Le Bougainville, 10 Night Volcanic landscapes from Canary Islands to Cape Verde ex Gran Canaria (Las Palmas), Canary Islands to Dakar, Seneg

Between the volcanic archipelagos of Cape Verde and the Canary Islands, PONANT invites you an unforgettable 11-day interlude, leaving from Las Palmas. This journey aboard Le Bougainville will take you into the heart of uniquely and wildly beautiful landscapes, featuring majestic volcanos, lush green valleys, isolated inlets, verdant cliffs and historic cities with multiple sources of heritage.

Throughout your journey, you will benefit from an excursion included per person per port of call, to choose from a selection offered by PONANT. During this cruise, wander the virgin expanses of the island of Santo Antão from Mindelo, explore the Garajonay National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from La Gomera, or discover the historic town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The diversity of experiences on offer promises you intense and varied moments.

Your cruise will begin on the island of Gran Canaria in Las Palmas, where Le Bougainville will take to the sea, sailing west to reach the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura. In Puerto del Rosario, you will be able to admire the old town and its Canarian-style houses protected by high walls, the narrow streets and the long, sandy beach.

Your ship will then drop anchor at Lanzarote, or the Island of Fire. This inspiring, enigmatic and mysterious island reveals itself in a captivating setting composed of majestic peaks, volcanic vineyards and pristine national parks. It is also renowned for its many volcanic tunnels and caves offering unique moments in a fascinating underground world.

Then your ship will take to the sea, sailing east to reach Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In these lands of a thousand contrasts, dominated by the emblematic silhouette of the Teide stratovolcano, discover the unique and fascinating landscapes found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Teide National Park.

Le Bougainville will then drop anchor at La Gomera. This tiny island with lush vegetation is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its biosphere reserve. This island is also renowned for its whistling language, Silbo, that the inhabitants use to communicate from one valley to another.

Le Bougainville will then sail further south, heading for Cape Verde. On the Islands, formed from volcanic lava and sculpted by the power of the Atlantic’s waves, you will experience the raw beauty of incomparable nature. Soft music rises from Mindelo, the music of Cesária Évora, “the Barefoot Diva”, who is inextricably linked to her island and her town, where she remains revered. The pastel colours of the façades and the former colonial buildings dot the Cape Verdean towns and villages that you will discover from the sea. Then, you will explore Praia, the capital of Cape Verde with its diverse influences, planted with tamarind and silk trees. Wherever you go, you will be captivated by the markets with their bright colours and fragrance-filled stalls.

The final port of call of this journey is Dakar, the Senegalese capital renowned for the appeal of its districts and its diverse natural environment.