The 15 Best Santiago Island Tours from Praia

1.Santiago Island Tour with Tastings and Tarrafal Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 416 reviews · 7 - 8 hours · from $76Our pick

Travel from Praia across Santiago with Bu Country Tours, meeting a local family for cuscuz and fidjós, visiting Assomada Market on Wednesdays or Saturdays, crossing Serra Malagueta, and swimming at Tarrafal Beach. Guides such as Ricardo, Elton, Ivana, and Bamba may lead the day. Lunch is extra, and the route suits active visitors without mobility limitations.

“It was amazing, we have seen the countryside, villages, the mountains, the beach, tasted delicious local food. The island Santiago is so beautiful, and the guides are great, speak several languages, and have a lot of information to share.”

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2.Landscapes, Street Art, and Markets Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 316 reviews · 8 hours · from $70

Spend a full day crossing Santiago with a multilingual guide, visiting Assomada Market, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal Beach, the east coast, and Pedra Badejo. Guides such as Alex, José, Bravo, Antonio, and Pox bring local history, food, music, and daily life into the trip. Pickup is available from Praia hotels or the cruise terminal.

“A very convenient tour to see the main sights of the island. I’m very happy we choose to go on this trip. We only had a couple of days in Praia so it was more than sufficient. Thanks to our guides Gualter and Pox”

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3.Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 190 reviews · 7 hours · from $82

Spend seven hours touring Santiago Island from the Port of Praia in a small group of up to 10. Visit Serra Malagueta, swim at Tarrafal, stop in mountain villages, and share music, dancing, and local food with a Cape Verdean family. Guides may include Zanthony or Juan.

“gut , länger als geplant ,hätte es für uns nicht gebraucht”

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4.Santiago Island Tour: Meet with a Local Family & Tarrafal Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 127 reviews · from $103Top rated

Spend eight hours crossing Santiago from Praia with a small group of up to 15 people. 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 with guides such as Alex, Maria, Ivana, or Ricardo.

“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!”

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5.Island tour with German-speaking guide for cruise guests

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 91 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours touring Santiago Island with a German-speaking local guide such as Luisa or Louisa, depending on the assigned guide. You will visit Picos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, Calheta, Santa Cruz, and Praia, with a Batuque dance session and port pickup included. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Hervorragende Insel-Tourguide Louisa (deutsch) - informativ, lustig, offener Umgang”

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6.Praia & Cidade Velha: Guided City Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 80 reviews · 4 hours · from $53Best value

Join a local guide such as Amerigo or Walter for a four-hour tour of Praia and Cidade Velha. You’ll visit Plateau, a food market, Banana Street, Pelourinho Square, old church ruins, and Fortaleza Real de São Filipe. Hotel or harbor pickup and drop-off are included, while the fortress costs an optional €5.

“Amerigo nous a fait partager sa connaissance de l'histoire de son pays avec beaucoup de professionnalisme dans un français plus que correct. si vous en avez la possibilité demandez à faire le circuit "à l'envers"( comme nous avons dû le faire du fait des embouteillages du lundi matin): vous commencerez alors par Santiago "historique" et terminerez par Praia "contemporaine". J'airais même préféré commencer par la citadelle de Cidade Velha avant la ville de Cidade Velha. Attention, l'entrée à la citadelle coute 500escudos (5€) par personne.”

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7.Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 75 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

Travel from Praia to Santa Cruz and Orgãos with guides such as Bamba, Carlos, or Katia. Walk through a banana and coconut plantation, taste local produce when available, then make cuscuz and fidjós with Mama Luisa or another local host. This four-hour morning tour combines food, farming, and mountain scenery.

“Carlos war als Guide wirklich super: Egal ob Klopause / Getränk / Restaurantempfehlungen < alles wurde abgedeckt! Wir hatten das Glück die Tour zu zweit zu machen, sozusagen als "private Tour" & uns wurde viel über Land und Leute erklärt. Wir konnten Zuckerrohr probieren, Grogue und haben gehalten um Früchte zu kaufen (Soursup konnten wir vorher nicht mal). Mama Luisa hat uns in ihre Kochkünste eingeweiht, absolute Empfehlung diese Tour zu buchen!”

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8.Highlights of Cidade Velha with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 3 hours · from $57

Spend three hours exploring Cidade Velha with a local guide such as Yvonne, Ricardo, Andrew, Jose, or Ailton. Walk from the São Filipe Fortress to cathedral ruins, Pelourinho, Banana Street, the São Francisco Convent, and a black-sand beach while learning about Cape Verdean culture, colonization, and slavery. Pickup from Praia is included.

“I don’t very often leave reviews but I wanted to for this trip. The main reason being the guide Ailton. His command and understanding of English is excellent, his knowledge of the trip is brilliant as is his knowledge of his country Cape Verde. He took his time to explain everything, he looked after us and the tour was at the right pace, not rushed at all. We had a really enjoyable morning with Ailton! The car was spotless and the driver also careful and considerate. We would highly recommend this tour! Thank you”

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9.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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10.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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11.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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12.Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 45 reviews · 7 hours · from $129

Travel from Praia to Ribeira da Barca, then take a traditional fishing boat along Santiago’s volcanic coast. You’ll visit Pilon de Achada Leite, swim or snorkel in Águas Belas cave if conditions allow, and eat a fish barbecue on a black-sand beach. Guides may include Cátia, Dany, or KID, with English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish available.

“Très belle sortie avec le guide KID juste exceptionnel, ainsi qu’aux pêcheurs navigateur qui ont su manœuvré et nous faire découvrir de magnifiques côtes malgré la force de la mer Seul point négatif le repas pas au niveau de la description il n’y avait aucune boisson Bravo pour le reste et surtout les lieux visités”

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13.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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14.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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15.Santiago Island Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 40 reviews · 7 hours · from $106

Spend seven hours crossing Santiago Island from Praia to Tarrafal in a private or small-group van. Your multilingual guide leads you through São Domingos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, and coastal villages, with time for photos, a possible local lunch, and roughly two hours at Tarrafal Beach. Guides have included Elton, Evana, Garcia, and Alex.

“Veldig hyggelig vennlig guide. Kjørte trygt og rolig. Passe mengde aktiviteter. Deilig å få muligheten til å slappe av og bade i to timer midt på dagen. Det hadde vært fint å få navnet på guiden og sjåføren før man blir hentet.”

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