Pirates' Islands
8 Days
You can...
- Get totally off the beaten track.
- Enjoy the warmth of the tropics.
- Try windsurfing, sailing, snorkelling.
- See volcanoes, markets
Set in the mid-Atlantic some 460 kilometres off the coast of West Africa, the beauty of these unique islands hides a turbulent past, with many a tale of ship-wrecks, the slave trade, battles between Portuguese and Spanish galleons and opportunist pirates.
First explore the island of Sal, its salt flats and Santa Maria market. Then Sao Vicente, known for its music and water-sports. To the south lies Santiago, where verdant valleys nestle between craggy mountains and beautiful beaches.
- Day 1. Fly to Sal Island
- Fly to Sal Island; drive to Santa Maria.
- Day 2. Santa Maria, Espargos, Pedra de Lume
- Visit Santa Maria market, Espargos and Pedra de Lume Salt Flats. Optional wreck visit.
- Day 3. Fly to Sao Vicente Island
- Fly to Sao Vicente Island. Optional wind-surfing or kite-surfing.
- Day 4. Sao Vicente
- Tour of Sao Vicente - Baia das Gatas, Monte Verde and Praia Grande.
- Day 5. Santiago Island
- Fly to Santiago Island.
- Day 6. Santiago Island
- Explore Santiago - full day tour.
- Day 7. Fly to Sal
- Fly to Sal; optional visit to handicraft centre, pot-making.
- Day 8. Fly to London
- Fly to London.
- Is it right for your family?
- A mix of culture and various optional activities such as quad-biking, windsurfing, kite-surfing... Accommodation is in good, mid-range hotels but bear in mind that tourism is very new to the islands, so lower your expectations. We use internal flights to move from island to island, which can be subject to delay.
- FACT PACK
- Accommodation and meals: Hotel (7nts). 7 breakfasts included.
- Flight details: Charter flights from Gatwick with Thomson Fly.
- Departures 2009: 22 May; 24 Jul; 07, 21 Aug; 16, 23 Oct.
- Departures 2010: 21 May; 23 Jul; 06 Aug.
- Prices: Land only from £1,249. Including flights from London from £1,699 per person
- Age Guideline: 5+
- Trip code: FCPI