Chronicle of a journey through volcanic pebbles, frank smiles and dizzying light
An archipelago that goes against conventional wisdom
Cape Verde is unlike any other archipelago. Volcanic, raw and vibrant, it floats between Africa and the Atlantic, between Lusophone melancholy and solar energy.
In June 2025, travel agents were invited to a exploration trip organised by the DMC Atlanturin partnership with Cabo Verde Airlines. A famtrip on three islands, designed to enable a group of tourism professionals to discover, understand and experience this "little country" in a sincere way, far from clichés.
What could have been a technical visit turned into a a profound human and sensory experience.

Mindelo, Santo Antão, Sal: three islands, three faces
The trip began at Mindeloon the island of São Vicente. A musical port city, it is immediately reminiscent of Cesária Évora. Its colourful facades, nonchalant atmosphere and small restaurants on the pavements make for a gentle introduction to the city.
Then comes Santo Antão Monumental, steep and mineral. You get there by ferry. Once there, it's a different world. Winding roads suspended over ravines, intensely green valleys carpeted with tropical crops, villages clinging to the mountainside.
"Santo Antão is the unexpected green in a country that was said to be arid. Silence speaks louder than many a tale.
Finally, the island of Sal closes the route in seaside mode: beach hotels, fishing villages, salt in the air, sun on the skin. The contrast with the previous days is total - and necessary. A softer breath to integrate all that has been experienced.
This Famtrip would not have had this flavour without the meticulous work by the Atlantur team.
Under the impetus of Benoît Vilainfounder and Cape Verdean enthusiast, the itinerary was conceived not as a commercial showcase, but as a way of getting to know Cape Verde. meeting route.
Varied accommodation, well thought-out timing, local meals, authentic encounters... nothing has been left to chance, and everything has been calibrated to convey more than just a product: an atmosphere, a way of being, a philosophy.
"Benoît didn't just show us the islands. He made us feel them. He put his heart into it, and that changes everything."

A group, a chemistry
One of the strengths of this trip was also the chemistry of the group. Twenty or so professionals - agents, production managers, communicators - from France, Belgium and elsewhere, all driven by the same curiosity. All driven by the same curiosity.
And before long, it was more than just a group: it was a short-lived tribe, supportive, funny and caring.
The laughter shared around the tables, the discussions on the trails, the evening anecdotes over a grogue or a hibiscus juice were as memorable as the scenery.
"It wasn't a journey. It was a suspended moment. You don't experience that twice.

The sodade, a persistent echo
On their return, many speak of a lack. A vague feeling that sticks to the skin.
Cape Verde calls this sodade - that gentle melancholy, that luminous nostalgia.
And it seems to have touched everyone.
"I wasn't suggesting Cape Verde. This trip has changed my perspective. Now I know exactly who to ask.
An invitation to rethink travel
Through this operation, Atlantur has brilliantly demonstrated that the famtrip can once again become what it should always be a field experiencedemanding, rich and human.
Not a series of visits, but an immersion experience orchestrated with intelligence and passion.
Cape Verde is not sold as a traditional destination. It is shared.
And Atlantur has orchestrated this sharing to perfection. All that remains is for us to pass on this energy and poetry to those who trust us to dream.
Find out more about Atlantur