Sao Vicente - Cape Verde

Welcome to São Vicente, one of the beautiful islands of Cape Verde in the Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of Santo Antão and Santa Luzia, about 640km off the western African coast. The chief city, Mindelo, on the northwest shore, is Cape Verde’s most important port. We docked in Porto Grande Bay, also Mindelo Bay, a natural harbour.

The island, with a population of around 80,000, is a blend of African, European, and Brazilian heritages. It gained independence from the Portuguese in 1975.

Immediately upon arrival, we were impressed with the majestic and unique views. They even have a mountain shaped like a face, which, of course, is referred to as Face Mountain.

We had a jampacked day of activities on the Island Discover excursion, with 6.50 hours of new sights ahead of us to celebrate our 82nd country.

The morning kicked off with a 75-minute, easy hike from Mato Ingles into a picturesque arid valley, which beat the midday heat and jump-started our hearts.

After our hike, we returned to the bus to watch some farmers in action. Small farms were scattered about, growing hand-farmed crops such as corn, potatoes, and beans. We congratulate the farmers on their dedication and hard work.

Next up was a visit to a turtle rescue centre, but not before we were treated to the talent of our guide, a local artist who played a few tunes for us and led us in a sing-along.

This was followed by a stop at Praia Grande Beach, where we saw recent evidence of hatched turtles escaping to begin their lives at sea. We all sampled the local liquor, pontche, made with sugarcane molasses and rogue, the national liqueur of Cape Verde.

After another picturesque coastal drive, those who wished were swimming in Catfish Bay, also known as Baja das Gatas, a lagoon formed by volcanic activity in centuries past. We opted to hide from the sweltering heat and sun to retain our white hue.

A lunch spread was next at a local restaurant, where the lovely team cooked us all a local feast; the food was deliciously full of flavours of the Cape Verde Islands overlooking the pristine bay. Fun fact: tuna is €4-6kg.

The grande finale was Monte Verde, the highest point in São Vicente, reaching 774m, offering the most spellbound sweeping views as we ascended the rock-made road from the 60s. The views were spectacular.

After such a fabulous day exploring Cape Verde, our cups were full. We definitely walked away feeling we understood the culture and the local vibe; it goes without saying the majestic waters and views left us all appreciating the beauty of the island.