava fields that crunch like broken glass.
Morning
Pico do Fogo hike
Start before dawn when lava stays cool underfoot. The climb eats 3-4 hours through obsidian fields glittering like broken mirrors. Reach the rim where sulfur hisses from vents and the crater plunges 1km below.
Book through Eco Fogo Tours - they provide poles and gas masks
Lunch
Packed lunch from guesthouse
Afternoon
Descent and wine tasting
Drop through vine-covered lava where grapes grow in cinder soil. The wine smokes with blackberry notes. Visit the cooperative where women stomp grapes barefoot in stone tanks.
Chã das Caldeiras village - just show up
Evening
Stargazing from the volcano
No light pollution means the Milky Way looks like spilled sugar
Where to Stay Tonight
Chã das Caldeiras village (Pensão Mariazinha)
Sleep in the volcano's crater under the stars
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Start hiking at 4am to avoid midday heat
Day 8 Budget: $140
9
Coffee Plantations & Lava Fields
Tour Fogo's coffee estates and walk the 2014 lava flow that swallowed villages.
Morning
Coffee plantation tour
Stop at Monte Verde plantation where coffee grows beneath banana shade. Beans smell of chocolate and earth. Roast them in iron pans until they pop like popcorn. The farmer's wife pours coffee strong enough to grow chest hair.
Ask at your guesthouse - they know every farmer
Lunch
Casa Velha
Afternoon
2014 lava flow trek
Follow the path of destruction where 2014's eruption buried coffee fields. Lava still radiates warmth through your soles. New plants punch through cracks: resilience in action.
Hire the same guide from yesterday for continuity
Evening
Grogue distillery visit
Watch sugarcane squeezed by ox-powered mills at Garganta distillery
Where to Stay Tonight
São Filipe (Pensão Bela Vista (return))
Prepare for tomorrow's flight to Boa Vista
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Buy coffee here - it's 1/3 the price of Santiago
Day 9 Budget: $130
10
Flight to Boa Vista's Dunes
Fly to Boa Vista, the flattest island where Sahara meets Atlantic.
Morning
São Filipe → Sal Rei flight
The 30-minute hop unveils Boa Vista's lunar face, ochre dunes and shipwrecks along the coast. The island resembles Mars with beaches. Land in Sal Rei's colonial grid where donkeys beat cars in number.
Book with TICV - they have the most reliable schedule
Lunch
Café Caleta
Afternoon
Santa Monica beach exploration
Drive 45 minutes to Santa Monica, a 22km honey-sand ribbon without a single building. The dunes sing when wind passes. Turtles nest here, or fishermen haul nets by hand.
Negotiate roundtrip price with your hotel
Evening
Sunset at Estoril beach bar
Drink cold Strela beer while watching the sun drop into the dunes
Where to Stay Tonight
Sal Rei (Hotel Dunas)
Walkable to restaurants but quiet enough to hear waves
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring a scarf - Boa Vista is windier than Sal
Day 10 Budget: $160
11
Desert Safari & Shark Bay
4WD through the Viana desert to see shipwrecks and lemon sharks.
Morning
Viana desert safari
Fly through the Viana desert where dunes roll to the horizon. Stop at the Santa Maria shipwreck, a Spanish cargo ship rusting since 1968. The metal radiates warmth and smells of salt and rust.
Book through Cabo Verde Safari - they provide water and shade
Lunch
Barracuda Beach Club
Afternoon
Praia de Atlanes turtle nesting site
Visit the protected beach where loggerhead turtles lay eggs May-October. Conservation stakes dot the sand. Even off-season, only turtle tracks decorate the pristine stretch.
Bring binoculars for bird watching
Evening
Dinner at Estoril
Eat the catch of the day while locals dance funaná in the sand
Where to Stay Tonight
Sal Rei (Hotel Dunas (second night))
Central base for desert and beach days
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Pack a bandana - the desert sand is fine as flour
Day 11 Budget: $150
12
Boa Vista's North Coast
Explore the wild north coast with its lighthouse and salt flats.
Morning
Ponta do Sol lighthouse
Drive to the island's northern tip where the red lighthouse keeps watch over turquoise water. Climb 76 steps for views stretching to Sal on clear days. Fishermen still steer by its beam.
Arrange through your hotel - drivers know the rough roads
Lunch
Estância de Baixo village
Afternoon
Salinas de Pedra de Lume salt flats
Walk the white salt flats where crystals crunch like broken glass. Flamingos sometimes feed in shallow pools, their pink flashing in reflection. Brine and wild rosemary scent the air.
Bring sunglasses - the salt glare is intense
Evening
Sunset at Praia de Estoril
Join locals playing football on the sand as the sky turns strawberry pink
Where to Stay Tonight
Sal Rei (Hotel Dunas (third night))
Last full day in Boa Vista
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Bring cash for the lighthouse - the keeper charges a small fee
Day 12 Budget: $140
13
Return to Sal & Souvenir Hunt
Sal
Fly back to Sal for final beach days and last-minute shopping.
Morning
Boa Vista → Sal flight
The 45-minute flight gives you a final aerial tour of the islands. Watch Fogo's perfect cone shrink and Sal's white dunes approach. The islands look like green jewels scattered on blue silk.
Book window seats for photo opportunities
Lunch
Papa Loca
Afternoon
Santa Maria craft market
Browse the thatched market for last-minute treasures: woven baskets smelling of grass, blue pottery from Santo Antão, and turtle-shell jewelry (ethically sourced). Bargain with a smile and bring home grogue aged in oak.
Go at 4pm when vendors are eager to sell
Evening
Farewell dinner at Marea Restaurant
Order the seafood cataplana and toast to two perfect weeks
Where to Stay Tonight
Santa Maria (Hotel Odjo d'Agua)
Beachfront location for your final sunrise
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Pack fragile items in clothes - the market wraps are flimsy
Day 13 Budget: $175
14
Departure Day
Sal
One last swim and airport transfer with sand still between your toes.
Morning
Morning swim at Ponta Preta
Float in the warm Atlantic one last time. The water is coffee-warm at 8am and the waves are gentle. Watch kite surfers already tacking against the sunrise. The salt taste will stay with you long after departure.
Lunch
Airport café
Afternoon
Airport transfer and departure
The 20-minute taxi ride passes the salt flats looking like snow fields. Your driver will point out the exact spot where Cesária Évora used to sing in the market. Take one last photo of the turquoise water.
Book through your hotel the night before
Evening
Departure
None - flight home
Where to Stay Tonight
Sal Airport (None - departure day)
N/A
See all Cabo Verde accommodation options →Keep 30€ for airport departure tax (cash only)
Day 14 Budget: $50
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Inter-island flights with Bestfly or TICV (book 2-3 days ahead). Ferries run between Santiago and Fogo (4 hours). Taxis are plentiful but negotiate fixed prices - Sal to Santa Maria is $15, Praia airport to town is $10. Rental cars available on Sal and Boa Vista ($60-80/day).
Book Ahead
Inter-island flights, Pico do Fogo guide, kitesurfing lessons, and turtle tours (June-October) need advance booking. Fogo accommodation fills up during coffee harvest (November-January).
Packing Essentials
Total Budget
$2,100-2,500 total for 14 days including flights between islands
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Stay in guesthouses ($30-50/night) and eat at local canteens. Use public transport and shared taxis. Skip kitesurfing lessons and expensive tours. Total drops to $1,400-1,600.
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