On 23 November 2014, Pico do Fogo erupted for the first time in nearly twenty years. Over the following weeks, lava swallowed most of the two villages inside the crater, destroying homes, vineyards and the visitor centre. Remarkably, nobody died. Just as remarkably, the people moved back.
What happened in 2014
The eruption began from a vent on the flank of Pico do Fogo, inside the Chã das Caldeiras crater. The lava advanced slowly but relentlessly towards the villages of Portela and Bangaeira. Residents were evacuated in time, but over the following weeks the flows buried houses, the school, the winery and hectares of vineyard. Activity continued into February 2015.
Fogo has erupted many times since the islands were settled, and the crater community has always lived with that. What made 2014 different was how much had been built in the crater: guesthouses, a co-operative winery and a growing visitor economy, all of it in the path of the flow.
What you see today
The lava field is now the crater's defining feature: a vast expanse of black, jagged rock that swallows the old road and stops abruptly against the houses that survived. Roofs and walls protrude at odd angles where buildings were buried to the eaves. With a guide you can walk out onto the flow and stand above the buried village.
For many visitors this is more affecting than the summit climb: a landscape that is only a decade old, with a village living on its edge.
How the community rebuilt
The government initially discouraged resettlement, but the crater families, who had farmed this soil for generations, returned and rebuilt beside and on the new lava. Houses and guesthouses went up, a replacement winery opened and vines were replanted, partly in the fresh ash. Within a few years the wine was flowing again; see Fogo wine.
Staying a night in the crater, eating with a family and buying wine or coffee at source is the most direct way to support that recovery.
Visiting the lava field
- Go with a local guide. The surface is sharp and unstable in places, and a guide can point out what lies underneath.
- Wear sturdy shoes. Fresh lava destroys thin soles.
- Combine it with the summit. Most people climb Pico do Fogo at dawn and walk the lava field afterwards.
- Stay the night in the crater if you can: the light in the late afternoon and the silence after dark are the point.
- Follow local advice. The volcano is monitored, and guides know the current situation.
Guided volcano and crater tours
Prices, times and availability are shown on GetYourGuide. Many tours offer free cancellation.
Pico do Fogo summit hike
- Guided climb from Chã das Caldeiras
- About 3 hours to the top
- Fast descent on volcanic ash
Fogo island and crater tours
- Chã das Caldeiras and the lava fields
- Local guides
- Day trips from São Filipe
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Frequently asked questions
When did Fogo last erupt?
On 23 November 2014. Lava flowed for several weeks and activity continued into February 2015. It was the first eruption in nearly twenty years.
Did anyone die in the 2014 Fogo eruption?
No. Residents of Portela and Bangaeira were evacuated in time, although the lava destroyed most of both villages.
Is Fogo still dangerous?
Pico do Fogo is an active volcano and is monitored. Eruptions are infrequent and preceded by warning signs, and visiting the crater and climbing the summit are normal activities between eruptions.
Can you see the lava field today?
Yes. The 2014 flow dominates Chã das Caldeiras, and you can walk on it with a guide. Roofs and walls of buried buildings still protrude from the rock.
Do people live in the crater again?
Yes. The community returned and rebuilt beside and on top of the new lava, replanting vineyards and reopening guesthouses and a winery.
Is it safe to visit Chã das Caldeiras?
Yes, in normal conditions. Go with a local guide, stay off unstable lava and follow local advice; the authorities monitor the volcano.