The 15 Best Hikes in Cape Verde

1.Fogo Island: Pico do Fogo Volcano Summit Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 92 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $51Our pick

You’ll hike Pico do Fogo for 3 to 4 hours with a local guide such as Nezito or Junior, then enjoy 360-degree views before racing down the soft volcanic ash toward Chã das Caldeiras. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and a multilingual guide are included. Bring water, sturdy hiking boots, and fitness for a demanding climb.

“It was a really nice hike. I definitely recommend bringing water and hiking boots. The walk down is super fun. Sliding down an ash field is very cool”

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2.Day Trip by Car or Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $104Top rated

Travel from Mindelo to Santo Antão by ferry, then cross mountain roads with a local guide such as Madu or Danny. See Pico da Cruz, Cova Crater, Delgadinho, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol, Paúl, and a grogue distillery. Choose a scenic car tour or ask about a walk or trek.

“Los que me escapé por mi cuenta. Parecía que iba a ser una excursión particular, para dos. Sólo cuando estaba pagada aparecía la posibilidad de que ese formara un grupo de 8 personas. La vendian como excursión en español. Resultó bilingüe, conmigo como único hRead more”

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

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

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.”

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4.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.”

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

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

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!”

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6.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.”

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7.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!”

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8.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 !”

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9.Guided Coastal Hike & Monte Leão Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 4 hours · from $58

Start at 3 pm at Ponta Preta Beach and follow a guided coastal route toward Monte Leão. You’ll visit Calheta Funda and Murdeira, tackle varied ground and a moderate climb, then watch the sunset above the sea. Antonio Dias may lead your hike, with a support pickup truck available if you need a rest.

“Belle randonnée, guide professionnelle. nous avons passé un très bon moment. Et le coucher de soleil... waouh... nous en avons pris plein les yeux”

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10.Hiking Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 5 hours · from $100

This five-hour hike takes you from Cova Natural Park, above 1,000 meters, down a zigzag trail into Paul Valley. Your guide explains local plants, farming, legends, and mountain life, then brings you to a traditional distillery for a taste of Grogue. Guides may include Lea, Maira, Ravi, Riva, or Edy. Hotel pickup is included.

“I'm Extremely disappointed with the way that Bu Country Tours handled my booking! I confirmed an updated pick up location the day before my scheduled tour, only to find out on the actual tour day that the people in the office had neglected to notify the tour guides. What resulted from that mess up was that both me and the poor tour guides (Lea and Maira) were trying in vain to locate each other via Whatsapp for 2 hours. The person from the Bu Country Tour office that I spoke to on the day kept telling me that my tour guides were gonna head back to pick me up at…”

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

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

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”

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12.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.”

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13.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”

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14.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 !”

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15.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.

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