Off road jeep tours in Cape Verde
If you’re visiting the island of Sao Vicente then we recommend our private, off-road jeep tours. Heading overland means you get to explore much more of Cape Verde’s interior and you can stop to stretch your legs whenever suits you. Sao Vicente’s landscape is largely arid, with dunes, black volcanic beaches, and extinct volcanoes. But there are a few little oasis’ of green, in the village of Madeiral, in Ribeira de Calhau.
Many of the highlights of your tour will be the unplanned experiences: the children playing in the villages, displays of inflated puffer fish, fishermen coming in with their catch of giant tuna, and the village markets and street-side fruit stalls. All of these things will present themselves naturally along your journey, so we’ll simply highlight some of the key sites that you will visit during your tour:
Drive to the top of Monte Verde – Sao Vicente’s highest point
Sao Vicente is one of the smallest islands in Cape Verde and a great way to get a feel for the landscape is to take in the views from Monte Verde. At 774m above sea level, its the highest point on Sao Vicente and you get a 360° panorama of Sao Vicente. On a clear day you can see across the channel to the neighbouring island of Santo Antao, and sometimes as far as Santa Luzia (Cape Verde’s only uninhabited island). There’s even a little cafe at the top of the mountain. It’s a very basic establishment but really welcoming and you can buy a simple tea, coffee, or liquer, and some snacks.
The black pebbled beaches of Sao Vicente
A bumpy ride takes you through the desert, passing Viana volcano and on to the deserted black sandy beach of Praia de Palha Carga. You then continue along empty beaches to the windswept village of Calhau on the east coast. After your visit to the dunes and beach of Praia Grande, you head to Salamansa and Baía das Gatas, two beaches that are popular amongst kite surfers. You’ll have plenty of time to get out and walk along the beach, watch the kite surfers, and perhaps meets some locals. If you fancy a swim, Baía das Gatas is the place to get in. Its a sheltered lagoon with shallow, crystal clear waters. If you bring a snorkel with you, you may get to see turtles, nursing sharks, and tropical fish in the water as you swim. Let your guide know if you want to get in, so they can structure your jeep tour to allow for some extra time at the lagoon.
Climb the dunes at Praia Grande
Situated on the northeast coast of Sao Vicente is Praia Grande, a long, wild stretch of beach. And it’s usually pretty empty, so you can enjoy a quiet stroll (though we don’t recommend swimming here because the currents are strong). Right above the beach are the dunes, which have been created by sand blown over from the Sahara desert. You can walk to the top of the dunes to enjoy views of the surrounding coastline, and the sand is lovely and soft so it’s fun to run down the dunes bare foot.
Visit the lush valley of Madeiral
The village of Madeiral is in a lush green valley and forms part of the volcanic landscape of the large area of Ribeira de Calhau. Here, you will see farmers grow crops of bananas, sugar cane, papaya and vegetables. Its a really pretty place and Monte Madeiral is a prominent feature on the skyline, at 680m high.
How can I book an off-road jeep tour on Sao Vicente?
Mindelo is often considered to be the cultural capital of Cape Verde, or even of western Africa! So it’s a fantastic place to visit. As well as our guided walking tour of the city, we offer driver-guided tours of the island, and an off-road jeep tour. If you are booking your holiday to Cape Verde with Archipelago Choice, we can include any of the excursions and activities that you like best, so do give us a call if you want to hear a little more about the activities on offer.
Have a chat with Max or Jake, on: team@archipelagochoice.com.
