Full of anticipation, you set off for the airport with your luggage – today your journey to Cape Verde begins! Your flight will first take you to the island of Santiago, where your tour guide will be waiting for you at the airport in Praia. Santiago is the largest of the nine inhabited islands and home to both the old and new capital cities. Once you arrive at your hotel, you can relax after your journey and look forward to the exciting days ahead.

Hopefully you slept well, because now it's time to explore the island! Your destination is Cidade Velha, the former capital of Cape Verde. The historic center is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and tells a significant story. Founded in 1462 by Portuguese sailors as the first settlement in Cape Verde, Cidade Velha grew rapidly and later became an important center in the slave trade between Africa and the Americas. Today, the former metropolis has become a quiet fishing village, but traces of the past are still clearly visible. To stretch your legs a bit, you'll stroll to the oldest kapok tree in Cape Verde. The Poilon is over 500 years old and boasts an impressive trunk circumference of almost 40 meters. Afterward, you'll continue to a small pottery workshop in Santa Catarina. There, you'll gain insights into this traditional craft and learn that the women collect the clay they use themselves on the island. Then it's back to Praia.

Having already explored the old capital, your itinerary now takes you to Praia, the current capital. Stroll through the city center, wander along the pedestrian zone, and discover fascinating facts about the city and the country. At the Mercado Municipal, Praia's oldest fruit and vegetable market, you might even discover and sample some new fruits. Afterward, you'll head to the airport and onward to the neighboring island of Fogo – aptly named for its impressive volcano. At over 2,800 meters high, Pico de Fogo is visible from almost anywhere. At the foot of the volcano lies the Caldeira, a caldera formed by a landslide, which is now inhabited. This is where you'll spend the night, enjoying the tranquility and the spectacular view of the volcano.

If you like, you can explore the fascinating volcanic landscape up close today and hike to the crater of Pico Pequeno, the smaller of the two peaks. It was formed in 2014 on the western flank of Pico de Fogo. At the top, you'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view into the caldera and can admire the crater from the last eruption. Thanks to the fertile lava soil, wine is cultivated in the caldera. In the afternoon, you'll learn why the vines here grow quite differently from the more familiar grapevines – and you definitely shouldn't miss the opportunity to taste the local wines.

Today you leave the Caldeira and discover the lush north of Fogo. Trade winds frequently blow along the steep coastline, bringing light rain showers and mist – ideal conditions for coffee cultivation. Along the way, you'll cross fertile valleys and small villages built on the cooled lava of past eruptions. In São Filipe, a small colonial town with magnificent mansions from the Portuguese colonial era, you'll take a walking tour and immerse yourself in the island's history.

From São Filipe you will be taken back to the airport and fly back to Santiago. Depending on the flight time, you will have some free time either on Fogo or in Santiago.

Today you'll travel across the entire island of Santiago. Your journey takes you inland to Fundo, where the women of the small village will prepare Katxupa for you over an open fire – this maize and bean stew is considered the national dish of Cape Verde. Enjoy! Afterwards, you'll experience Batuku, a dance typical of Santiago with strong African influences, which is still performed today at weddings, baptisms, election rallies, and festivals, primarily by women. Refreshed, you'll continue to Tarrafal, where you can enjoy the beautiful bay with its palm-fringed beach. On the way back, you'll travel through the Serra Malagueta Natural Park in the north of the island. This majestic mountain range stretches across Santiago and is a paradise for nature lovers – many plant species are found nowhere else.

Having already gained a good impression of the diversity of Santiago and Fogo, you'll fly on to São Vicente. This island is considered the most European in the archipelago, as its connection to Portugal is particularly strong. Over 80% of the island's inhabitants live in the vibrant capital, Mindelo, known as the cultural metropolis of Cape Verde. Nowhere else in the islands boasts such a pulsating music scene and so many writers and artists. The cityscape is dominated by women selling fresh fruit and vegetables in the streets.

