A Forgotten Island Paradise in the Atlantic (2027/2028)

starting at 5.640 €

Today you’ll fly to Lisbon, where your driver will warmly welcome you and take you to your hotel in the city center. In the evening, we invite you to join a tour of the Portuguese metropolis. You’ll get to know your fellow travelers over a delightful dinner. (A)

After an early breakfast, you’ll drive to the airport and fly from Lisbon across the Atlantic Ocean to the Cape Verdean island of São Vicente. Thanks in no small part to its harbor—where ships from all over the world have anchored for centuries before setting out on the Atlantic crossing—the city of Mindelo has become the cultural center of Cape Verde. In the afternoon, you’ll take a guided walking tour through the vegetable and fish markets to the Torre de Belém watchtower, which is modeled after its namesake in Lisbon. Music fills the air everywhere—sometimes wistfully heavy, sometimes fiery and rousing. Thanks to the city’s most famous daughter, the barefoot diva Cesária Évora, the sounds of the morna and coladeira have achieved worldwide fame. You’ll experience this firsthand during a short acoustic performance in a traditional guitar workshop. Through narrow alleys lined with pastel-colored houses, you’ll finally reach the charming pavilion on the main square, Praça Nova. This is where the locals gather for a chat. Your comfortable hotel is right next door. (FA)

It’s just a stone’s throw by ferry from São Vicente to the neighboring island of Santo Antão. Its dramatic volcanic landscapes are among the most beautiful sights the Atlantic Ocean has to offer. You’ll experience the island’s fascinating contrasts on the drive from Porto Novo in the arid southeast uphill through dense pine forests to the gigantic Cova Crater, whose caldera lies 1,000 meters above sea level amid steep cliffs. The view from the crater rim is breathtaking! Photography enthusiasts will also be in their element on the winding drive down to the tropical-green north coast. You’ll enjoy lunch at a cozy restaurant in Ponta do Sol, arguably the most beautiful spot on the island. Here, colorful fishing boats bob in the azure blue sea in front of a snow-white little church. In the afternoon, you’ll explore the idyllic Ribeira do Paul valley, a Garden of Eden where yams, cassava, bananas, mangoes, sugarcane, and corn thrive on its terraces. At a traditional distillery, you’ll sample the national drink made from sugarcane—grogue, a close relative of rum. In high spirits, you’ll head back along the coast to the ferry to São Vicente. In the evening, the SY Chronos awaits you in the port of Mindelo—your small, elegant sailing ship and home for the next five nights. After a warm welcome on board, it’s time to cast off! for the crossing to the island of São Nicolau. (FMA)

The island of São Nicolau is very unspoiled and is rarely visited by international tourists. The island is considered the cradle of Cape Verdean identity; countless famous morna songs originate from here. From the port town of Tarrafal, you can drive up to the Monte Gordo National Park, whose striking peak soars 1,312 meters into the sky. On a clear day, the view stretches all the way to São Vicente, Santo Antão, and even Fogo. From the unspoiled hamlet of Cachaço, a wonderful hike begins down to the charming colonial town of Ribeira Brava (1.5 hours/moderate difficulty). The descent along cobblestone paths takes you past volcanic cliffs, giant dragon trees, and green terraced fields. In the main town of Ribeira Brava, take a stroll to the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário. Make one more stop at the wave-shaped rock formation Carbeirinho right by the sea—and you’ll be back on board in time for lunch. In the afternoon, you’ll sail along the coast of São Nicolau to a particularly beautiful spot where you can take a refreshing dip in the ocean. (FMA)

Cape Verde consists of two groups: Barlavento, the “Islands of the Wind” in the north, and Sotavento, the “Islands of the Leeward” in the south. Today, the SY Chronos is crossing the sea between these two parts of the country. Let the fresh breeze blow around your face, and enjoy comfort and relaxation on board. Engaging onboard presentations provide entertainment and allow you to delve deeper into the fascinating world of Cape Verde. (FMA)

Early risers, take note! Even from a distance, you’ll catch sight of the giant volcano on the island of Fogo, rising majestically from the sea. A spectacular sight! But first, turn your attention to a rarely visited gem: the small neighboring island of Brava. Thanks to Monte Fontainhas (976 m) and its location in the lee of Fogo, clouds form over Brava all year round, ensuring that date and coconut palms, colorful oleander bushes, hibiscus, almond trees, and bougainvillea thrive on this tropical, humid island. From the port of Furna, you’ll drive up steep, winding roads with magnificent views to Vila Nova Sintra, considered by connoisseurs to be the most beautiful town in Cape Verde. At the new Brava Interpretive Center, you’ll delve into the island’s volcanic origins and its past, which tells stories of whaling and emigration. After a detour to the former home of Cape Verde’s national poet, Eugénio Tavares, take a stroll to the town’s main square of the same name, which charms with its colonial charm. To round off the culinary experience, treat yourself to traditional grogue, island cheese, and couscous. By noon, you’ll be back on board and sailing over to Fogo. (FMA)

The 2,829-meter-high Pico do Fogo is both a curse and a blessing for this nearly circular volcanic island, making it one of the most active volcanic islands on Earth. The last eruption wasn’t that long ago—it took place in November 2014. The picturesque main town of São Filipe is characterized by its jet-black sand beach, pastel-colored merchant houses, and the main church, Nossa Senhora da Conceição. A spectacular excursion takes you into the bizarre lava landscape and, depending on the volcano’s activity, all the way into the gigantic Caldeira. The purple-red blooms of poinsettias add splashes of color to this dark, lunar landscape. A little surprise awaits you in the crater: grapevines and a full-bodied red wine to taste. As you continue your journey, you’ll stop in the village of Mosteiros on Fogo’s green northeast coast, where papayas, bananas, citrus fruits, and the high-quality Fogo coffee thrive, and later at the natural lava pools of Ponta da Salina. In the evening, your ship will weigh anchor. Under the southern stars, you’ll enjoy an atmospheric Captain’s Dinner and set sail for Santiago. (FLA)

In the palm-fringed bay of Tarrafal, you’ll say goodbye to the SY Chronos and its warm-hearted crew. Today you’ll cross the main island of Santiago, home to more than half of all Cape Verdeans. Your first stop is the Tarrafal camp, which bears witness to a dark chapter in the country’s past. It was here that opposition figures and anti-colonial independence fighters were interned until 1974. After a detour to the colorful weekly market in Assomada, you’ll drive through the mountains of Santiago and pass the bizarre rock formations known as the “Organ Pipes.” On the south coast, Cape Verde’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site awaits you: the old capital, Cidade Velha. From the São Felipe Fortress, you’ll enjoy a spectacular view before stepping back in time among the jungle-overgrown ruins of monasteries and churches. The Pelourinho pillory stands as a testament to the slave trade that once flourished here. You’ll enjoy lunch at a quaint seaside restaurant. In the afternoon, explore Praia, the capital of Cape Verde, whose colonial old town is perched on a rocky plateau overlooking the ocean. The colors and smells of the bustling market live up to Praia’s reputation as the most African place in the archipelago. Your comfortable, centrally located hotel is situated on a peninsula right by the sea. (FM)

Today is yours to enjoy as you wish. Whether you’d like to take a dip in the Atlantic or do some last-minute shopping in Praia—your room will be available to you until your departure. After dinner, you’ll be driven to the Praia airport to board your return flight. (FA)

You'll arrive in Lisbon early in the morning and fly on to Germany. (If you booked without flights, your trip ends on Day 9.)