Monte Gordo Natural Park
A protected massif on Sao Nicolau holding the island's endemic plants and its highest ground.
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Monte Gordo rises to around thirteen hundred metres on São Nicolau and is the highest ground on the island, protected as a natural park since 2007. Its upper slopes catch cloud and hold a concentration of endemic plants, including the dragon tree and species found only in Cape Verde, and pine and eucalyptus were planted lower down to hold the soil. Marked trails climb from the surrounding villages to the summit.
What you actually see
- The summit - the highest ground on Sao Nicolau at around thirteen hundred metres.
- The endemic plants - species found only in the archipelago on the upper slopes.
- The dragon trees - the distinctive endemic tree surviving in the park.
- The marked trails - routes climbing from the villages to the top.
When to go
November to June is the dry season. Cloud on the summit is frequent. The greenest period follows the August and September rains.
Honest expectations
Cloud closes the summit views a great deal of the time. Trails are steep and marking is patchy. São Nicolau has limited transport and facilities.
Nearby
Ribeira Brava is east, and Carberinho is northwest.
What to pack for Monte Gordo Natural Park
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.