Hiking the Pico Pequeno at Fogo Island, Cape Verde

The ascent to Pico Pequeno on Fogo Island, in Cape Verde, was an excellent surprise.

The hike, initially unremarkable, turned out to be pleasantly surprising with stunning views and unique geological features.

Before the preparation

Before proceeding with this text, I have to explain the following: 

• • Chã das Caldeiras is a village located in the crater of the large volcano on Fogo Island, at approximately 2000 meters above sea level, where I planned to stay for two nights. 
  • Pico Pequeno is a small volcanic cone that, like Chã das Caldeiras, is located within the crater of the island’s large volcano and where the lava resulting from the 2014 eruption was expelled.

During the preparation

My main goal in staying two nights in Cha das Caldeiras was to ascend the Pico Grande volcano at 2829 meters. 

I would increase the chances of this ascent by staying in Cha das Caldeiras for two nights. 

Thus, I would have three days and two nights, and spending one day on the ascent of Pico Grande, two days would remain to fill.

I decided that the hike to the top of Pico Pequeno would take place on the first day since it was between the point where the taxi would drop us off and Cha das Caldeiras.

The trail to ascend Pico Pequeno

The trail to ascend Pico Pequeno starts where the old road that gave access to Cha das Caldeiras ends. 

Nowadays, this road is unusable because it was interrupted by three meters of lava expelled during the 2014 eruption.

There is no technical difficulty to consider in this ascent. The trail is clear and constantly and gradually uphill. 

When we reach the top of this volcanic cone, we have to surround it from the top if we want to go to Cha das Caldeiras and/or if we want to have a privileged view into the volcanic cone from where the aforementioned lava was expelled.

At the highest point, there were two aspects that caught my attention and that I had not anticipated:

• • the beautiful rock formations rich in sulfur,
  • and the secondary volcanic reactions manifested through the release of vapors so hot that it made it impossible to sit on the ground to have a snack.

Named Pico Pequeno, this peak makes the nearby large volcano appear gigantic when viewed from here.

Nevertheless, as we are at an altitude that allows us to have a wide view of the large crater.

The descent, although steep and requiring extra attention, does not present major difficulties.

The trail is approximately 6.5 kilometers long with 300 meters of accumulated positive elevation gain.

If you have the opportunity to hike here, I hope you enjoy it.

Carpe diem,

David Monteiro