The 15 Hiking Tours in Santiago That Earn Their Price

1.Serra Malagueta: Principal Valley Hike & Lunch with Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 64 reviews · 7 hours · from $111Our pick

Spend seven hours crossing Serra Malagueta National Park on a moderate 4.5-kilometer downhill hike. You’ll pass streams, farms, mango, banana, and sugar cane plantations, then eat with a local family in Mato Dento. Guides may include Peter, Elton, or Katia, with English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish available.

“La guía Katia no explicó casi nada durante la excursión sobre el país, sus costumbres, sus fiestas locales, sus pueblos...la verdad, muy decepcionante. Se pasó toda la excursión hablando con el conductor, una mala experiencia sinceramente. La excursión muy cara para tener este pésimo servicio. Me gustó mucho la ruta de senderismo y la comida en la casa. No recomiendo esta excursión con vosotros, es mejor alquilarse un coche o buscar otra opción más profesional.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Santiago Island: Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 8 hours · from $106

Travel from Praia into Serra Malagueta Natural Park for a moderate 8.5-kilometer loop with a local guide, picnic, and wide mountain views. Guides such as Carlos, Elton, Americano, Elisanto, Elisandro, and Nail have led this outing. After roughly three hours on foot, you get time at Tarrafal Beach.

“I ended up being the only one attending the hike. So it was me, the guide and 2 trainees. The guide was very knowledgeable and all of the guys were very nice to spend time with. I booked the hike during the rainy season, so no views for me, but it was still a nicely spent day.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Baobab Mysterious Tree, Green Valley & Old City Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 4 hours · from $53Best value

Travel from Praia into Santiago’s countryside for a 4-kilometer guided walk through farms, fruit trees, and grogue-making areas. Look for the symbolic kingfisher, visit a 400-year-old baobab, and finish in UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha. Guides including Antonio, Alex, and Americio lead small groups in English, French, or Portuguese.

“It was a beautiful route. The car was very small and the guide could have told us a little more or waited for the last ones in the group, who often missed out on things. We had to wait a very long time for the bus to take us back!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Start with an easy, mostly downhill walk through Calabaceira Valley, where baobabs, sugar cane, mango, and banana fields fill an old escape route used during slavery. Then visit a local rum distillery and explore Cidade Velha, including its former slave market, church, convent, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish guides are available.

“Merci à Katia pour cette belle balade au milieu d'une nature luxuriante.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Monte Tchota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 43 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

Join a guide such as Elder for a demanding 9-km trek from Rui Vaz through cool, biodiverse Monte Txota Natural Park to 1,394-meter Pico D’Antónia. Expect 4 to 5 hours on narrow, tilted trails, a picnic stop, and views toward Santiago, Maio, and Fogo when the weather is clear.

“It was great, the end was though but overall a great exercise and worth it!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 5 hours · from $70

From Tarrafal, hike downhill through Serra Malagueta Natural Park to Principal Valley with a multilingual guide such as Alex, Ivana, or Luís. Learn about local plants, history, and daily life, then share a home-cooked meal with a local family. Expect slippery sections, mountain scenery, and a scenic return drive.

“Luìs est un super guide !! Il nous a permis d'en apprendre beaucoup sur l'histoire de son magnifique pays et particulièrement de Santiago. Grâce à lui nous avons pu faire la rencontre d'habitants très chaleureux et généreux. La randonnée est incroyable. Et le petit plus de Luìs au-delà de sa gentillesse et son authenticité est son niveau de français ! Mille mercis Luìs !”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Serra Malagueta Natural Park Hike & Relaxing Swim at Tarrafal Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $104Top rated

Leave Praia at 8:30 a.m. for a guided, moderate 8.5-kilometer loop in Serra Malagueta Natural Park. You will walk through high mountain scenery, look for Cape Verdean plant and bird species, then cool off at Tarrafal Beach. Transport, a picnic, and hotel pickup are included. Guides such as Afi and Alfonso are known for a friendly, flexible approach.