Your day begins with a visit to Luis Baptista's guitar workshop. Here you'll learn, among other things, what a cavaquinho is and how the various Cape Verdean musical styles differ. Cape Verdean cuisine is also on the agenda: Together with Catia, you'll visit the markets of Mindelo to buy ingredients for lunch. Afterward, she invites you to her home, where you'll prepare typical Cape Verdean dishes together in a cooking class. Catia will gladly share her tips to ensure your fish and other dishes are especially delicious. Enjoy! The rest of the afternoon is yours to enjoy at your leisure – perhaps relaxing on the city beach, Praia da Laginha. You can savor Cape Verdean music one last time during dinner.

São Vicente has much more to offer than just Mindelo. The island's landscape is dominated by Monte Verde, which, along with two other mountain ranges, shapes the island's character. To get a good impression of the island's diversity, you'll take a tour around the island today. Your route takes you via Calhau and Baía das Gatas to Salamansa, where you'll visit an upcycling workshop. The women running the workshop are committed to cleaning up the beaches while simultaneously promoting local crafts. Specially trained seamstresses create fashion accessories such as bags, pouches, and bracelets from collected fishing nets – a fantastic initiative that combines recycling and employment for locals. On the way back, you can enjoy the stunning scenery before returning to Mindelo.

Today you'll take the ferry from São Vicente to Santo Antão – the second largest of the Cape Verde islands, accessible only by water. The journey takes about an hour, during which you'll slowly see the shoreline approaching. Santo Antão is characterized by its lush mountains in the island's interior, which in some places extend right to the coast, plunging into the sea as steep cliffs. From the port of Porto Novo, you'll travel along the old mountain pass road. At Pico da Cruz, you'll stop for a short hike up and down to the summit. Those who wish can continue hiking with the guide to the Cova crater. Afterwards, the journey continues via Delgadim, where you can enjoy spectacular views. Here, every square meter of land is painstakingly cultivated on the terraced fields. In Ponta do Sol, a stroll through the charming streets rounds off the day.

The Paul Valley is one of the most popular hiking areas on Santo Antão. If you'd like to lace up your hiking boots today, you can expect an approximately three-hour hike through stunning scenery. Alternatively, you can relax at your hotel or explore the charming seaside village of Paul. Perhaps you've already noticed the extensive sugarcane cultivation during your trip. Sugarcane is used to make grogue, a typical Cape Verdean drink that's a staple on every drinks menu. If grogue is too strong for your taste, try the milder version, ponche, which comes in many flavors – a tasting will help you discover which one you like best.

In the morning, you'll take the ferry back to São Vicente. There, you'll explore the Ribeira Bote district, off the beaten tourist track. In this former slum of Mindelo, you'll gain a real insight into the daily lives of the locals. It's also where Cesária Évora, Cape Verde's most famous singer and Grammy winner, grew up. She was known as the "Barefoot Diva" for always performing barefoot to demonstrate her connection with the poorest members of society. In the evening, you'll enjoy a farewell dinner with your tour guide, who won't be flying to Sal the following day. This will be a chance to reminisce about the highlights of your trip.

Today you'll fly on to Sal, probably the most famous island in the archipelago. Tourism began here, as for a long time the island was home to Cape Verde's only international airport. Originally built by the Italians for strategic military reasons, the airport passed into Portuguese hands after World War II and served as a stopover for South African Airways during the apartheid era. This led to the construction of the first hotels for flight crews in Espargos and Santa Maria. Since Santa Maria also boasted beautiful beaches, the island was discovered by tourists. Miles of bright sandy beaches, 330 days of sunshine a year, and warm, crystal-clear water make the flattest island in the archipelago the perfect destination for beachgoers and sun worshippers. Relax and unwind here to round off your trip.

Before heading to the airport this evening, you can enjoy a relaxing final day on the beach or by the pool. Soak up the sun or take a stroll along the shore? It's entirely up to you. Then it's time to say goodbye – you're flying back home. You'll take with you unforgettable stories, encounters, and experiences – your journey through the enchanting Cape Verde islands has come to an end. You'll arrive back in Germany the following day.