11 Workshops & Classes in Cape Verde to Build a Day Around

1.Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop

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

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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2.Catxupa Cooking Class with a local family

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 72 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Join a Cape Verdean family on Sal for a two-hour Catxupa cooking class. With a local cook and guide such as Melissa or Alejandro, you’ll prepare the island’s famous corn-and-bean dish, learn about local traditions, enjoy a meal, and return to your hotel.

“Incroyablement surprise par cette belle expérience. Nous avons pu nous glissé dans la culture cap verdienne, on a même eu droit à un petit cours de danse, le partage de l’histoire et le plat typique qui était excellent. Je recommande cette activité et obrigada🤗”

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3.Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $39Top rated

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde in Santa Maria for a one-hour lesson with an instructor such as Rubén. You’ll learn board skills on the beach, then practice in the Atlantic. The group is capped at six, and your board, wetsuit, and surf shoes are included. You must be a good swimmer.

“Merece la pena, un rato muy divertido. Y aprendimos mas de lo que esperábamos, en una hora ya surfeamos alguna ola. Ruben es un gran profesional. Es un ambiente muy cercano y amigable.”

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4.Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 48 reviews · from $40

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde near Santa Maria’s Main Square, collect your board, wetsuit, and surf shoes, then walk to the beach. Your instructor, including Ruben on some lessons, starts with dry-land practice before an hour in the water. Private and group lessons suit beginners and improving surfers, with timing set around high tide and safe conditions.

“We were welcomed and escorted to beach where our guide explained we would practice on dry land first and then proceed into the water once the technique had been explained. He explained to my son when his technique wasn't correct and why, and he quickly learnt the technique required. Once in the water my son was taken out to the required depth and the guide stayed with him. My son quickly got the hang of it and soon he was accompanying the locals, thanks to an expert guide.”

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5.Kizomba Group Class – Santa Maria, Cape Verde

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Best value

Meet the English, Portuguese, and French-speaking instructors at Chill Out bar in Santa Maria for a one-hour Kizomba class. The small group is limited to 10 people, with simple step-by-step teaching, regular partner changes, and time to enjoy drinks afterward. Bring comfortable shoes, clothes, and cash for the bar.

“Foi gira, achei muita gente para o espaço. Ficou apertado. O casal de professores foram muito atenciosos”

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6.Kite Surf Lessons on Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews

Meet Atlantic Star at Santa Maria beach, then head to Kite Beach for a two-hour kitesurf lesson. Instructors including Jailson, Kenny, Gilson, and Jai work with beginners and returning riders. Lessons suit swimmers weighing at least 35 kg, with equipment, transport, and several daily start times available.

“Great spot, great team, great experience! I had an amazing 5 day course when I spent a week over the New Year! Strongly Recommend!”

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7.Banana Plantation, Natural Park & Workshop with a local family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $87

Leave Praia for Pedra Badejo’s banana and coconut fields, then join a local family in São Lourenço dos Órgãos to make cuscuz and fidjós. The four-hour tour includes hotel transfers, a small group of up to eight, and guides such as Ricardo, Katia, Ayrton, and Cleber may lead the day.

“Las guias fueron encantadoras. Muy atentas y colaboradoras en casa de mama luisa. Nosotros hicimos el tour en español con Katia y fue maravilloso. Recomendable 100%”

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8.Kitesurf Lessons in Cape Verde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $141

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde in Santa Maria, prepare your gear, then head to Kitebeach for a two-hour introduction to kitesurfing. You’ll begin with a small training kite, move to a full-size kite and safety systems, then enter the water for supervised body dragging. You must be able to swim and have moderate fitness.

“Amy and the Surf Hub team were very friendly ,accommodating and helpful arranging kitesurf lessons and lifts to Kitebeach. Equipment and instructors all good quality and the location stunning. I was able to progress in my skills exponRead more”

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9.Kitesurfing Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 2 hours · from $141

Learn kitesurfing on Sal with an IKO-qualified instructor from Surf Hub Cabo Verde. Your two-hour session covers kite control, safety, body dragging, and, for suitable students, first work with the board. Lessons are private, equipment and hotel transfers are included, and instruction is available in five languages.

“Amy and team are very friendly and helpful. The lesson was comprehensive and a lot of fun. It's harder than it looks it but I would definitely recommend it!”

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10.Mindelo Cultural: city tour with live music and dance class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3h 30m · from $141

Meet guide Marion at Ouril Hotel for a 3.5-hour walking tour through Mindelo’s marina, market, old town, and cultural sites. Hear a musician play Cape Verdean rhythms, learn six dances with instructor Noelisa Santos’s school, and hear about Cesária Évora and Praça Estrela. English, Portuguese, French, and German are offered.

“A nicely paced walk with our guide to view nearby historic sites and architectural influences. included meeting with a guitarist who demonstrated Cabo Verdian rhythms while a dancer instructed us on how they dance to each. interactive and fun. if you like to dance take this tour!”

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11.Best of Santiago Island: Cidade Velha, Workshop & Tarrafal Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $140

Travel from Praia with a guide to Cidade Velha’s fortress, cathedral ruins, slave-market site, and Banana Street. Cook cuscuz and fidjós with a local family, stop in the mountains, swim at Tarrafal Beach, and return along Santiago’s east coast. Pickup is available in Praia or Cidade Velha, with groups limited to eight.

“Tour de l'ile très enrichissant, de très beaux paysages et de belles rencontres au programme. Coup de coeur pour le site de Cidade Velha.”

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