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

4.8 (136 reviews) 8 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

136 reviews

4.8

Santiago Island Tour: Meet with a Local Family & Tarrafal Beach — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Santiago Island Tour: Meet with a Local Family & Tarrafal Beach, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Discover Santiago's highlights on this full-day tour. 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.

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At a glance

Duration: 8 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Operated by: Bu Country Tours

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–11 years) · Adults (12–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia
Included: Liability insurance
Included: Tour Guide
Included: Transportation
Included: Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)

Not included

Not included: Lunch

Itinerary

Praia

40 min

Get picked up at your accommodation, then depart toward the interior of the island.
Stop 2

one hour

Make your first stop at Mrs. Luisa's house. There, learn to cook and savor cuscuz (a traditional cake made from corn flour) and fidjós (fried banana mixed with wheat), the typical breakfast for Cape Verdean families.
Assomada Market

one hour

After the workshop, head to the city of Assomada and visit its famous market (Wednesdays and Saturdays only), meet locals and admire the vibrant colors of the local fruits and vegetables.
Serra de Malagueta

30 min

Move on to the Serra Malagueta natural park and marvel at the incredible views from 1000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.
Tarrafal Beach

2 hours

Next, swim at Santiago's most beautiful beach, Tarrafal, surrounded by white sand, hills and palm trees. Next, take a break for a delicious lunch at your own expense at a local restaurant and enjoy the local cuisine.
Calheta de Sao Miguel

30 min

After lunch, drive back along the beautiful east coast, take in breathtaking photo stops at the awe-inspiring volcanic landscapes of Calheta.
Pedra Badejo

1 h 30 min

Drive between the country's verdant agricultural fields before heading to Praia.
Praia

10 min

The tour concludes with a drive back to Praia, the capital of the country.
Stop 9

Passing by

After discovering Santiago's highlights on this full-day tour, be dropped off at the inicial pickup point.

Meeting point and pickup

The operator picks every participant up from their accommodation or the points below.

Pickup points

If your accommodation is not listed, please send us an email with your pick-up address in Praia.

Using your ticket

The pick-up time will be between 8:50 am and 9:00 am at the reception of your accommodation or in front of your apartment. If your accommodation is not listed, please email us your pick-up address in Praia.

Please keep some space to enjoy the local Cuscuz, Fidjós, tea/coffee during the workshop.

Please bring sandals/flip flops, a towel, a hat, swimwear, sunscreen and lunch money (optional).

The average cost of lunch is between 10 - 20 Euros/person. The local restaurant accepts cash payment in Euros or Local currency only. Credit cards are not accepted.

The Assomada Market is open only on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The visit will only be on these days.

Shared group tour option is subject to a minimum of 2 participants. In the event that the minimum number is not met, we reserve the right to propose an alternative date; to charge an extra fee to run the trip privately or to cancel a customer’s booking for a full refund.

For departures with less than 4 travellers, our professional tour guide may himself be the driver.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if too few people book; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please note that the fair in Assomada Market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.