6 Food & Drink Experiences in Cape Verde to Build a Day Around

1.Shark, Turtles, Cave, Sandboarding & Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 328 reviews · 4 hours - 270 minutes · from $70Our pick

Join guides such as Veronique, Joshua, or Gil for a half-day 4x4 trip across Boa Vista. You will sandboard at Morro de Arreia, look for turtles and lemon sharks, visit Varandinha caves and Santa Monica Beach, then sample grogue and ponche in Povoação Velha. Wildlife sightings depend on weather and nature.

“We were a group of 6, our guide Veronica made our tour fun. She’s so interactive and made us all feel so comfortable. The tour itself self was amazing, from start to finish. We would definitely recommend to anyone. Thank you Veronica and Gil for an awesome experience.”

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2.Turtle, Shark, Santa Monica, Sandboard & Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 228 reviews · 4 hours · from $76

Spend four hours crossing Boa Vista’s west coast in a 4x4 with guides such as Fredy, Evandro, Anna, and Cristiano. Sandboard at Morro de Areia, look for green turtles and lemon sharks, pause at Santa Monica Beach, then taste snacks, grogue, and pontche in Povoação Velha. Shark sightings depend on tide and sea conditions.

“We had a great day. The hosts were very nice, and had a lot of helpful information. We got to see the turtles and the sand boarding was a fun unique experience! Unfortunately we didn’t get to see any sharks but I’m still happy with the value for money! They also took lots of photos that are available to download.”

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3.Santa Maria City Tour & Cuscuz Tasting with a Local Family

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 50 reviews · 2 hours · from $41Best value

Spend two hours touring Santa Maria with a local guide such as Alejandro or Djibril. Visit the market, meet a Cape Verdean family for fresh cuscuz and fidjos, see Shells Beach and the salt pans, then finish at Ponta Preta. Hotel pickup, transport, and a small group of up to 10 are included.

“Adoramos tudo....desde saber um pouco da história de cabo verde, o passeio em si...e terminar em casa de uma família e ter para comer cuscus e fidgi feito na hora foi muito bom.”

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4.Like Locals: Praia and Cidade Velha Tour + Local Pontxi Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $63Top rated

Spend four to five hours exploring Praia and Cidade Velha with a local guide such as Ricardo, Gina, Alex, Maria, or Ivana. Visit markets, palaces, churches, a former slave market, and São Felipe Fortress, then taste local pontxi. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, with transfers by shared mini van.

“Visita cultural divertida e rica pela cidade velha, mercado e mercado sucupira. A guia Maria, o Cleber e os estagiários que a acompanharam proporcionaram um dia importante no conhecimento da cultura cabo-verdiana e contacto com a população local. Foi um prazer. Muito obrigada.”

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5.Fogo Volcano with Wine and Cheese Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 7 hours · from $100

Travel from São Filipe through Patim, Achada Furna, and Cabeça Fundão to Chã das Caldeiras National Park. With a guide such as Edmar, you’ll see 2014 lava, houses built from volcanic rock, local farms, and Fogo Volcano, then enjoy one included glass of Manecon homemade wine. Lunch is extra, and the tour may run shorter than seven hours.

“unser Guide Edmar hat uns einen wunderschönen Tag geschenkt.sehr gute Informationen gegeben.wi rkonnten uns sehr gut verständigen . Er ist außerordentlich sympathisch. Vielen Dank”

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6.Private Walking Tour with Local Food Tasting

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 4 reviews · 3h 30m · from $57

Let a local guide lead you through Mindelo’s markets, colonial center, Praca Estrela, Torre de Belem, and Cesaria Evora’s museum. You’ll taste goat cheese, corn cake, papaya jam, hibiscus tea, and couscous on a rooftop above the bay. Nelson is one guide named in guest feedback, though museum access can vary.

“Nelson, our guide, was great sharing details of local sights in Mindelo. But, also provided info about other Cape Verde islands. As part of the tour we tried local corn cake with goat cheese and papaya jam and delicious juices. We bought local favorite cachupa on our own at the Cafe. Always great to try local snacks.”

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