TOUR CODE: 48950 GRADE: 6/P OCTOBER 2016 20 October - 12 November 15 days duration UNDISCOVERED CAPE VERDE An Atlantic Island Discovery
HOLIDAY INFORMATION TOUR DESCRIPTION This information is in addition to our General Information Booklet, which is enclosed. Lying off the west coast of Africa, the Cape Verde Islands offer a unique blend of African and Portuguese history. Volcanic in origin, the islands astound by their diversity. Tourism is still in its infancy, with the main development on the sandy beaches of the flatter eastern islands. Instead, we head for the geologically younger, more rugged islands where there is some superb walking, and where the way of life is often relatively untouched by the outside world. We can enjoy the freshness of this new destination, while recognising that facilities will sometimes be limited. Our introduction to the archipelago is with the island of São Vicente where we ll acclimatise to the islands and explore the fascinating city of Mindelo, with its British historical connection. We then catch the ferry to Santo Antão, the furthest west of the archipelago and where we spend several days exploring the ancient cobbled pathways of this walkers paradise. This is one of the world s landscape dramas, with high cliffs, deep valleys and ravines. We ll walk the ribeiras as we appreciate the stunning scenery and landscape. We continue to the largest island of Santiago, and the archipelago s most populated. This was the first of the islands to be discovered and its old capital Ribeira Grande, the first European city in the tropics. Here we ll first stay on the coast, where we ll enjoy some good walking around Praia and the historic village of Cidade Velha, before travelling into the mountains, to São Domingos, to enjoy some mountain walking with, some say, unrivalled views, and see a glimpse of life in the very African interior. On the north coast of Santiago, we ll find a small town called Cidade de Tarrafal, which we previously visited on a day trip, but now spend two nights. Home to one of the island s most beautiful beaches, ideal for relaxing or perhaps snorkelling. On Santiago, we ll also have the opportunity to walk in the Serra Malagueta Natural Park. Our walks programme ranges from longer walks in the rugged mountains of Santo Antão to some easier rambles, leaving time for relaxation and exploring the local towns. Cape Verde is a secret waiting to be discovered, and this holiday will uncover much of the archipelago not visited by most travellers. For this reason we consider this to be a Pioneer holiday, more adventurous, well off the tourist track, and where short notice modifications may need to be made to the itinerary to accommodate local conditions. Cape Verde offers beautiful landscapes from volcanic to fertile; turquoise seas, exceptional walking and locals whose welcome is warm and sincere. Bring your sense of adventure and Pioneer spirit to the Cape Verde Islands and this will help to make a memorable experience. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances and routes and timings may need to be amended, sometimes at short notice.
Day: 1: 2: 3: 4-7: 8: 9: 10: 11: 12: 13: 14: Overnight accommodation: São Vicente Santo Antão Santiago 15: In flight Daily itinerary: Fly from London Heathrow to São Vicente via Lisbon. On arrival, transfer to our hotel for dinner and two nights accommodation. We ll have an orientation walk of Mindelo. Our afternoon walk on the island offer superb views, wild scenery and sandy beaches. We ll take the ferry from São Vicente to Santo Antão this morning (possibly with an early start) for five nights accommodation. This is a wonderful island of high peaks, rugged cliffs and deep ravines and offers some of the best scenery of the holiday. During our time on Santo Antão our walks take us on cobbled paths with views into the ribeiras, passing an extinct crater, into verdant valleys and along coastal paths. We ll also get an insight into rural island life seeing small hamlets and cultivated terraces. By ferry, we return to São Vicente where we may have the chance for dip in the sea before taking the flight to Praia for two nights accommodation on the coast in Cidade Velha. We ll visit the historic village, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a verdant ribeira walk to the sea, passing a baobab or two on the way. Today we continue to São Domingos, and Rui Vaz, in the interior of the island, where we stay for two nights. There will be time for an afternoon walk from our hotel. Note: As our stay in Rui Vaz is in the mountains, you will find the temperature here cooler and the day often starts with misty mornings. From Rui Vaz we ll see spectacular craggy mountains that offer a wonderful contrast to our time spent on the coast. Walks afford views across the island, of the mountain peaks and there is plenty of opportunity to encounter local, rural life and perhaps the odd donkey! This morning we ll transfer by road to Cidade de Tarrafal on the northern coast, visiting the market-town of Assomada en route and going for a walk in the Serra Malagueta. We ll stay in Cidade de Tarrafal for two nights. From Tarrafal, we ll enjoy a walk to an isolated lighthouse and visit a remote inland village. A relaxing morning, with free time to explore or visit the wonderful beach, we transfer to Praia for a short visit and late dinner before finishing at the airport for checkin for return flight to London Heathrow via Lisbon. Depart Praia Airport on early return flight to London Heathrow via Lisbon. Meals: D B,D In flight B (Breakfast) D (Dinner)
