Fogo Cape Verde

About

Fogo Cape Verde (Fogo means ‘fire’ in Portuguese) is the most prominent of the Sotavento group of Cape Verde islands. It is in the south-west of the Cape Verde archipelago. Pico do Fogo rises to nearly 3,000m above sea level at its summit. It is almost 1000m taller than the next tallest mountain in the country. São Filípe is the largest town of the island and is located on the west coast of Fogo. São Filípe is where the airport is located; flights to Fogo are from Praia. The ferry port is a little way outside the town and has ferry connections with Brava and Praia (Santiago). Grapes are grown in the caldera and the wine produced (Chã do Fogo – red and white) is good. Coffee is also grown on Fogo. The island of fire is an island of contrasts, with lovely coastline, green woods and forests, but also with the stark, fascinating landscape within the caldera. Fogo Cape is an island that should be on any island hopping itinerary and is becoming increasingly more popular with tourists looking for something a little out of the ordinary.

Beaches

The beaches, which are black from the volcanic lava, may not be as stunning as those on the other islands, but the landscape throughout is quite spectacular. Beaches are not necessarily the main reason to visit Fogo.

Entertainment

São Felipe is a lively little town with a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants. Seafood is widely available and can be enjoyed with some Fogo wine. Festivals are enjoyed here, as they are throughout Cape Verde. Carnival is celebrated before the start of Lent. In April there is the Festa Bandeira de São Felípe, which includes a horse race. There is also a horse race held between Christmas and New Year.

Places to visit

A visit to Fogo should include a visit to the volcano caldera (or crater); it is a fascinating experience. The largest feature of the caldera is its size – 7 x 10km and walls as much as 1km high. The landscape within the caldera is how many people might imagine the moon to be. People live within the caldera and there are places to stay and to eat. The traditional round houses can be seen, some having been buried by lava in 2014, but the roofs are visible above the lava. A trek up to the top of Pico do Fogo makes for a highly memorable trip for the more energetic visitor. It takes about 6 hours from the Chã das Caldeiras to complete the climb of 1000m. If you drive through the caldera from the São Felípe side towards Mosteiros, you eventually come to a forest. São Felipe is an attractive town that slopes down towards the sea. It also has lovely views over to the neighbouring island of Brava. Colourful houses and a bustling square help to make this an interesting town to visit. Mosteiros has a small, attractive centre and is located between the mountain and the sea.

Geography

Although all the islands are volcanic in origin, Fogo demonstrates this more clearly than the others. Because Pico do Fogo is 3000m high, this island is visible from some distance. The volcano is still active and last erupted 2014, forming a new crater called Pico Pequeno (Little Peak). The eruption has not stopped people living in the caldera and houses have been re-built. The road in the caldera was blocked by the lava flow, but now a new road has been cut through. There are views over to the island of Brava from many places on the island. It is thought that these two islands may once have been joined together.

Travel to Fogo

Flights, ferries & more info:

There are a number of flights each week to the four international airports in Cape Verde. These airports are on the islands of Sal, Boa Vista, São Vicente and Santiago. You can fly to any of them and then use the local flights or ferries to connect with other islands.

Flights

Bestfly
Domestic

Ferries

Ferry
Inter-Island
Port
Vale de Cavaleiros

Info

Airport
São Felipe
Visas
Required to enter
Covid
Information
Tax
Tourist tax
News
The latest travel news

Activities on Fogo

Activity – Tours

Qualitur, Fogo Cape Verde

Qualitur offers a high quality service with sustainable tourism, which encourages the support of ecological preservation and conservation. The team at Qualitur provide programmes and tours for visitors to the two islands of Brava and Fogo Cape Verde. Each tour is tailored to suit the guest. The tours will show visitors the geographical features of the island including flora and fauna. Qualitur has its office in São Filipe on Fogo. Qualitur is also able to organise your transfers, ferries tickets, excursions, car or bike rentals and various tickets and handicrafts.

Activity – Tours and Travel

Zebra Travel, Fogo Cape Verde

Zebra Travel is based in the centre of São Felipe on the island of Fogo. Their experienced staff can assist with transfers, excursions or tours, accommodation, car hire and sea or air travel. Although based on Fogo, they can provide information on other islands in the Cape Verde archipelago. Zebra Travel can help visitors discover and experience the fascinating country of Cape Verde.

Accommodation

Tortuga Bed and Breakfast in São Filipe, Fogo Cape Verde

Guest house in São Filipe (guest rooms and bungalow)

Tortuga Bed and Breakfast is in São Filipe and has lovely sea views and is located at the black beach. There are four bedrooms and also a separate bungalow. Lunch and dinner are served when booked in advance. Internet is available and they can also assist with organised trips, internal flights and ferry reservations.

