Cape Verde's highest peak (2829m/9382ft), the conical, cinder-clad Mt Fogo, rises dramatically out of the floor of an ancient crater known as Chã das Caldeiras. A scenic, cobbled road, punctuated by hamlets with lava block houses, encircles the island.
It's still an active volcano and last erupted in 1995, yet intrepid farmers raise coffee and wine grapes on its black slopes. The volcano's cone remains intact and can still be climbed. However, you'll need a good pair of boots and a guide as the slopes are covered in slippery cinders. The taxing ascent takes three to four hours, but the view from the top is magnificent. Afterwards, it's a gentle trot to get back down.
