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Santiago Highlights: Culture, Cuisine, and Nature Tour
4.8
127 Ratings
Praia
Discover Santiago Island’s highlights on this full-day tour. Experience a workshop with a local family, visit a vibrant market, and relax at Tarrafal beach.
Discover Santiago Island’s highlights on this full-day tour. Experience a workshop with a local family, visit a vibrant market, and relax at Tarrafal beach.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Praia - Begin your journey with a pickup from your accommodation, then set off towards the island’s interior.
- São Lourenço dos Órgãos - Your first stop is at Mrs. Luisa’s home, where you can learn to prepare and enjoy cuscuz (a traditional cake made from corn flour) and fidjós (fried banana mixed with wheat), a typical breakfast for Cape…
- Praia - Begin your journey with a pickup from your accommodation, then set off towards the island’s interior.
- São Lourenço dos Órgãos - Your first stop is at Mrs. Luisa’s home, where you can learn to prepare and enjoy cuscuz (a traditional cake made from corn flour) and fidjós (fried banana mixed with wheat), a typical breakfast for Cape Verdean families.
- Assomada Market - Following the workshop, proceed to the city of Assomada to explore its renowned market (open on Wednesdays and Saturdays), meet the locals, and admire the vibrant colors of the local fruits and vegetables.
- Serra de Malagueta - Continue to the Serra Malagueta natural park and be amazed by the stunning views from 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.
- Tarrafal Beach - Enjoy a swim at Santiago’s most beautiful beach, Tarrafal, surrounded by white sand, hills, and palm trees. Then, take a break for a delightful lunch at a local restaurant, at your own expense, and savor the local cuisine.
- Calheta de Sao Miguel - After lunch, drive back along the picturesque east coast, capturing breathtaking photos of the awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes of Calheta.
- Pedra Badejo - Travel through the country’s lush agricultural fields before returning to Praia.
- Praia - The tour concludes with a return drive to Praia, the nation’s capital.
- Santiago - After exploring Santiago’s highlights on this full-day tour, you will be dropped off at the initial pickup point.
What's Included
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia
- Liability insurance included
- Transportation provided
- Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)
- Professional Tour Guide
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia
- Liability insurance included
- Transportation provided
- Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)
- Professional Tour Guide
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Lunch
Additional Information
Discover Santiago’s highlights on this full-day tour. Experience a workshop with a local family and learn to make Cape Verde’s famous cuscus. Visit the colorful Assomada Market and cross the Serra Malagueta Natural Park to take a dip at Tarrafal beach, the most beautiful on the island. Meet the community that preserves Cape Verde’s oldest customs and…
Discover Santiago’s highlights on this full-day tour. Experience a workshop with a local family and learn to make Cape Verde’s famous cuscus. Visit the colorful Assomada Market and cross the Serra Malagueta Natural Park to take a dip at Tarrafal beach, the most beautiful on the island. Meet the community that preserves Cape Verde’s oldest customs and learn about the local culture.
- Please note that the fair in Assomada Market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Location
Praia
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.8
(127 Ratings)
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Mirelaelena_t
Mar 1, 2025
Recommended - Very organized tour. The guide tour Ricardo was amazing full of knowledge.
All our question got answered
Review provided by Viator
Iryna_s
Dec 31, 2024
Great trip and nice guides - This is probably the best way to explore the island in one day. Many interesting places, tasty food, and unforgettable memories!
Review provided by Viator
984nafissaa
Nov 12, 2024
Agency on top! - very beautiful island, the most beautiful Cape Verde, very beautiful setting, with very good activities.
The meal was delicious, I loved the cake activity and the music played.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Autocaravanista
Nov 10, 2024
Terrafal beach, old town, culture, warm land, street art. - The whole island and fantastic, but old town, terrafal and warm land, for me the most fantastic places!!
Beach of the cherry cherry on top of the cake 😜.
We had the pleasure of meeting a taxi driver Aidy!! Wonderful person, who led us to know the whole island...
Fantastic holidays!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tenthlisten
Sep 16, 2024
Excellent and Fun Tour of Santiago Island - This is an excellent tour of Santiago Island. It stops at key highlights and includes a cooking experience where we were able to eat two local foods. The only thing to note is that the roads are quite windy, so come prepared if you are prone to car sickness.
Our group consisted of people who spoke French, Spanish, and English, so we had three separate guides who spoke each of those languages. As my friend and I were the only two who spoke English, it almost felt like a private tour with our guide. Ricardo was excellent. He showed us our route on the map throughout the journey, went out of his way to show us around, and made sure that we were comfortable. He walked us through a local market, ordered lunch on our behalf, and guided us to the beach at Tarrafal. The conversations in the car with him were very easy and his English is excellent. Thanks for a great day, Ricardo!
I highly recommend this tour for a comprehensive overview of Santiago's beautiful culture and nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roryjdoyle
Jul 17, 2024
Santiago Island - Best way to see the island is to hire a driver and car and to drive you up through the island and down the right side of the island coast. So much overwhelming natural valconic beauty. Highly recommended
Review provided by Tripadvisor
988aurorel
Jun 9, 2024
Great excursion to discover Santiago - We had an excellent time in the company of the two guides as well as our excursion companions. The first stop at Mama Luisa’s was great! Preparation of traditional cuscuz and banana fidjós. Then we were able to taste it all together. The ride with the view of the mountains and valleys is incredible. And our favorite from the Tarrafal excursion. A magnificent setting, a beach with very few people. The water is perfect for swimming!
Thanks again to our guide who started recently and who taught us a lot about Santiago and the history and culture of Cape Verde. We wish you the best for the future, you are a wonderful person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T_l_b0s
Aug 18, 2024
A busy day - A great excursion despite the rainy weather. Largely thanks to Affi and his 2 fellow guides. They taught us a lot about Cape Verde culture and history. A very, very nice day. Unforgettable memories
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roam470742
Jun 16, 2024
The visit to the locals for a cooking class was very good and the explanations very clear, the crossing of Santiago in - The homestay visit for the cooking class was very well organized, the tour of the Santiago island was well documented by the guide and the tarrafal beach is very beautiful
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay62866824481
Dec 28, 2024
Tour of the beautiful island, unfortunately not very informative - The guide in charge of English knew only the most banal information, the program is also very superficial - pure bus ride to the various stations and long unnecessary stay at the Couscous workshop. The organization itself is good but the day could bring much more. Too bad
Review provided by Tripadvisor
