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Vega
Dakar to Santa Cruz
Overview
Island hop around Spain and Portugal’s Atlantic islands and discover idyllic beaches and dramatic volcanic landscapes. Board our boutique expedition ship in exotic Dakar, Senegal on this 8-night Atlantic Islands - Cape Verde & Canary Islands and take the opportunity to explore the impressive scenery of the verdant islands with craggy cliffs, moonlike deserts and green valleys thick with pine, laurisilva and laurel forests. Once stepping stones for Spanish and Portuguese merchants heading to the New World, these archipelagos with their subtropical climate became outposts for early sugarcane and coffee production. Voyage with us and visit islands with unspoilt scenery and rich cultural history before ending your cruise in the capital of Tenerife, Santa Cruz.
Departures
Cruise Itinerary
With fabulous museums, a thriving art scene and elegant seaside dining, the capital city showcases a rich Senegalese culture and a forward-looking spirit. Discover the city’s traditional side in Medina, a bustling quarter of mosques, tea shops, and street markets. French influences remain in many aspects of city life, from architecture to food. Local mbalax music dominates a vibrant nightlife scene. Traditional crafts like wood carvings and glass paintings are easily found at the Soumbédioune market – the best place to shop for souvenirs.
You can spend your day at sea enjoying the many facilities available. Head to the sauna, get in a workout in the state-of-the-art gym or relax in the jacuzzi whilst taking in incredible views along the way. If you prefer to learn a little more about your surroundings, listen to an informative talk or have a chat with one of our knowledgeable on-board experts.
The old colonial town of Sao Filipe is the capital of idyllic Fogo Island. Known as the island of fire, the highlight is Fogo Volcano, the highest mountain in Cape Verde. Visit the island’s smattering of charming rural villages and then hike up to the summit of the volcano taking in the view from the Chã das Caldeiras National Parkand. The best way to wrap things up is with a visit to a coffee plantation or a delicious local wine and cheese tasting.
The small town of Porto Novo, with traditional colourful houses, is a good base to explore further afield. The relatively untouched island of Santo Antao arguably offers Cape Verde’s best hiking, where green peaks meet fertile craters, gorges and precarious-looking cliff-hanging towns. Experience the true wonder of this island paradise with a tour of the sugar cane plantations, caves, grogue distilleries (Cape Verde’s national drink, a type of sugar cane rum) and typical villages in their rugged mountain setting.
A veritable beach lover’s paradise awaits visitors to Sal Island, perhaps Cape Verde’s most popular destination. The island’s main resort, Santa Maria, is lined with long expanses of golden sand beaches with most of the island’s bars, beachfront shops and seafood restaurants. Take in a little local history in the town of Pedra de Lume in the north west corner of the island, home to salt flats which once boomed here for centuries.
Sea days are rarely dull. Take the time to sit back and let the world go by. The ship’s observation decks provide stunning views of the passing ocean. A day at sea gives you the opportunity to mingle with other passengers and share your experiences of this incredible trip or head to our library which is stocked full of reference books. Get an expert’s view in one of our on-board lectures or perhaps perfect your photography skills with invaluable advice from our onboard professional photographers.
El Hierro, the smallest of the eight main Canary Islands, is a rarely visited volcanic island in the middle of the Atlantic with unspoilt beaches, a perfect climate and clear night skies. Divers flock here to make the most of ideal conditions and stunning underwater landscapes. Walkers come to enjoy lush forests of pine and laurisilva trees, steep cliffs and natural pools, while gourmands come for the outstanding wines and gastronomy produced in this biosphere reserve.
The Canary Islands’ second smallest island, La Gomera is a volcanic paradise crisscrossed with hiking trails. Hike your way through the Garajonay National Park and the vast rainforest of El Cedro to discover one of the world’s largest laurel woods, past ferns and moss-decked trees. In the west, near the picturesque village of the same name, the mighty Valle Gran Rey canyon leads past the whitewashed cliffside village of La Calera and ends at black-sand Atlantic beaches.
Discover the island that beguiled Agatha Christie when she arrived in 1927 and wander the old town of Santa Cruz, Tenerife’s capital. Head inland and visit the world’s third largest volcano, the other-worldly 3,700 m Mount Teide, surrounded by desert with a wild beauty. The volcanic slopes make excellent terroir for quality wines. Visit the spot where Nelson lost his arm in 1797 in the world’s first city laid out in a grid, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, with charming 16th-century pastel mansions and wooden balconies.
Itineraries are subject to change.
Vega
Vessel Type: Luxury Expedition / Cruise Ship Length: 115 metres Passenger Capacity: 152 Built: 2020-2021-2022 Our brand new ship has been designed to journey to off the beaten path destinations and remote polar regions in style and comfort. The ship incorporates a PC5 ice-strengthened hull combined with extra-large stabilisers to make your journey as smooth as possible. Sophisticated Elegance. We know how important outdoor space is, so our spacious, relaxing public spaces provide wide open, unobstructed views throughout the ship. The destination will always be in view. Your Wellbeing. The safety & happiness of our guests is paramount to our 120-strong crew on board as well as our passionate expedition team who'll be serving up thrilling shore excursions and lasting memories. Cabin Types. Our 76 cabins including 6 suites have all the amenities you will need to feel comfortable including dressing gowns, hairdryers, personal safes and minibars. Our stylish cabins all have desks, a dressing area and comfy seating. En suite bathrooms all feature glass-enclosed rain showers.
Highlights
• Hike to the summit of Fogo Volcano, an active caldera on Fogo Island • Try a glass of grogue, Cape Verde’s national drink made from sugar cane • Witness the breathtaking, pristine scenery of Santo Antao Island • Explore the rarely visited Canary Island of El Hierro • Hike among one of the world’s largest laurel woods in Garajonay National Park on Gomera
Map