Newsletter – Feb 2025: Gems of a Magical Archipelago – Cabo Verde

A small archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic has been on our radar for a long time: Cabo Verde, 800 km off the coast of West Africa. Two of its islands are flat and arid and known to European beach tourists.  Of course we avoided those and headed for the lesser-known, mountainous ones.

We were blown away!  In Cabo Verde we found some of the most jaw-droppingly dramatic landscapes we have ever experienced – surreal jagged mountain ridges cut through by verdant green valleys, colourful villages clinging to sheer cliffs with cobblestone trails winding between them.

These are ‘living paths’ built and maintained by hand. They are still used by local people to get to their fields and to villages on the coast. Wherever we wandered we met friendly people carrying goods on their heads, or on their way to their crops high up on beautifully terraced slopes.

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Naturally, we also checked out the coastlines. The hikes along the coastal trails were no less dramatic. We found fishing villages tucked into tiny harbours with huge waves raging just beyond the breakwater. On protected beaches we swam in the delicious 24C° ocean and watched fishermen and women landing their catch and selling it straight from the boat.

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And the music! From the driving rhythm of Batuko drumming and dancing, to the soulful melodies made famous by Cesária Evora, it’s an integral part of the Cabo Verde culture.

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We’re working on the details of a new Hidden Places hiking trip in Cabo Verde. The first departure will be in February 2026, and will culminate with the carnival – Cabo Verdean-style.

Who wants to escape the winter and come with us? For more news about this trip click here!

We’re looking forward to sharing these treasures with you next winter.