Top Praia How to Get Around

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.

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.

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

Hiking with a guide through Serra Malagueta ensures you don’t get lost on the network of trails. Nature lovers enjoy exploring this forested region of Santiago. Search for endemic plant and animal species and stop for photos at the viewpoint. Snacks, admission fees, and pickup in Praia are included in the tour.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Learn more about Cape Verde’s culture and traditions when you take this tour of Santiago Island. With a small group, visit the largest banana and coconut plantation in the country for a walk through the fields. Learn about the local fruits that grow on the island and then visit the home of a local family where you learn to make traditional dishes from scratch.

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 one of Cape Verde's best-kept secrets on this exclusive 3-day journey to Maio Island. Currently the only multi-day guided experience on Viator combining Santiago and Maio, this tour offers a unique opportunity to explore two islands in one seamless adventure. Travel by ferry or domestic flight (subject to operational availability), enjoy a full-day 4x4 Jeep Safari, a traditional boat trip with local fishermen, authentic Cape Verdean cuisine, comfortable accommodation, and free time to relax on Maio's pristine beaches or explore Porto Inglês. Designed and proudly operated by Morabeza Atlântica, a locally owned company dedicated to authentic, sustainable travel experiences, this small-group tour takes you beyond the usual tourist routes, offering genuine cultural encounters, spectacular landscapes and hidden gems. Perfect for couples, families, photographers, nature lovers and travelers seeking an authentic Cape Verde experience.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ascend to the height of the Pice D'Antónia Mountain. Traverse diverse terrain including agricultural fields growing corn and mango, local homes, and families. Hike up the mountain and enjoy stunning views, including of Fogo Island with a volcano and indulge in lunch. Moving through Estação de Monte Tchota National Park, discover native plants and birds before finishing at the village of Rui Vaz.

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.

You will have an incredible day where you can refresh yourself while discovering places that will surprise your eyes. In the morning, you will be on a boat to discover one of the 7 wonders of Santiago Island. During the afternoon you can relax in the natural pool and on the long beach of fine black sand at Ribeira das Pratas.

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.

Spend the day relaxing on the most beautiful beach on the island. Take a boat trip to the lighthouse, snorkel and enjoy stunning views of Tarrafal bay. Get to know the local marine life while your staff prepares a delicious barbecue on the beach.