“The hiking part and visiting the most beautiful beach on the island called Tarrafal The tour guide was knowledgeable too”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Serra Malagueta Natural Park: Hike to Gongon Valley & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 22 reviews · from $106

Leave Praia by hotel pickup and start hiking Serra Malagueta at about 1,000 meters. Guide José or another multilingual guide leads you through endemic plants, mountain villages, Gongon Valley, and Hortelã Valley. Expect roughly 12.5 kilometers, four to five hours of walking, a local lunch, and a steep descent that calls for sturdy shoes and water.

“We had a wonderful and wonderful time with Cati, thank you for everything, it was unforgettable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Santiago Island: 4-Hour Calabaceira Valley Hike & Guided Tour to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $81

Travel from Praia into Calabaceira Valley for an easy, roughly 5-kilometer hike past farms, a giant baobab, and mountain scenery. Then explore Cidade Velha with a guide, visiting its churches, convent, old street, slave-market pillory, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. Guides have included Ailton and Maria. Pickup is provided.

“Hiking through the Calabeceira Valley was definitely the highlight of my trip to Cape Verde. It was the perfect combination of nature, culture, and history. I am also very grateful for my guide Maria, who made this experience especially memorable by sharing her knowledgRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Verdant Valley Hike & Lunch With Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 5 hours · from $82

From Tarrafal, you’ll drive 20 minutes to Serra Malagueta for a mostly downhill mountain hike with a local guide such as Ely. Expect native plants, birdlife, rural villages, and a home-cooked lunch in Principal Valley. Transport, guide, drinks, and hotel pickup are included. Allow 2 euros for the park entrance fee.

“Excellente journée avec un guide passionné et passionnant !”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Trek from Serra Malagueta to Rabelados Community

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $111

Travel from Praia to Serra Malagueta Natural Park for a demanding 11.5-kilometer hike through Cape Verde’s highlands. You’ll see endemic plants, birds, and wide views toward Assomada, Fogo, and Maio, then visit the Rabelados community. Guides may include Elisandro, Katia, Maria, Afi, Carlos, or Jeff.

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Hiking: Monte Tchota Natural Park – Pico D’Antónia (1394m) – Longueira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $98

Join local guides Cátia and Nilton for a demanding six-hour trip from Praia to Pico D’Antónia, Santiago’s 1,394-meter summit. Walk through Monte Tchota Natural Park, spot endemic plants and birds, enjoy a picnic with wide views, then descend through seasonal farms and Longueira’s mountain homes to meet a local family.

“Cátia (the guide) and Nilton (the driver) were both wonderful! They are passionate about their country and didn't hesitate answering all my questions and even gave me some nice recommendations. I felt safe at all times, they made sure we were keeping a steady pace but Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Longueira, Pico de Antónia & Monte Tchota Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · from $106

You’ll hike from Longueira toward Santiago’s 1,394-meter Pico de Antónia, visit a local grogue distillery, and finish in Monte Tchota Natural Park. Guides such as Ricardo, Djibril, and Admilson Garcia have led this route. Expect narrow, tilted paths, a picnic, island views, and a serious climb.

“Very nice hike, not easy especially the last meters which climb steeply. The very friendly guide as well as her trainee present today.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Private Hike through mountains and distant rural villages

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Travel from Praia to Rui Vaz for a 4 km downhill hike through eucalyptus forests, farms, and volcanic valleys. You’ll see Mount Pico Antonio, learn about Santiago’s plants and rural life, and finish in the isolated village of Longueira. Guides including José, Antonio, Orlando, and Maria lead in English, French, or Portuguese.

“Belle randonnée d’environ 1h de marche dans un sentier bien aménagé. José étais un excellent guide et nous beaucoup d’infos sur le Cap Vert. Visite de la distillerie et du petit village était super!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Hiking Pico de Antónia – Summit Adventure & Scenic Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

You’ll travel from your Santiago accommodation to Pico de Antónia, the island’s 1,394-meter summit, for a private half-day hike and wide views across Cape Verde. English guidance, pickup, and a mobile ticket are included. Ask if Edmilson is leading, as he is known for a passionate, professional approach.

“Great time great guys great share You can true the staff There are professionnal they do know how to have a really good time in this trekking”

Check availability →Read our full review