Cruising the Islands of Cape Verde

Fly from Heathrow to Sal Island in the Cape Verde archipelago. You’ll travel via Lisbon and arrive in the early hours of the morning, then stay overnight at the 4-star Hotel Morabeza, which sits on Santa Maria Beach, the finest on the island.

Spend the morning in Sal, which is known for its crater-bed salt flats, parched interior and wild beaches that attract windsurfers. Take advantage of the hotel pool or head down to the beach, then perhaps take a short walk into the nearby village of Santa Maria for a seafood lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll be picked up and taken to the port of Palmeira to begin your cruise. Board the Harmony V, a 180-foot mega yacht. This sleek vessel will be your home for the next seven nights, complete with a sun deck and bar-lounge. Settle into your cabin, then head to the dining room on the main deck, where you can have dinner while admiring the views from the large picture windows. Overnight sailing towards the island of Boa Vista. (B, D)

Early this morning, you’ll arrive in Boa Vista and dock in the capital, Sal Rei. This island is fringed by Cape Verde’s most stunning beaches and has earned the nickname Sahara in the Atlantic for the ever-shifting dunes that lie in its Viana Desert, formed by sand blown over from the Sahara. You can spend the day sunbathing on Sal Rei’s white-sand beach and exploring the seafront city. Alternatively, join an optional, full-day excursion around Boa Vista (bookable locally, approx. 97EUR).Take in the scenery as you traverse the island, stopping at seaside villages home to brightly-painted houses. Along the way, you’ll learn about Boa Vista’s agriculture and artisan heritage, including its intricate ceramics. Have lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to the boat; after dinner you’ll sail towards Santiago Island. (B, L, D)

Dock in Praia this morning, the capital of Cape Verde’s largest island, Santiago. Spend the morning lazing on board the yacht, enjoying the views while lounging on deck. After lunch, join the optional excursion west to Cidade Velha (bookable locally, approx. 53EUR), the country’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is recognised as the first European colonial city built in the tropics. Above the town, you’ll spot the remains of 16th-century São Filipe fortress. Explore this Portuguese-flavoured hub and nearby settlements, which played an unsettling role in the West African Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Stroll along Rua Banana, which is believed to be the oldest surviving street in sub-Saharan Africa and is lined with thatched, limestone houses that date back to the 15th century; along the way, you’ll pass the cathedral ruins and a white-washed church. Afterwards, return for dinner on board before sailing north overnight to the island of Fogo. (B, L, D)

Today, you’ll dock early in São Filipe on Fogo, known as the Island of Fire for its active volcano that soars almost 3,000 metres above sea level. Despite the fact that Mount Fogo last erupted as recently as 2014-2015, farmers still take advantage of the fertile volcanic soils on its surrounding slopes to harvest coffee, plant orchards and run vineyards. Get up close to Mount Fogo with an optional full-day excursion to the top of the volcano, where you’ll walk through its black-hued Mars-like lava landscape to the crater’s edge (bookable locally, approx. 82EUR). Have lunch in Chã das Caldeiras, a caldera village beneath the crater, and then make a stop at São Filipe city to wander its buzzing streets filled with bright, Portuguese- inspired buildings clad with carved wooden balconies. Finally, head back to the yacht for dinner; tonight, you’ll sail to São Vicente. (B, L, D)

This morning, dock on the island of São Vicente, famed for its lively capital, Mindelo. Regarded as the country’s cultural heart, Mindelo is also one of its best-preserved Portuguese cities and is even home to a scaled down replica of Lisbon’s Torre de Belém. The city is a magnet for artists, writers and musicians specialising in the island’s traditional morna music; its most famous singer, the late Cesária Évora, lived here. Explore independently or enjoy an optional walking tour, where you’ll immerse yourself in the frenetic atmosphere of this seaside city (bookable locally, approx. 45EUR). Meander through the cobblestone streets lined with candy-coloured, colonial-era houses, stop at galleries, browse the National Centre for arts and crafts, watch locals trade at the fish market. Stop for a drink down by the crescent-shaped Porto Grande Harbour, where you’ll dock for the night. (B, L, D)

Begin your day with a short cruise to the greenest of all of Cape Verde’s islands, Santo Antão. The northern section of this remote island is a paradise for hikers due to its lush landscape of pine-filled valleys and tropical plants, particularly in the Paúl Valley, where you’ll find a forested crater surrounded by terraced farmland, fruit plantations and fields of sugarcane.Explore with an optional full-day excursion to the valley, where you’ll marvel at the scenery and meet farmers who cultivate sugarcane (bookable locally, approx. 84EUR). Stop to taste grogue, a rum-like drink made from sugarcane which is produced in distilleries across the valley. Next, continue to the Valley of Ribeira das Patas, referred to as the Grand Canyon of Cape Verde for its 800-metre-tall gorges and impressive lava-rock formations. Afterwards, return to the boat for dinner and a night docked in port. (B, L, D)

Wake on the shores of Santo Antão, where you can choose to spend the day relaxing or take a half-day trip to the southwestern side of the island (bookable locally, approx. 58EUR). Here, the landscape is dry and mountainous; you’ll journey through volcanic habitats and learn about local farming techniques such as dropwise agriculture, which involves collecting water from humid air. Stop at sleepy villages like Lagedos to get a glimpse of daily life.Tonight, enjoy a final dinner on board the ship, which will sail back towards Sal overnight. (B, L, D)

Today your Cape Verde cruise comes to an end. After breakfast, say goodbye to your crew as you disembark and transfer to the airport for your homebound flight to the UK via Lisbon. Alternatively, extend your stay at the 4-star Hotel Morabeza, which sits on Santa Maria Beach.

Arrival back at your chosen airport.