Sat, 08.11.2025: The tropical green Paúl Valley

A highlight is our hike through the tropical green Paúl Valley. The valley impresses with its lush vegetation, including mango trees, sugarcane, and dragon trees. A delicious lunch right by the sea rounds off the day. Transfer back to our eco-lodge. There is time for individual relaxation. Hike: Walking time 2-3 hours, +400 m / -600 m. Can be individually adjusted in consultation with the tour guide.

We awoke to the spectacular views from our rooms and enjoyed an excellent breakfast right by the sea. Our minibus driver brought us back through the hills to Ribeira Grande and then along the coast to the green valley of Paul for our next hike. The green consists largely of tropical crops of all kinds such as banana, mango, sugarcane, papaya and pepper. These are grown on the smallest of ledges reached by narrow rocky paths. Near the few simple dwellings there are also some decorative plants to be seen. In the photo, where I look a bit hot, I am chewing on sugar cane for the juice. The atmosphere is very humid and there are banks of mist higher up the valley. There is often some mist but the temperature was nevertheless 29 degrees. Transport of the harvests seems to be made by donkey. We were escorted by a young local guide who brought us safely back down to the road and lunch in a restaurant lower down the valley (not by the sea).

Later in the evening I was sitting next to him at dinner, his English being better than his German. I was explaining to him that many of the plants we had seen were indoor plants for us at home.