Top 15 Hiking in Santiago

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

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

Travel from Praia into Serra Malagueta National Park for a moderate 4.5-kilometer downhill hike through streams, farms, and mountain villages. Share a fish or meat lunch with a local family in Mato Dento, then return by the east coast. Guides may include Peter, Elton, or Katia, depending on the date.

“I really enjoyed this tour if you want to see the locals life closer and enjoy the very tasty meal of a local family and the beautiful nature and animals and plantations you get to book this hike plus Peter the Guide was the cherry on top making everything so smooth, helping in every detail and gave so much information about the whole country and history and fauna and Flora, it was overall perfect!! Thank you :)”

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2.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-kilometre loop at high altitude. Your guide explains Santiago’s plants, birds, customs, and conservation work before a picnic and swim at Tarrafal Beach. Guides may include Carlos, Elton, Americano, Elisanto, or Elisandro, with English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese offered.

“Elisanto was an awesome guide and I will rate it a 10/10”

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

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

From Praia, a small group follows a 4 km trail downhill through banana, sugar cane, mango, coconut, and papaya groves. Guides such as Antonio, Alex, and Americio explain Cape Verdean life, grogue production, plants, and island history before the walk ends in Cidade Velha. Allow four hours, including transport.

“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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4.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

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

Travel from Praia to Calabaceira for an easy downhill trek through sugar cane, baobabs, and tropical plants, with a stop at a local rum distillery. Then explore Cidade Velha, including Banana Street, the former slave market, Nossa Senhora do Rosário church, and São Filipe Fortress with a guide in your choice of English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

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

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

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

Leave Praia or São Jorge dos Órgãos for a demanding 9-kilometer trek through Monte Txota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia, Santiago’s highest point. Your guide, possibly Elder, leads the route in English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Expect narrow, tilted paths, about 660 meters of ascent, and wide views toward Maio and Fogo when skies are clear.

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

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6.Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

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

You’ll hike downhill from Serra Malagueta Natural Park to Principal Valley with a guide such as Alex, Ivana, or Luis, learning about Santiago’s plants, animals, and culture along the way. The five-hour outing ends with a home-cooked lunch by a local family, then a scenic drive back to Tarrafal. Good shoes are essential.

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

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

Leave Praia for a moderate three-hour loop through Serra Malagueta Natural Park, reaching about 1,075 meters. Your guide leads the way, points out local plants and birds, and stops for mountain views before a picnic and swim at Tarrafal Beach. Small groups are limited to eight.

“Greatly arranged tour, the guide Alfonso was much fun and great to go on hike with, enjoyed a lot the nature and authentic experiences at Tarrafal Village.. . Great small local agency with a heart, highly recommend”

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

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

Start at about 1,000 meters in Serra Malagueta Natural Park, then walk 12.5 km downhill through Gongon and Hortelã valleys. Guides such as Jose and Katia lead the route, explain local plant life, and arrange lunch with a family. Expect steep sections, heat, and a demanding 4 to 5 hours.

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

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9.4-Hour Calabaceira Valley Hike & Guided Tour to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $81

Travel from Praia into Calabaceira Valley for an easy 5-kilometer downhill walk past a giant baobab and farm fields, then explore Cidade Velha’s churches, slave market, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. Guides such as Ailton and Maria bring useful knowledge of plants, local life, and Cape Verdean history.

“Belle randonnée avec la découverte d'une jolie vallée ainsi que de la Cidade Velha. Guide très sympa accompagné des apprentis guides. Merci à vous ! 👍”

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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, then walk downhill through mountain trails, rural villages, and native plant habitat with a local guide. The route ends with a Cape Verdean lunch in Principal Valley. Guide Ely has earned praise for his care and clear explanations, though guides vary.

“We really enjoyed the trek. The guide was very helpful at the spots where the track got a bit more difficult. The view is amazing. The true highlight for us was the way back to Tarrafal from the end of the track using the pickuptrucks together with all the locals! All in all we would absolutely recommend doing this excursion.”

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11.Trek from Serra Malagueta to Rabelados Community

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

Join a multilingual guide such as Elisandro, Katia, or Maria for an 11.5-kilometer trek from Serra Malagueta to a Rabelados village. Walk through Cape Verde’s highland flora, pause for a picnic, take in views toward Fogo and Maio, and finish with hotel drop-off in Praia.

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

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $98

Leave Praia at 8:30 a.m. for a demanding 9 km hike through Monte Tchota Natural Park to Pico D’Antónia, Santiago’s highest point at 1,394 meters. Guide Cátia and driver Nilton provide local insight, a picnic lunch, mountain views, and a visit with a family in Longueira. Expect steep, narrow paths and short sections of easy climbing.

“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”

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13.Longueira, Pico de Antónia & Monte Tchota Trek

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

Pick up in Praia and head for Longueira, where you visit a grogue distillery, school, and local bar before climbing Pico de Antónia. This demanding one-way trek reaches about 1,390 meters, with views toward Maio and Fogo. Guides may include Ricardo, Djibril, or Admilson Garcia. Picnic, transport, and hotel drop-off are included.

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

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14.Private Hike through mountains and distant rural villages

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

Travel from Praia to Rui Vaz, then walk 4 km downhill through eucalyptus woods, farms, and volcanic valleys toward Longueira. Guides such as José, Antonio, Orlando, and Maria add stories about Cape Verdean culture, plants, and village life. The tour is private or limited to 10 people and includes transport, insurance, and pickup.

“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!”

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

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

Travel from your Santiago accommodation to Pico de Antónia, the island’s highest point at 1,394 meters. This private, English-language hike lasts about four and a half hours and includes pickup. Guide Edmilson is noted for his professional, friendly approach. Expect mountain views, possible fog, and a chance to see Fogo and Maio in clear weather.

“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”

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