Fontainhas, village in Cape Verde
Fontainhas is a small fishing village on the coast of Ribeira Grande in Cabo Verde. The settlement features low-rise houses clustered closely together and crossed by narrow, winding paths that lead down to the water.
The village emerged as a fishing settlement during the early days of the colonized islands to exploit coastal resources. Over time, the community developed into a stable place with its own character despite its remote location.
The settlement reflects the traditions of those who built it as a fishing and trading hub. Walking through its narrow streets today shows how the ocean remains central to how people here live and work.
The village is easy to explore on foot since everything is close together and within reach. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes because the paths are uneven and sometimes steep.
The village preserves an old building method where houses were constructed into the steep rocky coastline without modern techniques. This approach reveals how inhabitants adapted to the difficult landscape across generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.