Cape Verde · SANTIAGO TOURS
The biggest island is also the least resort-like: a working capital, the first colonial town in the tropics at Cidade Velha, and a mountain road north to Tarrafal. These 15 sort the day trips by length, price and how much driving each one is.
Spend 7 to 8 hours crossing Santiago from Praia with a local guide such as Ricardo, Ivana, Elton, or Alex. Taste cuscuz and fidjós with a Cape Verdean family, visit Assomada Market on Wednesdays or Saturdays, stop in Serra Malagueta, swim at Tarrafal Beach, and return along the east coast.
“The guides and driver were very nice. We had a great time and I recommend it 100%!”
Travel from Praia across Santiago with a small group of up to eight people. Visit Assomada Market, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal Beach, Pedra Badejo, and coastal villages, with local guides such as Alex, José, Bravo, or Antonio sharing island stories, food, music, and daily life.
“Very friendly guide. Came on time, give a lot opportunities to take pictures. Told us a lot about local culture. Even showed us very interesting spot which was not showed on description (the former portuguese concentration camp, very reccomended to visit). Transportation was very good and the place where the guide suggested to have a lunch was amaizing. Also we had enough time to swim on the beautiful beach of Tarrafal. We highly recommend this tour! :)”
Leave your cruise ship in Praia for a seven-hour Santiago Island tour with a guide such as Juan or Zanthony. Visit mountain villages, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal beach, and a local family home for batuco and morna music, dancing, cooking, and tasting. Transport, port transfers, and swim time are included.
“gut , länger als geplant ,hätte es für uns nicht gebraucht”
Spend about eight hours crossing Santiago with pickup in Praia, a small group of up to 15, and guides such as Alex, Maria, Ricardo, and Ivana. Cook cuscuz and fidjós with Mama Luisa, visit Assomada Market, stop in Serra de Malagueta, swim at Tarrafal Beach, and return along the east coast.
“The tour guides were amazing and so lovely. They had a lot of knowledge and were able to answer any questions we asked. The whole process was very professional and easy to book so I would highly recommend anyone using this company!”
Spend five hours touring Santiago Island from Praia Port with a German-speaking guide such as Louisa or Luise. You will visit Picos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, Calheta, Santa Cruz, and Praia, with a Batuque dance session and scenic stops along the way. Transport, port pickup, and drop-off are included, but food and drinks are not.
“Rund um hat es meine Erwartungen sehr gut erfüllt.”
Spend two hours in Praia’s Plateau and market area, then travel to UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha for Banana Street, Pelourinho Square, churches, cathedral ruins, and Fortaleza Real de São Filipe. Guides including Amerigo and Walter lead the tour in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, or German. Hotel and harbor pickup are included.
“Ofrece una visión completa de la capital y alrededores, recomendable para hacerte una idea de la ciudad”
From Praia, visit Santa Cruz’s large banana and coconut plantation, then cook cuscuz and fidjós with a local family in Orgãos. Guides such as Bamba, Carlos, Katia, and Ericson share island stories in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. The four-hour trip also includes Monte Txota scenery and hotel transport.
“This was so much fun! I was the only one attending the trip (as it’s off season) and I had 2 guides and 1 driver with me. Everyone was super nice and fun to talk to. Always ensuring that everything was fine, helping me walk through the plantation. Highly recommended, one of the best trips I have been on, mainly due to the guides.”
Spend three hours exploring Cidade Velha from Praia with a local guide in English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Walk from São Filipe Fortress to the cathedral ruins, Pelourinho, Banana Street, São Francisco Convent, and a black-sand beach. Guides including Yvonne, Ricardo, Ailton, and Andrew have led past tours.
“This tour was excellent! Having a guide for Ciadade Velha was a must for us since there is so much history it’s hard to understand what you’re seeing without one. Yvonne was knowledgeable, friendly and patient with our group. I highly recommend this guide and especially Yvonne!”
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.”
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.”
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!”
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.”
From Praia, travel to Ribeira da Barca for a traditional fishing boat ride along Santiago’s volcanic coast. You’ll visit Pilon de Achada Leite, swim or snorkel in Águas Belas cave when conditions allow, and eat a fish BBQ on a black-sand beach. Guides may include KID, Cátia, or Dany. The boat costs an extra 25 EUR per person locally.
“Our driver and guide were great. Activity said snorkeling but there were 6 people and 3 snorkels. The swimming and snorkeling were over the side of the boat in the cave we only stayed for about 15 mins. The current was a bit rough and it was only large rocks to see. BBQ was tasty but beach is very rocky (recommend water shoes) and dirty with no good place to sit. Does seem typical. Overall trip was great but felt expensive.”
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!”
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 !”
Pick an island, a boat or a kitchen.
