Cabo Verde/Fogo: Climbing Pico do Fogo Volcano

And the main event on Cabo Verde – climbing Pico do Fogo, the island’s imposing volcano rising to 2829 meters (9281 feet) above the Atlantic Ocean. The hike starts in early morning from about 1500 meters level of the large caldera and then you climb another 1500 meters up (4500 feet). It’s a steep adventure mostly involving either trying not to slide down the scree or rock scrambling up. The closer you get to the top, the steeper it gets. You a re way way above the clouds and the panoramic views are incredible. Once at the top – you can gaze into the smaller caldera deep inside the Pico do Fogo. It’s still steaming as the volcano is active (although the most recent eruption of 2014 was from a divergent vent – Pico Pequeno at the bottom of the big peak). First mountain climb of 2016 and another volcano bagged!