Your adventure begins at 4pm, at the port of Palmeira on the easterly island of Sal. Sal is renowned for its white-sand beaches and for having 350 days of sunshine a year. You’ll be welcomed on board with a dinner and safety briefing, before setting sail for the island of Boa Vista overnight. 

Arrive bright and early at Sal Rei, which is yours to explore for the day. Known for its beautiful beaches, turtles and traditional music, the island of Boa Vista has some amazing landscapes to discover. Stay on the beach, or choose to join an all-day optional excursion to tour colourful villages and farms, meet local ceramic artisans and stop for lunch at a traditional restaurant. Climb back aboard and you’ll begin the overnight sail towards Santiago Island.

Wake in the waters of Praia on Santiago, the largest island in the archipelago. After a leisurely morning and lunch on board, join an optional afternoon excursion to Cidade Velha, the oldest town in Cape Verde and once a centre of the slave trade. Founded in 1462 and now a Unesco World Heritage site, this historic town possesses a hilltop fortress, cobbled town square and the oldest colonial church in the world, all dating from the 15th and 16th century. A sunset drink and dinner await back on the ship – tonight you’ll sail north to Fogo.

Enjoy breakfast with a view of the towering Pico do Fogo, which rises nearly 3,000m (9,843ft) above sea level. This peak is the youngest and most active volcano in the Cape Verde islands, and its slopes are used to grow coffee. Your optional excursion of the day will take you up to the crater edge, where you’ll have lunch in the small village of Chã das Caldeiras, which sits inside the caldera. Then it’s off to visit the island capital, São Filipe, known for its colonial architecture. Tonight’s sail will take you to the distant island of São Vicente.

São Vicente is the cultural capital of the islands; step ashore today for an optional walking tour of Mindelo, its biggest city, filled with galleries, restaurants and cobblestone streets. Situated in a natural harbour and surrounded by low mountains, Mindelo is the place to immerse yourself in Cape Verdean culture – listen to morna, visit the National Museum of Handicrafts and explore the colonial 19th-century buildings. You’ll sleep tonight in port. 

Set sail early towards nearby Santo Antão, the westernmost and greenest of all the Cape Verde islands. The northeast corner is dominated by tropical plants and a forest of pine; this is the most popular spot on the archipelago for hikers. Join the optional full-day excursion to Paul valley to traverse these beautiful landscapes and for the chance to taste grogue, the potent national drink, and travel on to the green valley of Ribeira das Patas. Dine on the boat and spend the night in port. 

Start with an optional half-day excursion to the southwest shores of Santo Antão for a volcano safari, which will take you into the mountainous landscapes, through volcanic rock formations and to isolated villages. This afternoon, the ship will part the Atlantic waters and carry you back towards the island of Sal.

Arrive early back in the port of Palmeira, Sal, and disembark at 9am after breakfast. The tour ends here, so say goodbye to your new-found friends; you can either explore Cape Verde more or head back home with plenty of wonderful memories.