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Santiago Highlights: Culture, Cuisine, and Nature Tour
4.8
132 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
(132 Ratings)
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Wale_o
Oct 15, 2025
Great Day tour from Praia - The tour was fantastic. The guide Elton and the driver were both amazing. Elton was knowledgeable and he kept us informed
Review provided by Viator
Simon_t
Sep 6, 2025
Wonderful tour of Santiago island - Excellent tour of this beautiful island. Ricardo was an excellent guide and made us want to see more of this friendly country🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻
Review provided by Viator
Lebretdavid
Aug 15, 2025
Exceptional - Exceptional day faithful to the description... and the good surprise was bamba our football guide from ivory side that brightened our day..
Not to be missed
David
Review provided by Tripadvisor
40aferditah
Jun 28, 2025
Great Santiago tour with all the highlights Spots - We had a very nice tour of Santiago.
Our guide told us a lot about the places and the island.
We would book this tour again anytime.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Destination278133
Mar 6, 2025
Good tour de lile - Good contact information before the visit. Pick up on time at my hotel. Nice visit consistent with the description. I recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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
Stephaniep
Sep 12, 2025
Lovely local team, please lose the trainee guide - We had a mixed bag of experiences with Bu Country Tours, having taken both the round island trip of Santiago as well as the half day Praia/Cidade Velha tour. Our originally assigned guide for the full day tour, Ivana and her Cape Verdean colleagues were highly professional, kind and knowledgeable. Our Cabo Verdean guide for the more historical tour, however, was lacking historical knowledge and couldn't really reply to questions in English or Portuguese. It was clear he didn't care about guests and just wanted to get the job done as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, both days, the team was joined by a guide in training who was one of the most unpleasant people I have met in travelling over 90 countries. He insisted speaking German to entire groups of people, clearly keen to practice his German, which was unfortunately barely intelligible or telling us random stories from his private life which were simply inappropriate. He ended up shouting German at people who didn't even speak the language, leaving them rightfully confused. He also kept repeating everything, the most basic and obvious things, 10 times throughout the day in both English and German, after other guides had already explained it. We talked to other guests who all had the same exhausting experience with this particular person.
Review provided by Viator
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
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