Cabo Verde (day 4 and 5)
Hi again. Let me continue delighting you with the rest of my adventures in Praia.
Day 4: Hiking in Assomada
On our fourth day, we headed to the mountains of Assomada for a hike. Truthfully, I was not exactly excited about it. As I mentioned before, I suffer from vertigo. On top of that, I am not exactly what one would call “mountain-hike fit.” But lately, I have been trying to push myself to experience things at least once instead of automatically saying no out of fear. So, I decided to go along with the group.
Thankfully, our guide chose the easiest trail: about one hour and thirty minutes, mostly downhill. The weather was chilly, so most of us came dressed accordingly in pullovers, leggings, sneakers, and mainly active wear. The trail itself was rocky and dusty in some places, the kind where one wrong step could send you sliding dramatically down a hill. I walked very carefully because the last thing I needed was to embarrass myself in front of strangers and hurt myself in the process. However, the scenery was worth it.
Everything was green. Fields of vegetables and fruit trees stretched across the mountainside, interrupted by tiny houses scattered here and there. There were also small water sources running through the landscape, making everything feel fresh and alive. It was hard to believe such greenery existed on an island people often associate with dry volcanic landscapes.
At the end of the hike, we stopped near what is considered the oldest tree in Cabo Verde, surrounded by a peaceful little park where we rested. While we admired the scenery, our guide and driver bought freshly harvested tomatoes nearby for almost nothing.
Surprisingly, by the end of the hike, I was not even tired. I do not know if it was the mountain air, the calmness of the place, or simply the satisfaction of pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, but I felt incredibly good afterwards. Grateful too.
Lunch, Music, and Beautiful People
After the hike, we returned to Assomada city for lunch at a local restaurant. We all ended up ordering fried chicken with salad, rice, and fries. One thing I quickly realised while eating in Cabo Verde is that some dishes are a little mild for my Senegalese taste buds. So I started adding chilli sauce to almost everything.
There were two types of chilli sauce: the red sauce, which was flavorful and slightly sweet, and the green-yellow one, which honestly felt like attempted murder. I do not even enjoy spicy food that much, yet I am still dreaming about that red chilli sauce. It was that good.
After lunch, we drove back toward Praia, stopping at a few landmarks to take pictures before finally reaching the hotel around 4 PM. We rested until evening before heading back out again. Two people from our group decided to stay behind, but the rest of us went to dinner with another guide in Plateau.
The restaurant had a terrace and live music. The atmosphere was magical. I ordered grilled grouper with fries, which sounded amazing in theory but turned out to have far too many bones for my liking. Meanwhile, my travel companions ordered seafood pasta — which they described as average — and a shrimp coconut curry that tasted absolutely divine. I am still thinking about it.
The live band played local music, including songs popularised by Cesária Évora, Cabo Verde’s most iconic singer. Some people from our group even got up to dance. My timid self did not dare. I prefer to concentrate on people-watching.
Cabo Verdeans are stunningly beautiful people. Men and women alike. I do not know if it is the mix of races, genes, the sea air, or simply good genes, but I found myself constantly admiring people everywhere: in restaurants, on the streets, at traffic lights. And the style! Some dressed casually, others elegantly, and some looked unapologetically sexy. Everybody seemed effortlessly cool. At the restaurant, I particularly enjoyed the fact that people of all ages were out and about enjoying live music and dancing. There was this gorgeous lady in her 50s with short hair, wearing an eyelet short dress and heels, sitting in front of us. She was enjoying the music and even got up to dance a couple of times. I admire her coolness. You would never see women her age do the same in Dakar.
We ended the night driving around town with loud music blasting in the car before finally going back to sleep.
Day 5: Plateau and Sucupira Market
Our fifth day started with a stroll around Plateau. We passed the presidential residence, which overlooks a beautiful view of the city, before walking through a public square lined with souvenir shops painted in bright, cheerful colours. Tall green trees offered a bit of shade from the heat.
I regret not exploring more boutiques because some of them had really beautiful clothes and shoes. But since we were moving around as a group, I did not want to take too much time. Moreover, I convinced myself I would shop later at the market for lower prices. Big mistake.
After the stroll, we headed to Sucupira Market, one of Praia’s most famous markets. It reminded me so much of markets in Dakar, except this one felt surprisingly clean and organised. Vendors sold local produce, souvenirs, fabrics, clothes, and random household items.
Unfortunately, I was shocked by how expensive some things were, especially clothing and souvenirs. Ironically, most of the gifts I brought back home were purchased at the very last minute from a Chinese shop across the market.
My Solo Lunch Moment
Before 1 PM, we returned to the hotel. After resting a bit, I decided to walk to the nearest shopping centre to buy local cheese and coffee to take home. I initially planned to eat at the food court, only to discover it would not open until 5 PM. It was barely 3 PM, and I was starving.
On my way back, I stumbled upon a small restaurant with a terrace and decided to stop there instead. I ordered octopus fried rice and walnut cake. The rice was delicious, especially with the green chilli sauce they served on the side. The cake, I took away for later. But it was decadent.
Walnut cake
When I returned to the hotel, I noticed that the restaurant downstairs had been beautifully decorated for a wedding. Guests were already arriving dressed in elegant, colourful outfits. I even caught a glimpse of the bride when she arrived. She looked gorgeous. It felt like one of those random travel moments that stay with you for no particular reason.
The Final Night
After another few hours of rest, we all went back into town for our final dinner and music show. Our guide took us to a very popular venue called Quintal da Musica, which was already packed when we arrived. The crowd was older, stylish, and elegant. The band started with jazz before transitioning into lively Funaná music, which completely transformed the atmosphere.
At this point, though, I was exhausted. Half of our group looked tired, too. I was yawning through most of the evening despite genuinely enjoying the ambience. Since I was still full from my late lunch, I only ordered iced tea and cookie ice cream while everyone else ate dinner. Some members of the group later went clubbing, but I wisely chose sleep.
At 3 AM, our driver returned to pick us up for the airport. And just like that, our Cabo Verde adventure came to an end.
I really enjoyed my stay in Cabo Verde. I had a great time discovering this country, and I was not disappointed at all. I am eager to return with my family or even alone sometime soon. It is just an hour plane away. But next time, I would like to take my time to explore further and discover other islands such as Sal and São Vicente.
So tell me, have you ever been to Cabo Verde? And if yes, what places did you visit? Did you enjoy your stay there?
You can find more videos and pictures of my time in Praia by checking my TikTok.
Cheers!
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