5 Reasons to Add Fogo Island to Your Bucket List

If there’s one reason Fogo Island has captured the attention of the wider world, it’s certainly thanks to a certain striking inn that has caught the eye of more than a few design lovers. But it’s not only those with a penchant for architecture and good hospitality who are drawn here. There’s something more organic at play, something that has a way of tugging at heartstrings from near and far.

The Inn was created with a deep commitment to the community around it, with an intentional approach to ensuring that its presence contributes to the local economy rather than operating separately from it. The result is a fixture that doesn’t feel imposed upon the island or its people. Instead, it begins with what’s already here: the landscape, the traditions, the skills and the people. 

There’s a natural symbiosis to it all. The Inn offers a way for visitors to experience Fogo Island as it truly is, while connecting visitors to the very people who make this island what it is. 

On Fogo Island, locals aren’t simply playing a part for those who come from away — they live and breathe the culture, stories, traditions and rhythms of island life. There are 11 distinct communities across Fogo Island, each with its own character and stories to tell. And for those wanting a genuine inside look at island life, Fogo Island Inn’s Community Host program offers a wonderfully personal introduction.

Guests are paired with a local community member who becomes their guide to the island by sharing its culture, history and traditions while visiting community sites along the way. There are stops at local craft shops, museums and other places of intrigue that reveal the island through the eyes of someone who calls it home.

It’s more than sightseeing; it’s a chance to meet the people, hear the stories and experience the island as a community. What a welcome.

Booking a stay at Fogo Island Inn means guests get access to a host of included activities and looking at the list of options, it’s tough to choose just one. From foraging workshops and traditional boil-up lunches to ice fishing and jam and jelly making, there is no shortage of ways to connect to the island through its food traditions. What better way to learn about where you are than through the activities that make up daily life throughout the seasons. 

Beyond the seemingly endless number of activities on offer, a series of special events brings guests together through the unique context of the island. Often featuring visiting chefs, such as Jeremy Charles from the mainland, or artists from across Canada, these gatherings offer a chance to experience something truly distinctive by anchoring it to a particular time and place. In doing so, they add another layer of novelty and meaning to the experience.

At the helm of the culinary team is Executive Chef Tim Charles, who sources ingredients as close to the Inn as possible. Guided by what is available from local producers, fishermen, foragers and the island’s gardens, the menu is a true reflection of Fogo Island’s seasons and flavours. With all meals included during your stay—from breakfast and dinner to packed lunches for your adventures—you’ll have the opportunity to experience the island through its food and discover what Fogo Island has to offer.

Visit the island’s gardens and root cellars to see firsthand the traditional methods Fogo Islanders and Newfoundlanders have used for generations to preserve the vegetables they grow through the long, cold winter months. These enduring food traditions are an important part of island life and offer a glimpse into the resourcefulness, knowledge and deep connection to place that continue to shape Fogo Island’s culinary culture.