Top Praia Culture

Get to know Praia the way the locals do on this private guided tour. Visit museums, cathedrals, palaces, markets, and more as you learn about the history of the area from our local guide. Taste local produce and see some of the forest buildings built by European settles, including fortresses to defend against pirate attacks

This tour was created for travelers with a short stay on the island, and seeks to maximize the places to visit on the island in a day trip, a mix of history, gastronomy, culture, and beautiful landscapes of the island's interior with breathtaking valleys and mountains and white sandy beaches.

Explore the capital city of Cape Verde on this walking tour of Praia’s historic center. Join a small group and visit the highlights including Donna Maria Pia Lighthouse, City Hall, and Diogo Gomes Monument. Learn about the country’s rich history, admire colonial architecture, explore local markets, and enjoy a main course lunch with fish or meat, rice, vegetables, and water overlooking the sea.

Enjoy a full-day tour exploring the interior and coast of Santiago Island, the best way to discover Cape Verde’s culture, history, and landscapes. After morning pickup, travel to São Domingos, Órgãos, and Picos to admire impressive mountains. Continue to Assomada City to visit the local market and experience daily island life. Stop at Good Entry to see the largest and oldest tree in Cape Verde, the 700 - year-old Kapok tree. Visit Serra Malagueta Natural Park for breathtaking views from 1,000 meters above sea level. Head to Tarrafal City to explore the historic concentration camp, relax on Tarrafal Beach, and enjoy time for swimming and lunch. In the afternoon, drive along the east coast to the Rabelados village, then continue through Calheta to Pedra Badejo to see the country’s largest banana plantation. This tour combines nature, culture, history, and beach time for an authentic Santiago Island experience.

Set off on a tour of Cape Verde’s Santiago Island during this half-day excursion. Join a small group and visit the island’s top highlights including Praia City Hall, Cidade Velha, the Se Cathedral, and the traditional houses of Banana Street. As you explore, your guide provides commentary on the history and culture of Cape Verde, shedding light on the first city built by Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa.

Explore Calabaceira, a village in the southern part of the island of Santiago, on this guided half-day trek from Praia. Admire the lush vegetation in the valley, and explore the history of Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the Convent of São Francisco, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, and more. Plus, learn about agriculture from local farmers.

This tour is ideal for those who want to get around like a local in Praia, the capital of Cape Verde. Discover the best restaurants, bars, and cafes in Praia, learn about the city's history and culture, and find out what to do and see on a visit to Santiago Island. This tour is the perfect way to make the most of your stay in this lively port city.

Embark on a local adventure, discovering the vibrant heart of Cape Verde, on this small-group tour. Journey through plantations and historical sites, see the vast banana and coconut fields in Santa Cruz, and explore the unique botanical wonders of Orgãos village. You also learn about the rich heritage of rum-making, tasting sugarcane delights, and visiting a rum distillery.

With a private guide to point out the landmarks, this half-day trip from Praia to Cidade Velha is personalized. You’ll visit Fortaleza Real de San Felipe, which looms above this World Heritage–listed city on Santiago. Entrance fees are also included to Sé Cathedral, Pelourinho (the pillory), and the Church of Our Lady of Rosário.

Discover the very best of Santiago Island on this exclusive full-day tour. Journey through spectacular mountains, fertile valleys and picturesque villages while discovering the island's rich history, vibrant culture and unique traditions. Visit Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the oldest colonial settlement in sub-Saharan Africa, including the impressive Fortress of São Filipe. Continue to the former Tarrafal Concentration Camp, an important historical landmark that tells the story of Cape Verde's past. Relax at the stunning Tarrafal Beach and enjoy a traditional Cape Verdean lunch with drinks at a local restaurant. End your day at the peaceful São Francisco Beach before returning to Praia. This unforgettable experience combines history, culture, authentic gastronomy and breathtaking landscapes in one remarkable journey across Santiago Island.

Discover the two faces of Santiago in one day! This exclusive tour takes you from the vibrant energy of the Planalto and the Sucupira market in Praia, to the historic tranquility of the Old Town (world heritage) and the D. Maria Pia Lighthouse. An authentic dive into the Cape Verdean soul, where culture, history and stunning landscapes meet. Perfect for those who want to live the island beyond the obvious, with local guides and strategic stops for unforgettable photos.

This unique hike takes you through the lush Ribeira Grande valley, rich in local flora and fauna. One of the main highlights is a stop at Cape Verde’s largest and oldest baobab tree, over 400 years old — a perfect spot for unforgettable photos. You’ll also learn how grogue, the national drink of Cape Verde, is traditionally made, and may even spot the country’s most iconic bird, a proud national symbol. The journey ends in Cidade Velha, the cradle of Cape Verdean culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, you'll explore historical landmarks like Rua Banana, the old church, and the Pelourinho, before being driven back to your accommodation.

This activity is great for travelers looking to mix fitness and sightseeing. Travel to the Monte Tchota Natural Park and ascend 1400m - the highest point on Santiago Island. View endemic plants and birds and local agriculture. Depending on the season, you'll see corn, mango, coffee, or tomatoes growing. Visit the houses carved into the Longueira mountains and talk with a local family to hear more about the culture and life of the region.

This is a unique and authentic experience in Santiago Island, where you get to know the rural life of the islanders up close, with a short hike in the banana plantations and local fruit tastings like seasonal fruits such as coconuts, papaya, mango and sugar cane.

Let our local guides show you the sights of Santiago Island on this private tour. See fortresses built against pirate attacks, the ruins of ancient cathedrals, even visit a former slave market, now used as a fish market. Talk to locals, try a local cooking workshop, and swim in the clear blue sea before being dropped back at your accommodation.

Take a private tour and explore Santiago's highlights with a local tour guide. 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.

Set out on a journey to explore the diverse landscapes of Santiago Island, from picturesque valleys to historic sites, on this small-group tour. Discover vibrant markets in São Domingos and Assomada, visit São Jorge's botanical garden, and delve into the history of Tarrafal's prison-turned-museum. Relax in the azure waters of Tarrafal Bay and visit Rabelados village, where unique traditions thrive against the odds.

There are places you don’t visit with your eyes alone. Visit with the soul. Imagine standing in front of the blue infinity, feeling the same wind that for centuries blows stories of courage and longing. Imagine putting your feet where one day pages of pain were written, but also of endurance and hope. Imagine walking through ancient streets, where every stone holds memories that time has not erased. Here, silence speaks. The breeze has secrets. And the heart shakes, in a mix of respect and admiration for everything that happened there. We didn't just show him monuments. We have come to invite you to feel what few have the opportunity to feel: the true pulse of Cape Verde, the strength of a people who transformed suffering into beauty, pain into dance, longing into song. This tour is for those looking for more than photos. It's for those who want to carry something that doesn't fit in the suitcase: a memory that stays stored in the chest forever.

This hassle-free tour is one of the best ways to explore all of Tarrafal island, visiting farms, mountains, markets, protected parks, and much more. You have convenient hotel pickup and drop-off, plus transportation provided for the entire tour taking you to all corners of the island. Visit the Eco Center (additional fee) to see local animals and plants, visit the Casa De Rabelados community, and enjoy an included lunch, too.