HOLIDAY GRADE & WALKING PROGRAMME Our 6/P grade walking programme will give us the opportunity to fully explore the Cape Verde islands. The walks show the great diversity of the islands, from small villages, cultivated paths and volcanic craters. Much of the walking is done on trails and paths which will require surefootedness and walking poles may prove useful. A reasonably good head for heights is needed in places. Some of the paths we follow are rough and stony underfoot. On some days, the walks will be top of grade, particularly when the weather is hot. Those who might normally choose a higher grade holiday would especially appreciate this holiday as the scenery, culture and general ambience of the islands is very rewarding for the Pioneer grade traveller. Each evening, the leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. If you do not wish to join the party, please let the leader know. There will be some free time during the holiday - details will be confirmed locally by your leader. On a Lifestyle holiday, in addition to great walking there will be plenty of time to immerse ourselves in the delights of local cuisine and wines, friendly people, language and natural beauty. An example of some of the walks we may include in our programme (dependent on weather conditions and the ability of the group) are as follows: Cidade Velha. An interesting walk through a surprisingly verdant valley, combined with sightseeing. Ascent 20m / descent 120m; 1.86 miles; 2 hours Corda to Coculi. A good introductory walk with a long descent with some challenging stony sections, with great views into the ribeiras on both sides. Ascent negligible / descent 850m; 5 miles; 2.5 hours Fontainhas Coastal Walk. A beautiful walk through dramatic coastal scenery. Ascent / descent 500m; 8 miles; 6 hours Rui Vaz, Monte Tchota and Monte Gamboa. After a circular walk through the countryside south of our hotel in the mountains, we climb steadily to Monte Tchota and on along a ridge to Monte Gamboa with views of Fogo island. Ascent/Descent 550m; 9 miles; 5 hours Cova and Ribeira de Paul. This is one of the most beautiful walks of the holiday with many contrasts. Starting high on the ridge, it passes an extinct crater before descending dramatically into the lush Ribeira de Paul. The descent is long but not difficult, on cobbled paths. Down in the Ribeira, the quiet road passes a series of interesting hamlets Ascent 250m / descent 1350m; 9 miles; 5 hours
We do not include local transport costs or entrance fees in conjunction with the walks programme on this holiday. This is due to walks being weather dependent and also takes into account the group ability and your personal choice (you may choose to take a day off from the group arrangements), and this way you only pay for the activities that you take part in. Local transport costs for this holiday should not exceed 40 per week. Should you decide to take an optional excursion, these costs are not included in the holiday or local transport costs. Please note that the estimation of local costs relating to this holiday is based on currency exchange rates valid at the time of the publication of our autumn 20165 / spring 20176 brochure and this Holiday Information sheet. Any fluctuations in exchange rates may impact on this estimation of local costs. Please check with your bank or foreign currency provider prior to your holiday to enable you to plan your spending. TIPPING Your leader will have some funds for tipping hotel staff and drivers. You may wish to consider allowing some cash, perhaps 2 per day, to supplement this since drivers and staff tend to be mines of information and very keen to offer assistance. As in many African countries the people rely on tips as part of their income. It must be stressed however that such tips are at your own discretion. TRAVEL INFORMATION We fly from London Heathrow to São Vicente via Lisbon and return from Praia to London Heathrow via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal. The flight between São Vicente and Santiago is arranged by us. The visa to enter Cape Verde, (please see section below) will be registered with the airport authorities by our partner Cape Verde Travel, prior to your arrival on São Vicente. You will not need to obtain your own visa. Due to restrictions on the flights within Cape Verde the checked in baggage allowance is 15kg - one piece only - plus one piece of hand baggage of 5kg. There is one internal flight during our holiday and two transfers by ferry, which are included in your holiday cost. If you are joining or leaving in Cape Verde it is assumed, unless you advise us otherwise, you will meet the party at our hotel in Mindelo on the island of São Vicente and leave from our hotel in Cidade de Tarrafal on Santiago. If this is not your intention, please let us know in writing at least 5 weeks before departure.
