FOGO AND BRAVA EXPLORER
This programme is far from the
large hotel and all-inclusive holiday. The beauty
is not only in the mountains, hillsides, volcano
and day to day island life, but also in its village
accommodation; small family owned pensions, village
based farm/crofts leading onto open land, mountain
or ocean views. The accommodation is selected
for our visitors to blend in with local people,
using local restaurants and traditional island
foods.
Transportation
Transportation
to Fogo and Brava is from Praia, Santiago. There
is a Fast-Boat which operates every Monday, Wednesday
and Saturday from Praia to Fogo and then onto
Brava. You can also jump ahead on this routing
by taking an internal island flight to Fogo and
joining the watercraft as arranged.
Fogo
Discovered
in 1460 and fired at by Sir Francis Drake this
island is sometimes known as the ‘Mother’
island of the archipelago. Fogo is home to the
volcano – Pico de Fogo that reaches 2.829
metres being the highest point of the Cape Verde
islands. Visits to the crater can be part of your
tour. A good early start gives time for distance
before the heat of the rising sun. The village
below, Cha Das Caldeiras, contains its primary
school, wine vineyards, tourist information and
village folk. An experience in itself.
The island is part of the Sotavento region of
Cape Verde and is about 50 km west of Santiago.
Two main communities provide the facilities for
the islanders, Sao Filipe and Mosteiros. Between
these two communities there is an abundance of
colourful volcanic backdrops, fertile land offering
significance to the flora, small farms and mountain
escapes. Many walks can be arranged with refreshment
stops around almost every corner. A nature park
is situated between Cha Das Caldeiras and Mosteiros
and strolls through coffee plantations, brushing
shoulders with the farm workers encouraging their
donkeys to move are a must. Walks and visits will
differ, taking in farm trails, cliff top ocean
scenery and walks on the black sanded beach of
Sao Filipe.
Brava
The most westerly and one on of
the most mountainous of the islands, Brava stands
similar to a Christmas pudding. The moment you
reach the port of Furna the road stretches up
the hillside to the capital, Vila Novo Sintra,
named after Sintra near Lisbon, Portugal. The
highest peak on the island reaches 976 metres
and stands 20 km away from Fogo.
Brava is visited
for its beauty, isolation and sheer contrast to
many of the other eight islands. Known as the
‘island of flowers, the species of vegetation
include Dragoeiro, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea and
Jasmine. Both long and short walks can be taken
including a visit to the island’s highest
mountain peak, Pico de Fontainhas and the encrusted
terrace and mountain route to Nossa Senhora do
Monte. Recreated by Eugenio Tavares, the famous
Cape Verdean ‘Morna’ music is also
something to be discovered on this island. The
warm acceptance and kindness of the islanders
ensures a desire to return for a second visit.
The FOGO
and BRAVA Explorer is ideal for friendship groups
and organisations as well as the individual pathfinder.
The above
can also be part of an extended holiday plan:
For
more Information
Contact Reservations on
0845
270 2006 (+44 845 270 2006)
