The island of Fogo, which in Portuguese means 'Fire', is located between the islands of Santiago to the east and Brava to the west. Fogo is the fourth largest island in the Archipelago, with a surface area of 480Km2 and a population of around 40,000 inhabitants; about 27,000 people live in Sao Felipe, the capital. 

Located in the middle of the island, there is Pico de Fogo; at 2,829m is the island highest point and an active volcano, it last erupted in 1995. Lava from past eruptions, has covered the eastern side of the volcano to the ocean, while the northeastern side is green and grassy all-year round. The coffee is grown on the outer northern slopes near Mosteiros and grapes are grown in the crater by digging pits among the black pieces of basaltic rock and planting a vine in each.

VISIT FOGO FOR:

• Hiking the Pico de Fogo, the island active volcano.
• Many satisfying walks and hikes. 

                                   Photo sourced from Pagina Oficial do Governo de Cabo Verde. Fogo volcano. 
                                                                            

HISTORY

Fogo was the second island of the archipelago to be settled and was first named Sao Felipe. It was discovered at the same time as Santiago and Maio and quickly developed a population due to its fertile ground, slaves grew cotton and learned the skill of weaving. It was with the eruption of 1680 that the island changed its name to Fogo, which means 'fire'; its fierceness caused the destruction of fertile land and subsequent mass emigration to the neighbouring island of Brava.

When Fogo erupted from the sea a few hundred thousand years ago, the volcanic cone must have been 3,500m high but sometime within the last 10,000 years, a big section in the east fell towards the sea, reducing the height of its walls. It was in this open space that was left that in 1785 Pico de Fogo erupted. The lava cascaded to the northeasten slopes, creating the bump on which the town of Mosteiros is today and Pico became the highest point of Cape Verde.

Since 1785 all eruptions occurred inside the old crater, in 1799, 1847, 1852 and 1857. Each eruption left cones in the crater floor which explaines the name given to Cha das Caldeiras (Plain of Craters). There have been few eruptions in the last hundred years: in 1951 and in 1995, the last one, which occurred southwest of the Pico, covered much of the village of Boca Fonte.

The best place to swim is Ponto das Salinas, a beautiful cove with black rock formation on the northwest coast close to Sao Jorge. 

If the sea is calm, you can also swim at the Praia Nossa Senhora do Socorro, south of Sao Felipe and at the beach at the port, north of Sao Felipe.             Photo sourced from www.caboverde.com. Ponto das Salinas.

PLACES TO STAY OR VISIT

SAO FELIPE

Sao Felipe, which in Portuguese means 'Saint Philip', is located on the southwestern part of the island of Fogo and is its capital. Sao Felipe, now the fifth largest city in Cape Verde (it used to be the third), it is known for its 'sobrado' houses, pretty squares, the black sand beach, abundant bougainvillea, gardens and trees.

The historic centre invites you to admire the 'sobrado' architecture, houses built by the rich land owners and decorated with fine woods and tiles imported from Portugal and west Africa.

DO NOT MISS: 

-   The nice promenade, embellished with busts of Portuguese heroes, which lines the cliff tops.

-   The Cathedral and the Cemiterio Velho, known as the cemetery for the whites, where only the wealthy landowners of European descent could be buried.

-   The Casa da Memoria, a private museum, which covers the history of Fogo.

For 'Where to Stay' see Accomodation section or our Book Your Holiday page.

USEFUL NUMBERS & INFORMATION

Hospital:  281 1130           Police:  281 1132             Bank:  Banco Comercial do Atlantico.

Photos sourced from www.fuggire.it. The Cathedral in Sao Felipe.

Photos sourced from www.fuggire.it. Black sand beach.

CHA DAS CALDEIRAS

Cha das Caldeiras, which in Portuguese means 'Plain of Craters' is the crater region located at the heart of the island. There is a small community of approximately 1,500 inhabitants that lives here in two neighborhoods, Portela and Bangaeira. On the plain there is the highest volcanic peak, the Pico de Fogo, at 2,829m from sea level and other smaller peaks and lava fields from the recent eruptions of 1951 and 1995. The entire caldera, some 67 km², is a protected area as part of the Parque Natural do Fogo, a cooperative effort between the German and Cape Verdean governments.

It is possible to ascend the crater rim, walk along it, wander around the crater floor and descend to the town of Mosteiros. To best visit the area and enjoy the walks, we suggest you spend few nights here. For some walks, a guide is essential, especially if you plan to climb the Pico de Fogo.

Cha das Caldeiras is the only area in Cape Verde that grows significant quantities of grapes and produces export-quality wines.

How to get to Cha das Caldeiras

Aluguers leave from beside the town hall and the market in Sao Felipe at mid morning, at midday and at 2pm for the villages in and surrounding the crater. The return journey to Sao Felipe is not until early (4/5am) the next morning. 

 For 'Where to Stay' see Accomodation section.

 
                                   Photo sourced from www.caboverde.com. Cha das Caldeiras.

   Photo sourced from www.fuggire.it. View from the small crater.

MOSTEIROS

The main reason to stop at Mosteiros on the northeastern coast of the island, is to use it as a stopping point for hikes around the island.

How to get to Mosteiros

Aluguers leave from beside the town hall and the market in Sao Felipe at mid morning, at midday and at 2pm for Mosteiros, the return journey to Sao Felipe is not until early (4/5am) the next morning.      

For 'Where to Stay' see Accomodation section or our Book Your Holiday page.