PASSPORTS & VISAS A passport is required for travel and must be valid for 6 months beyond your intended stay in Cape Verde. It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to the UK. A visa is also required to visit Cape Verde and will be obtained on your behalf by our colleagues Cape Verde Travel. This is included in the holiday cost, and will be registered with the authorities under the name of Cape Verde Travel. When you booked your holiday, you were asked to supply us with some personal details, such as passport information, and date of birth. With your confirmation details sent by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, you have been asked to check the Personal Details Check Form, complete any missing information, and send back to us. Can you please ensure that you do this as early as possible, as we will require this information to arrange the visa for Cape Verde. If you are not travelling on our group flights, Cape Verde Travel can still make arrangements for your entry visa but we will need your date of arrival and flight details in order to do so. Passport, visa and health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP, or can be obtained from the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (MASTA). In addition, general travel advice is available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office at www.fco.gov.uk/travel. LOCAL CURRENCY The local currency is the Cape Verde Escudo (CVE). The euro, (at a fixed rate of 1 euro = CVE110) is sometimes acceptable as payment in hotels, restaurants and shops, in the main centres, but in more rural areas, only CVE may be accepted. The euro can be changed in banks and hotels, although you may experience long queues at banks when waiting to exchange. ATMs are available in all towns, but may not always be available. Banks and even airport exchange facilities will not change Sterling cash or travellers cheques. Please note that upon leaving Cape Verde, CVEs cannot be re-converted to euros except in Portugal. Credit cards will only be accepted in larger hotels (including our hotels in Rui Vaz and Cidade Velha)
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS This is a Pioneer grade holiday and while all accommodation is in tourist class hotels, and rooms have a shower and wc, they can vary in ambience and standard. Cape Verde hotel ratings do not directly compare to European standards. We have chosen our hotels based on their location, access to walks and all are of a simple, yet comfortable standard. Residencial Beleza Rua Oficinas Navais Caixo Postal 93A São Vicente Cape Verde Hotel Blue Bell Ponto do Sol Santo Antão Cape Verde Hotel Limeira Cidade Velha Santiago Cape Verde Hotel Quinta da Montanha Rui Vaz São Domingos Santiago Cape Verde Hotel Cachoeira Cidade de Tarrafal Santiago Cape Verde Tel: 00 (238) 232 4094 / 232 4096 Tel: 00238 225 1215 Tel: 00238 267 1103 Tel: 00238 268 50 02 Tel: 00238 266 12 72 The electricity supply is 220-240V AC @ 50 Hz with European 2-pin plugs. Hair dryers are not provided and toiletries are minimal but most hotel rooms have fridges. English-style breakfast tea is not always available so you may wish to take some teabags. Breakfasts and dinners are included in the holiday charge. Lunches are not included and are at your own expense. We will have a mix of hotel and local restaurant dinners. Local restaurants allow the opportunity to sample the local cuisine which includes Creole and Portuguese dishes. Many dishes consist of fresh fish and seafood, stews, rice and beans, and fresh fruit. Cape Verde also produces its own wine. RESORT INFORMATION Resort facilities in Praia, Sao Vicente, and Santo Antao include: Local shops Restaurants & Bars Banks
CLOTHING & EQUIPMENT Cape Verde offers a tropical climate in that there is very little seasonal variation in temperature, making it a perfect all year round destination. Daytime highs in February - April can average in the high 20 Cs with cooler evenings. The difference experienced here compared with a typical tropical climate, is the rainfall. Even during the rainy season, which occurs from July- September, the islands usually experience very little rainfall, although with the ever changing climate conditions, rainfall has been higher than usual in the last few years. During our stay at São Domingos, we stay at a higher altitude, so evenings can be much cooler than other centres and the misty mornings can feel quite cool. We suggest that you take a warm jumper, lightweight waterproofs, jacket or fleece, swimwear, lightweight summer clothes, small daysack, small first aid kit, including insect repellent, and a lightweight water bottle. A hat or small umbrella may also be useful for shade from the sun. Lightweight walking boots with good ankle support are recommended for this holiday, as the countryside is rough and stony. We recommend that you wear your walking boots or pack them in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the walking programme. Walking poles may also be helpful, but cannot be taken as hand luggage. Cape Verdeans take pride in their dress and personal appearance. There is no dress code on the island but modesty of dress is sensible. It is not necessary to dress up in the evenings smart casual is more than acceptable. HEALTH & FITNESS: To help you stay fit & healthy while travelling in Cape Verde, we recommend that you don t drink or clean your teeth in unboiled water. While bottled water is available to purchase locally, you may wish to consider an alternative to single-use plastic bottles such as a refillable bottle with its own water filtration system. Water-to-Go offers re-useable bottles that use a 3-in-1 filter system that you can fill up from any source. Each filter gives you the equivalent of 260 400 plastic water bottles. Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at www.watertogo.eu and enter the code RWH16 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays. Also, don t forget to exercise caution with what you eat to avoid upset stomachs and stay away from unpeeled fruit and vegetables, salad and do not have ice in your drinks. Hot, fresh cooked food, where possible, is best. You should be in a reasonably fit state of health for this holiday. The itinerary involves much travelling, some early starts and the walking will be of Grade 6 standard, with some walks at the top of the grade. In countries where temperatures are high, you may feel tired more easily and you will need to keep well hydrated. Always ensure that you carry water with you while on walks.
