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Santiago Island Tour: Guided Exploration, Cooking Workshop & Tarrafal Beach Visit
4.7
3 Ratings
Praia
Discover the rural charm of Santiago Island with a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cidade Velha. Immerse yourself in the rich local history and enjoy a cooking session with a local family to learn traditional recipes. Traverse the Natural Park and take a refreshing swim at Santiago’s stunning Tarrafal beach.
Discover the rural charm of Santiago Island with a guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cidade Velha. Immerse yourself in the rich local history and enjoy a cooking session with a local family to learn traditional recipes. Traverse the Natural Park and take a refreshing swim at Santiago’s stunning Tarrafal beach.
Duration:
10 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Praia - Begin your journey with a pickup from your accommodation and head towards Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Fortaleza Real de San Felipe - Enjoy a guided walking tour of the São Filipe Fortress, learning about the ancient defense system against pirate invasions. Please note that the €5 entrance fee per person for the…
- Praia - Begin your journey with a pickup from your accommodation and head towards Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Fortaleza Real de San Felipe - Enjoy a guided walking tour of the São Filipe Fortress, learning about the ancient defense system against pirate invasions. Please note that the €5 entrance fee per person for the Fortress is not included.
- Se Catedral - Explore the ruins of the first Cathedral built by Europeans in Sub-Saharan Africa, and enjoy a panoramic view of the city center’s colonial architecture from the top of Calhau fishing bay.
- Pelourinho - Meet local fishermen and delve into the history of slavery at the former slave market in Pillory.
- Rue Banana - Continue the walking tour to the renowned Banana Street, featuring charming traditional thatched houses. This was the first urbanized street, constructed by colonists at the beginning of the settlement.
- Sao Jorge Dos Orgaos - Experience local cuisine with a family in the island’s interior, and prepare the delightful Cape Verdean couscous, a traditional cake made from corn flour.
- Assomada - After the cooking session, drive through the mountains with photo opportunities at the villages of Picos, Assomada, and Serra Malagueta Natural Park.
- Serra de Malagueta - Marvel at the breathtaking views from 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.
- Tarrafal Beach - Arrive at Santiago’s stunning Tarrafal Beach. Here, swim and unwind on the shore surrounded by hills and palm trees, followed by a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
- Pedra Badejo - Travel along the scenic east coast road and, if available, enjoy fresh coconut water at the country’s largest plantation at your own expense.
- Praia - Conclude the tour with a drop-off at your accommodation.
What's Included
- Liability insurance
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia or Cidade Velha
- Tour Guide
- Transportation
- Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)
- Liability insurance
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia or Cidade Velha
- Tour Guide
- Transportation
- Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Entrance fee (€5 for São Filipe Fortress)
- Lunch
- Entrance fee (€5 for São Filipe Fortress)
Additional Information
- Please bring sandals/flip flops, a towel, a hat, swimwear, and sunscreen
- Note that the São Filipe Fortress is closed on holidays
- Please note that the Assomada Market opens only on Wednesdays and Saturdays
- Please bring sandals/flip flops, a towel, a hat, swimwear, and sunscreen
- Note that the São Filipe Fortress is closed on holidays
- Please note that the Assomada Market opens only on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Location
Praia
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(3 Ratings)
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1 star
Sergim25
Jan 23, 2022
Highly recommended!! - We had a great an very special time. The guides are very professional, they know how to adapt to your needs and preferences and they always do their best to assure you have a wonderful time. After this first excursion we booked the rest of the days with them and it was an excellent investment.
This full day trip is perfect to explore the island and discover what Santiago has to offer, you get a bit of everything, culture, nature, beach, local cusine… We just had an amazing day!
We are experienced travelers and we’ve booked many trips and guides all over the world. This guys are just great, we strongly recomend them!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Macadx
Apr 11, 2021
A must during your stay in Santiago Island - I had an amazing day doing The Best of Santiago Island tour. Admilson is an excellent guide. His passion for his work and his love for his country make the tour very enjoyable. I also had the chance to meet Rita, who is part of the team of BU Country Tours. I visited several places throughout the tour, observed beautiful landscapes and met nice people. A highly recommend this tour! It is a must during your stay in the beautiful Santiago Island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
