Fogo

Fogo (Eng.: "fire") is one of the Cape Verde Islands in the Atlantic. It is part of the Cape Verde archipelago Ilhas de Sotavento (Eng.: "Leeward Islands") and lies east of the islands Brava and west of Santiago. The Pico do Fogo is with 2,829 m the second highest mountain in the Atlantic and dominates the island, which has a diameter of about 26 km. The seabed here is about -5,300 m, making the cone then measuring approximately 8,100 meters from base to tip. The cone rises about 1,000 m above the valley of a former volcano called Chã de Caldeiras. On the flank of Pico do Fogo, the last active Pico Pequeno has risen in eruptions of 1995 and 2014/2015. The Caldeira, framed by the Bordeira and dominated by Pico do Fogo forms a worldwide unique volcanic ensemble.

Regions
Fogo is separated into three main regions:
 * 1) The dry southwest including the island's capital Saõ Filipe.
 * 2) The otherworldly Chã das Caldeiras volcano valley including the 2829m volcano peak Pico de Fogo.
 * 3) The north-east above Mosteiros. A fruitful cloud forest is here by the rising north-east trade winds. In the heights, especially at night it can be quite chilly.

Cities
The charming main town of São Filipe (approximately 8,300 inhabitants) with its Sobrado colonial architecture is worth exploring for a day or so on your way through. It is the largest town of the island, and the regional capital of Fogo. All essential purchases are available here. There is a museum with exhibits on the culture and volcanism.

Mosteiros is a smaller town with about 5,000 inhabitants in the north-east of the island.

The remaining villages are small.

Get in
Transportation to and from Fogo is similar to the transport between the other islands of Cape Verde. Consult the main article for detailed information.

Get around
You have the following possibilities to go around Fogo:

Do
In essence, Fogo is an island for hiking and trekking. The main hiking possibilities are:

There are two possibilities to swim on the island:

Occasionally music events take place in the Tropical Club and Pipis Bar.

Eat
Mainly it is served freshly landed fish and chicken. Beef or pork (as well as fresh meat or in processed form (sausages, ...)) is very rare. In smaller convenience stores you can find everything important for your daily needs. In the two-story indoor market are fruits, vegetables and fish offered as well as various small items like T-shirts, leather goods from West Africa and minor services in the upper floor.

Lactose-free products are still unknown. Otherwise, the food is probably good for many allergy sufferers, because fewer highly processed products are offered. However, one can also find these now already.

At Cafe Fixe is prepared an original Cachupa, a must have tasted meal. It is a bean-corn stew with fish or chicken.

Drink
Try the Fogo wine (red, white or rose) of the caldeira and the strong red wine called manecon.

You find some exotic fruit drinks.

Water from the main seemed to be sufficient hygienic.

Stay safe
Given in the day time, unless isolated areas (especially on the beach) are visited. At night in most areas of Sao Filipe. A local guide promotes the objective and subjective safety.

On the beach at Sao Filipe, one should not leave any closed containers (bags, boxes, backpacks, etc.) unattended. It is best to roll all your commodities in a towel, then there is no speculation. Due to lack of shopping facilities on the beach you do not need any money.