This holiday visits some remote destinations which at times may result in you being a considerable distance from medical assistance and with limited ability to summon help in the event of a medical emergency. Should you suffer from any medical condition which may result in the need for critical attention please contact us. You may wish to visit the website www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk, which is provided by the NHS Scotland, and gives vaccination, disease and malaria advice for your destination. Using this information in conjunction to speaking with your GP or nurse will help keep you healthy while travelling. TRAVELLING LIGHT As this holiday contains a number of separate journeys and hotels, and you will have to handle your own baggage, please try to travel reasonably light. You should be able to lift and carry your own luggage that will have to be lifted onto roof racks and on and off the ferries. Also, within some of the hotels themselves there may be some long walks between rooms and the lobby area, which may include stairs. For the health and safety of yourself and others, please try and travel light and with luggage with wheels. You may wish to take some clothes that could be washed out overnight. Please see Travel Information above regarding baggage allowance. INSURANCE On this holiday the walking will be below 2000m. Please make sure that your holiday insurance covers you for guided walking at this height. HEART & SOLE Heart & Sole, supported by Ramblers Worldwide Holidays, is proud to sponsor SOS Children s Villages in Cape Verde. This charity provides help for 78,000 children in 125 countries who have been orphaned through AIDS, poverty or disasters of war. They provide the children with a family and a home in a purpose built village, where they are cared for by an SOS mother until they are an independent adult. By travelling with us to Cape Verde, in addition to experiencing the joy of visiting new places, you can help make a difference. For more information, please see our Heart & Sole page on our website at: www.ramblersholidays.co.uk/page/ramblersworldwideholidays_heart_and_sole
MAPS Maps and books of the region you will be visiting may be obtained before departure from specialist map sellers such as: The Map Shop 15 High Street Upton upon Severn, Worcs. WR8 0HJ Tel : 01684 593146 Fax : 01684 594559 Website: www.themapshop.co.uk Further information can be found on the last page of our General Information Booklet. SUGGESTED READING Many local libraries and bookshops stock a selection of travel guides which may offer you more information regarding Cape Verde. Cape Verde Islands - The Bradt Travel Guide Antonio s Island: Cape Verde Braiswick The Bradt guide to Cape Verde provides very well-researched and interesting background reading for this holiday. Ramblers Worldwide Holidays have especially negotiated a 25% discount on all Bradt guides for you as a thank you for your custom. Please go to the Bradt Guide website www.bradtguides.com and enter the code RWH25 when ordering to claim your discount. You may also find the following websites useful in planning your holiday: Cape Verde Web: Cape Verde: www.capeverdeweb.com www.caboverde.com / www.thecapeverdean.com PLEASE QUOTE YOUR HOLIDAY CODE AND BOOKING REFERENCE NUMBER IN ALL CORRESPONDENCE. WE WISH YOU AN INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY AND WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS UPON YOUR RETURN. Revisions to this Holiday Information sheet Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases any revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will be unchanged. Should we need to make a major change to the holiday arrangements between the time of booking and your date of travel we will contact you. You may wish to review the latest version of the Holiday Information sheet online prior to travel.