meet the cape verde team

Ian Coates

Following many years tour leading all over Africa, I worked for four years as operations manager for a specialist tour operator in the UK before starting Archipelago with my wife, Sarah.  As a keen walker, Cape Verde has been a revelation with some of the best walking I’ve done on Santo Antão, especially the hikes from village to village.

Sarah Bennett

After graduating from Cambridge University with a degree in Modern Languages, I spent several years as a tour manager leading adventure holidays worldwide before co-founding Archipelago. On my most recent trip to Cape Verde, I took my young children (3 and 1) to Sao Vicente, Santo Antão, Boavista and Sal. It was wonderful introducing them to such a colourful and different culture and seeing them scrabbling around in the dirt with the local children! They loved the people and bouncing around in the back of a jeep and my highlights were the dramatic Santo Antão mountains and the beautiful white beaches of Boavista.

Diane Shaw

Following my busy career as a legal executive, I followed my passion for travel and joined the Archipelago team.  I love the friendliness of the Cape Verde people and their wonderful music and one of the highlights for me is spending a night at Chã das Caldeiras inside the crater on Fogo island.

Jake Cardigan

After studying tourism and working for a large walking holiday company, I joined the Archipelago team.  In my spare time I enjoy walking and cycling and I also play cello in a local orchestra.  My most recent visit to Cape Verde was fantastic especially the dramatic walking on São Nicolão and the quad biking through the dunes on Boavista.

Gillon Hunter

For several years I worked as an assistant golf pro before moving to the south of France.  I now live in Keswick visiting Cape Verde regularly and am always impressed by the vibrant culture especially the music.  My recent canyoning trip on Santo Antão was a real adventure.