© Gaia Tourism 2018
© GAIA - CABO VERDE TOURISM
Blaise Menuet - Managing Director
Contacts:
Telephone office: (+238) 993 99 20
Telephone operations: (+238) 999 44 55
E-mail: office@gaiatourism.cv
The Grogue Trail
Grogue, grogu or grogo, is the most famous alcoholic beverage in Cape Verde, made from sugarcane. Its production remains artisanal with the famous “trapiche”, the press to extract the precious juice. On this specific Grogue Trail Tour you will see how grogue is made, discover the main island where it is produced and get acquainted with the Cape Verdean culture & gastronomy.
1st day (SAT) – Welcome to Cabo Verde
Welcome to the international airport of Sao Vicente „Cesaria Evora” paying homage to the famous Cape Verdean singer. Transfer to your hotel in Mindelo.
In the evening, you will have a nice typical dinner in a central located restaurant. The Italian sommelier will make a lecture about the production of the national spirit followed by a Grogue tasting. You will enjoy live music and fine food.
Meal: |-|-|Dinner
2nd day (SUN) – Discover Sao Vicente
This day is dedicated to the visit of the small volcanic island of Sao Vicente. During the tour you will visit small fishing villages like Salamansa, Baia das Gatas and Calhau and enjoy the ocean view with 3 grogue tastings. At Monte Verde (Green Hill), the summit, you will embrace a breathtaking panorama watching Santo Antao, Santa Luzia, Ilha Branco, Ilha Raso and Sao Nicolau. The highlight of the tour is a special lunch in Madeiral with live music and dance performance (min. 15 pers.). The journey back to Mindelo takes you next to „oasis” of Ribeira Calhau. You will savor a glass of grogue by the shadow of palm trees.
Meal: Breakfast|Lunch
3rd day, (Mon) – Mindelo & Santo Antao
In the morning, the 4 hours’ tour is dedicated to the visit of the cosmopolitan Mindelo, the second biggest city of the archipelago, a pure combination of heritage, history and present of the cultural and intellectual elite of the country.
In one of the colorful markets downtown, you will stop in bars to have a grogue tasting. After lunch, we take the ferry to Santo Antao. During the 60 minutes’ journey, you may see dolphins and flying fishes. Check-in in your hotel by the seaside. Afternoon remains at your disposal. Enjoy the ocean in this nice resort offering a very large swimming-pool.
Meal: Breakfast|Lunch
4th day, (Tues) – Discover the wild west
Optional ACTIVITY
Santo Antao is the second biggest and greenest island of Cape Verde. The island’s landscape is full of remarkable contrasts, with exuberant vegetation with sugarcane, pine and cedar trees on the north contrasting with the desert landscape of the south.
In the morning, we will reach O Curral das Vacas for your first grogue stop with a great view over the longest canyon of the island. Our next grogue stop will take place in Alto Mira, then, we will visit a traditional trapiche in Ribeira da Cruz with tasting. Continuation to a sugarcane farm in Lagedos where we have our lunch and a last grogue tasting stop. Late afternoon, you will rest in your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast|Lunch
5th day, (WED) – Panorama and Trapiche
Do not miss this tour which leads you to the panoramic road on the so called “strada velha” (old road) which goes from the deserted south to the lush green northern part of the island. You will benefit from the breathtaking beauty of the valleys going downward the ravines, dotted here and there with small villages.
We will enjoy our first grogue and cheese taste in Espongeiro close to the Cova-volcano. Then, the tour will continue until Coculi with the visit of a sugarcane farm (trapiche) where we will participate to the elaboration of our traditional meal the “cachupa”. Grogue tasting. Late afternoon, return to your hotel.
Meal: Breakfast|Lunch
6th day, (Thu) – Dive in to the green Paul Valley
Optional ACTIVITY
The first stop to enjoy the ocean breeze is planned in Janela for the grogue tasting. Our road follows the coast until we reach the city “Vilas das Pombas”, which is the entry to the Paul Valley, the greenest of Cape Verde islands. After a visit to the traditional trapiche of Senhor Ildo, the pave road reaches O Curral, an eco-restaurant doted of a grogue distillery in the middle of the lush-green valley, where the owners, Alfred and his wife Christina prepare a wonderful lunch with their own products of their garden (organic food). Grogue tasting. the next stop at the bottom of the valley awaits you. Late afternoon, return to you hotel.
Meal: Breakfast|Lunch
7th DAY (FRI) – Enjoy Mindelo
Optional ACTIVITY
Morning transfer to the harbor to take the ferry back to Mindelo. Accommodation is in the city center. Time at leisure or as Optional a jeep tour with the following itinerary: Palha Carga – Selada de Baleia – Monte Verde from behind – Mato Ingles – Mindelo
Farewell dinner with live music in the city center to discover the night life of Mindelo and enjoy the spots famous for a selection of the greatest guitar players.
Meal: Breakfast|-|Dinner
8th day, (SAT) – Return to your home country
Morning free time to enjoy the city beach Laginha or do some shopping in Mindelo. Early afternoon transfer to the APT and fly back to Europe.
Meal: Breakfast
Base 2 pax => 1.150 EUR/pax
Base 4 pax => 760 EUR/pax
SGL suppl. => 160 EUR
Child (02/12) in parent’s room => -20%
Visa => 30 EUR/pax (not included)
Group size => 8 to 20 pax
Prices include:
3 o/n on BB at Avenida / Residencial Mindelo / Don Paco
4 o/n on BB at Santantao Art Resort
Transfers APT/HTL/APT + HTL/pier/HTL and English-speaking guide APT/APT
Ferry tickets Mindelo/Porto Novo/Mindelo
2 dinners with live music in Mindelo
Excursions (*) on 2nd day + 3rd day + 5th day
VAT
Excursions (*) on 4th day + 6th day + 7th day are optional and paid in cash on the spot
Price for each excursion
Base 2 pax => 95 EUR/pax
Base 4 pax => 80 EUR/pax
Base 6 pax => 50 EUR/pax
(*) Excursions include transfers, English-speaking guide and lunch (1 beer/glass of wine/juice + water + coffee/tea)