The Charles Darwin Experience
Félix Saint Aulaire, Baie de Praya, Ile San Iago (1830).
National Library of Portugal
Partir para viagem, no sentido que lhe estamos a dar neste itinerário, que é o de viver a novidade, é dispor de suficiente abertura de espírito para se ser confrontado com o desconhecido. É deixar-se viver a emoção da descoberta, e, ao mesmo tempo, tentar compreender o diferente.
The CHARLES DARWIN EXPERIENCE tourist and cultural itinerary is carried out exclusively by Sandymar Operador Turístico, revisiting Darwin's first stop, the place of his awakening.
CHARLES DARWIN EXPERIENCE includes all transport, accommodation and food infrastructure, with specialized tour guide, digital guide: interactive digital map and audio guide - itinerary book - Cape Verde: Darwin's Awakening. Charles Darwin's paths on the island of Santiago - souvenirs and merchandising.
A sensorial, emotional and cultural experience
'Some tropical forms can easily be imagined, either from hothouse specimens or from drawings, such as bananas; but I do not think any adequate idea of the beauty of oranges or cocoa Nut trees can be formed without actually seeing them on their own proper soil.' Charles Darwin
The expedition that retraces Charles Darwin's Paths on the island of Santiago covers 13 locations during the route, presenting visitors and tourists with the geographical and natural landmarks observed and inventoried by Darwin, combined with reports on a remarkable period in the history of the archipelago, between 1832 and 1836.
A route that starts in the city of Praia, passing through Ribeira Grande de Santiago and ending in São Domingos.
The offer of this tourist and cultural itinerary incorporates other components such as:
● Bus tours (sightseeing tour),
● Bike rides,
● Boat trips,
● Donkey rides,
● Tours following duly signposted routes allowing visitors some freedom and other means of transportation that enable them to
experience the destination's natural, cultural and historical sites.
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Reason and emotion, far from opposing each other, simultaneously stimulated Darwin's travel experience.
This is what we invite you to do.
1- Arrival Santiago
It was in this gloomy state of mind that Darwin, accompanied by Captain Fitzroy and his group of men, reached the shore, a few hours after they had dropped anchor in the bay. This was around 3 p.m., on the side of Praia Negra, to the east and not on the side of Praia de Santa Maria or Praia Branca, i.e., to the southeast.
2- Young Charles Darwin
Art Director
3- Quartel Jaime Mota
On the plateau of Santa Maria, known as Plateau, Charles Darwin visited the Square of
Pelourinho (now Praça Alexandre Albuquerque), the Residence of
Governor and the Consulate American.
4- Praça de Pelourinho
(Alexandre Alburquerque Park
On the plateau of Santa Maria, known as Plateau, Charles Darwin visited the Square of Pelourinho (now Praça Alexandre Albuquerque), the Residence of Governor and the Consulate American.
5- Fonte Ana (Taiti)
In Fonte Ana, the watering hole that gave historical importance to Vila da Praia, Darwin marveled at the lush vegetation that existed there, made up of a multitude of species of tropical plants.
6- Ilheu de Santa Maria
On this islet, which Darwin called Quail Island, the naturalist applied, for the first time, the then recent Principles of Geology. This island constitutes Charles Darwin's first research field.
7- Monte Vermelho
On the day Charles Darwin visited Mt. Vermelho, one of the geological matrices of the island of Santiago, he took the decision to be a writer.
8- Ribeira Grande
Na Ribeira Grande de Santiago, primeira cidade europeia nos trópicos, hoje Cidade Velha, Património Mundial da Humanidade, Darwin visitou a Igreja da Nossa Senhora do Rosário, a Sé Catedral e o Hospital e Igreja da Misericórdia.
O vale luxuriante também impressionou o naturalista.
9- Trindade
Darwin saw, for the first time, the Baobab in Trindade, a gigantic and centenary tree, which greatly impressed him, to the point of revisiting it on his 2nd trip.
10- São Domingos
In Ribeira de S. Domingos, Darwin confirmed the volcanic nature of Cabo Verde and collected biological and geological pieces that greatly contributed to the scientist's research.