The 15 Best Tours on Santiago

Santiago Tours, Tarrafal Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Praia: Santiago Island Tour with Tastings and Tarrafal Beach

/ August 6, 2026

1.Santiago Island Tour with Tastings and Tarrafal Beach

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

A 7 to 8 hour Santiago day trip from Praia with a family breakfast tasting, Assomada market, Serra Malagueta views, and Tarrafal swim time.

“Usually i dont take the time to write reviews, but i actually had an amazing day. Our guide Elton, was very nice and taught us on the island and cape verde in general. Not only was he a good guide but he also radiated a very positive energy which was contagious. The couscous workshop was also very nice and delicious. Definitely worth your money and your time!!”

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1-Day Tours, Santiago Tours, Street Art, Tour Reviews

Santiago: Landscapes, Street Art, and Markets Day Trip

/ August 6, 2026

2.Landscapes, Street Art, and Markets Day Trip

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

Santiago day trip from Praia: Assomada market, Serra Malagueta views, Tarrafal beach swim, and plantation stops near Pedra Badejo.

“the guide is exemplary, a lot of fun, very unexpected stops! the tour is a GREAT snapshot of Santiago!”

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Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Port of Praia: Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

/ August 6, 2026

3.From Port of Praia: Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

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

Cruise shore excursion on Santiago Island from Porto da Praia, with Tarrafal beach swim, Serra Malagueta views, and live Cape Verdean music.

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

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Santiago Tours, Tarrafal Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

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

/ August 6, 2026

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

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

A full-day Santiago tour from Praia with a home-cooked breakfast lesson, Assomada market, big views, and Tarrafal swim time.

“Very organized tour. The guide tour Ricardo was amazing full of knowledge. All our question got answered”

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Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Island tour with German-speaking guide for cruise guests

/ August 6, 2026

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

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

5-hour Santiago Island cruise excursion with a German guide, Batuque dance, Serra Malagueta views, and village stops from Praia port.

“Rund um hat es meine Erwartungen sehr gut erfüllt.”

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Cidade Velha Tours, City Tours, City Tours in Santiago, Guided, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Praia & Cidade Velha: Guided City Tour

/ August 6, 2026

6.Praia & Cidade Velha: Guided City Tour

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

4-hour guided tour of Praia and Cidade Velha on Santiago, with Banana Street, UNESCO Pelourinho Square, and ocean views at Fortaleza.

“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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Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Workshops

From Praia: Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop

/ August 6, 2026

7.Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop

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

Walk Santiago’s banana and coconut fields, then cook Cuscuz and Fidjós with a local family near Orgãos, with scenic nature views.

“This was so much fun! I was the only one attending the trip (as it’s off season) and I had 2 guides and 1 driver with me. Everyone was super nice and fun to talk to. Always ensuring that everything was fine, helping me walk through the plantation. Highly recommended, one of the best trips I have been on, mainly due to the guides.”

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Cidade Velha Tours, Guided, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews

Santiago Island: Highlights of Cidade Velha with Local Guide

/ August 6, 2026

8.Highlights of Cidade Velha with Local Guide

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

3-hour guided walk in Cidade Velha, Santiago Island: forts, cathedral ruins, Pelourinho slave market, convent, black-sand beach views.

“It was really nice honestly. Guide was soo good, he was helpful. Thank you”

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Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Lunch Experiences, Santiago Tours, Serra Malagueta Hikes, Tour Reviews

Serra Malagueta: Principal Valley Hike & Lunch with Locals

/ August 6, 2026

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

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

Hike Serra da Malagueta and the Principal Valley in Santiago, eat lunch with locals in Mato Dento, then return via east-coast views.

“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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Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Santiago Tours, Serra Malagueta Hikes, Tarrafal Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Santiago Island: Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

/ August 6, 2026

10.Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 8 hours · from $106

Hike Serra Malagueta Natural Park on Santiago Island, enjoy a picnic, then unwind at Tarrafal Beach in an 8-hour tour.

“Elisanto was an awesome guide and I will rate it a 10/10”

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City Tours, City Tours in Santiago, Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews

Praia: Baobab Mysterious Tree, Green Valley & Old City Hike

/ August 6, 2026

11.Baobab Mysterious Tree, Green Valley & Old City Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 4 hours · from $53

Guided 4-hour hike from Praia to Cidade Velha, with farms, a 400-year-old baobab, and an endemic bird chance. Pickup included.

“It was a beautiful route. The car was very small and the guide could have told us a little more or waited for the last ones in the group, who often missed out on things. We had to wait a very long time for the bus to take us back!”

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Cidade Velha Tours, Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews

Santiago: Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

/ August 6, 2026

12.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Calabaceira Valley trek plus Cidade Velha UNESCO sights, former slave market, and a stop at a local rum distillery.

“The tour was advertised as being an easy walk. There were several elderly people on this tour that were forced to go down a mountain very steep with boulders. The tour was supposed to be four hours and ended up being almost 8 hours long. The description is very misleading, saying it it was an easy hike.”

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BBQ, Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Santiago Tours, Sea Cave Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

From Praia: Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach

/ August 6, 2026

13.Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach

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

Traditional boat trip from Praia to Àguas Belas caves for snorkeling, then a black-sand beach BBQ on Santiago, 7 hours.

“Our driver and guide were great. Activity said snorkeling but there were 6 people and 3 snorkels. The swimming and snorkeling were over the side of the boat in the cave we only stayed for about 15 mins. The current was a bit rough and it was only large rocks to see. BBQ was tasty but beach is very rocky (recommend water shoes) and dirty with no good place to sit. Does seem typical. Overall trip was great but felt expensive.”

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Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Santiago Tours, Tour Reviews, Volcano & Crater Hikes

Santiago: Monte Tchota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia Hike

/ August 6, 2026

14.Monte Tchota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 43 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

Hike Monte Txota Natural Park to Pico d'Antónia, Santiago’s highest point, for big views, a cooler forest feel, and a tough but worth-it day.

“It was great, the end was though but overall a great exercise and worth it!”

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Hikes in Santiago, Hiking & Trekking, Lunch Experiences, Santiago Tours, Tarrafal Trips, Tour Reviews

From Tarrafal: Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

/ August 6, 2026

15.Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 5 hours · from $70

Hike from Serra Malagueta to Principal on Santiago Island, then enjoy home-cooked lunch with a local family. Small group, pickup in Tarrafal.

“Alex is an excellent guide, with lots of interesting observations and anecdotes about the flora and fauna and the islands in general. The food prepared by Mama was absolutely delicious.”

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