The 14 Best Hikes in Cape Verde

1.Pico do Fogo Volcano Summit Hike

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

Join a local guide such as Nezito or Junior for a 6 to 7 hour climb from Chã das Caldeiras to Pico do Fogo, Cape Verde’s highest point. Hotel pickup, guiding, and a thrilling ash descent are included. Bring sturdy hiking boots, plenty of water, and a picnic.

“Amazing experience to sleep in the Caldeira and then do the hike. The way down through the lava ash with the view of your feet, the lava, the village, the caldeira, the ocean and the cloud is something you will never forget!”

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2.Beaches, Villages and Monte Verde (excludes city)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 87 reviews · 5 hours · from $82

Spend five hours touring São Vicente beyond Mindelo, with stops in fishing villages, Calhau’s farming valley, Baía das Gatas, Praia Grande, and Monte Verde. You’ll swim or stroll by the lagoon, taste tea or coffee at the summit tea house, and learn about island life from guides such as Sonia or Lino. Lunch costs extra.

“Very nice trip! Our guide Sonia ans the driver Albino were very kind ans excellent. The lunch at Calhau was vert good!”

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3.Day Trip by Car or Trek

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

Spend 7 to 11 hours seeing Santo Antão by car, with ferry transfers from Mindelo, a local guide, mountain viewpoints, villages, fertile valleys, lunch time, and a grogue tasting. Guides such as Madu and Danny are praised for their island knowledge and easy conversation. A trekking option may be arranged, but confirm the details before booking.

“L'expérience a été magique. Madu qui parle parfaitement Français a été un guide hors pair et nous a communiqué son amour pour son île natale. Des paysages sublimes, l'histoire de l'île, un repas excellent et à très bon prix...tout était parfait. De plus le conducteur a été très gentil. Nous recommandons fortement.”

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

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

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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5.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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6.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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7.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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8.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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9.Guided Coastal Hike & Monte Leão Sunset

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

Join a four-hour guided hike from Ponta Preta Beach to Monte Leão, stopping around Calheta Funda and Murdeira before sunset. Antonio Dias is one named guide, and tours are offered in English, Portuguese, French, and Spanish. Bring water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes: the route is sunny, uneven, and includes a climb.

“Antonio Dias made sure we had a wonderful hike. He picked us up on time and was very kind to answer all of our questions. The scenery is just mesmerising all the way to the end. Many different surfaces, which makes it more interesting, exciting as well as challenging. Make sure you bring comfy shoes for the hike! Thank you for the unforgettable afternoon! :)”

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10.Hiking Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl

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

You’ll hike from Cova Natural Park, about 1,100 meters above sea level, toward Ribeira Paul with a guide such as Maira, Lea, Edy, or Ravi. Expect crater views, steep zigzags, tropical farms, local stories, and a stop at a traditional distillery for grogue. The five-hour trip includes transport and hotel pickup.

“Fantastica! Il miglior paesaggio mai visto in vita mia! Edy (la nostra guida) è preparatissimo ed è stato gentilissimo per tutto il viaggio! Stra consigliato”

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

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

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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12.Hike to the highest point of Monte verde

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · from $69

Travel from your hotel or cruise port to Monte Verde Natural Park, then walk a cobbled road and final trail to São Vicente’s highest point. The roughly three-hour outing includes sweeping island views and a taste of tea, coffee, or grogue. Guides Yuran and Elody are named for their friendly, informative approach.

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13.Beaches, Villages and Monte Verde, São Vicente Excludes City

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $81

Leave Mindelo with a local guide such as Paulo, Danny, or Kalu for a five-hour circuit of São Vicente. Visit Monte Verde for tea and wide island views, then stop at fishing villages, beaches, Baía das Gatas, Calhau, and a farming valley. Lunch costs extra, and groups are limited to 10 people.

“The island was beautiful-The Tea House(indoor visit) was great and the beaches were great. However, we did not have much time to swim (only 15 minutes) because we were the only ones who wanted to. Disappointed about that, as it was the reason we chose this tour. Instead Kalu took us to see turtles, which was wonderful. They took good care of us.”

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14.Ponta do Sol & Fontainhas Guided Trip with Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · 6 hours · from $91

Travel from your hotel to Ponta do Sol, Fontainhas, Praia das Aranhas, and Cruzinha with a local guide. Expect dramatic cliffs, black sand, village life, and a strenuous route that may take about five hours on foot. Guides include Riva, Ruben, Gerson, Rivaldino, Américo, and Vidson.

“superbe randonnée, bouclée en 4h, mais avec une grosse condition physique. Rivaldino, notre guide, super pro. A faire, sans hésitation.”

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