Tortuga is keen to promote ecotourism. The building has solar panels that provide hot water and electricity, and also fruit and vegetables are grown in the garden. In addition they make their own cheese, jam and liqueurs. Fresh fish is bought from the fishermen and includes some varieties that are less common, such as triggerfish, scorpion fish and file fish. These can then be served at dinner in the evenings.

Casa Alcindo Chã das Caldeiras in Fogo Cape Verde

Guest house, cafe and restaurant with massage available

Casa Alcindo is in a unique location inside the caldera (Chã das Caldeiras) on the island of Fogo Cape Verde. The modern building is attractive and well finished and offers a high standard of accommodation and comfort. There is a central courtyard, which makes a lovely place to relax and enjoy a drink. The rooms include en-suite bathrooms. There are views across the caldera and also to the Pico do Fogo. The hotel offers massage in a calm and peaceful massage room and also the food is homemade, using local produce. Staying here is a unique opportunity to stay within a caldera, amidst the moon-like landscape.

La Fora Eco-lodge, Fogo Cape Verde

La Fora Ecolodge is a sustainability-driven, community-oriented hotel located 10 minutes outside of Sao Filipe in Fogo’s countryside. La Fora has ten private bungalows with ocean views, pool access, and extensive gardens, as well as a full bar and restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hot, buffet breakfasts are complimentary, and buffet dinners, including vegan and vegetarian options, are available to hotel guests. Tapas and drinks are available at the La Fora bar, restaurant and pool throughout the day. La Fora has eight double bungalows and two triple bungalows, each including a private terrace with outdoor seating, in-room WiFi coverage and ensuite bathrooms.

La Fora Ecolodge is focused on sustainable, community-based ecotourism. All of La Fora’s electricity and hot water is produced by on-site solar panels, and all shower and sink water is recycled into the gardens. La Fora’s gardens are designed with a focus on water conservation, and all of the fruit and vegetables produced in the gardens are organic and pesticide-free. La Fora is committed to community building and is proud to be the founder of Support Fogo Schools, a program helping needy students purchase school uniforms and supplies. La Fora is committed to developing tourism on Fogo that protects the environment and promotes the local community.

Colonial Guest House, Fogo Cape Verde

In the heart of São Filipe, on the island of Fogo, overlooking the historic city centre and the sea, together with a breathtaking view to the neighbouring island of Brava, you will find The Colonial Guest House.

Colonial poppies a house built in 1883 by one of the most important characters in the history of Fogo (island of fire). The Colonial Guest House represents one of the most outstanding examples from an architectural point of view of the townhouses. Carefully restored to its original glory, the Colonial Guest House offers you nine beautifully decorated rooms with antiques collected over the years. Each room, unique in shape and size, with all the facilities for your stay and an exclusive service in one of the city’s most notable examples of townhouse architecture in Cape Verde.

Casa Colonial Koenig, Fogo Cape Verde

The Casa Colonial Koenig, in São Felipe, has a total of 12 rooms. The building is on two floors. It is an old building that has been carefully restored and converted to provide lovely accommodation in the centre of São Felipe. On the ground floor there are four rooms, bar/reception and swimming pool. On the first floor there are eight historic rooms. The building is accessible from two streets, and has a breathtaking view of Island of Brava and a view of town of São Filipe.

Casa Marisa 2.0, Fogo Cape Verde

Casa Marisa 2.0 is located in the caldera on the island of Fogo. It is called Casa Marisa 2.0, because it was rebuilt following the volcano eruption in 2014-2015. Casa Marisa 1 was destroyed in that eruption. If you are visiting Fogo, a visit to the caldera should not be missed. You will hardly believe that you are on the same island. Casa Marisa 2.0 is in an ideal location from which to start walking or hiking and mountain guides are available. The caldera is also a good location for visiting the rest of the island.

The hotel is run by Marisa and Mustafa. Marisa was born and raised in the caldera and Mustafa has lived there since the age of 16. So they know it well. Marisa is an excellent cook and Mustafa is a mountain guide. The hotel employs local staff from the caldera, uses seasonal local food so far as possible and uses 100% renewable energy (solar and geothermal). The accommodation includes 15 rooms; 12 traditional round houses, called Funku, each with a terrace that accommodate 2-5 people; and a restaurant with two terraces. There is also a playground for children and mountain bikes are also available for hire.