The 15 Hiking Tours in Santiago That Earn Their Price

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

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

Hike from Serra Malagueta to Principal Valley, share a Cape Verdean lunch with locals, and enjoy east-coast views from Praia.

“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 :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Santiago Island: Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

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

Hike Serra Malagueta’s mountain trails, spot Cape Verdean birds, then relax at Tarrafal Beach on an 8-hour Santiago Island tour.

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

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Hike from Praia through Santiago’s green valley to a 400-year-old baobab and historic Cidade Velha with a small local group.

“We loved this walk, its about 2 hours of actual walking but gets you out the city and into nature from Praia. Not a long drive to the starting point and they pick you up at the end of the walk (point to point, not a loop) The area was beautiful and peaceful. Lots of fruit trees and the Kingfisher bird and a money we spotted! Very stoney ground but not too strenuous. Good to wear shoes with proper support for the stones.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

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

Trek Santiago’s Calabaceira Valley, visit a rum distillery, and explore UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha with hotel pickup from Praia.

“Merci à Katia pour cette belle balade au milieu d'une nature luxuriante.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Hike Santiago’s highest peak through Monte Txota Natural Park, with cool mountain air, island views, a picnic, and an expert guide.

“Great tour and guide went mostly in our pace and was well informed and helpful”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.From Tarrafal: Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

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

Hike from Serra Malagueta to Principal, then share a home-cooked Cape Verdean lunch with a local family for $70.

“Luìs est un super guide !! Il nous a permis d'en apprendre beaucoup sur l'histoire de son magnifique pays et particulièrement de Santiago. Grâce à lui nous avons pu faire la rencontre d'habitants très chaleureux et généreux. La randonnée est incroyable. Et le petit plus de Luìs au-delà de sa gentillesse et son authenticité est son niveau de français ! Mille mercis Luìs !”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Serra Malagueta Natural Park Hike & Relaxing Swim at Tarrafal Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $104Top rated

Hike Serra Malagueta with a local guide, then swim at Tarrafal Beach on this scenic seven-hour Santiago Island day trip from Praia.

“Guide très sympathique, parlant parfaitement le français et très cultivée (biologie, histoire etc...). Expédition relativement facile, marche d'environ 3 heures, très venté, brumeux et relativement frais vers les sommets. Paysages magnifiques. Visite d'un village tenu par une communauté vivant comme les indigènes de l'époque (mais on a vu un poste TV qui fonctionnait...!!).”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Serra Malagueta Natural Park: Hike to Gongon Valley & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 22 reviews · from $106

Hike from Praia through Serra Malagueta, Gongon, and Hortelã valleys with local guides, mountain views, wildlife, and lunch for $106.

“A fantastic nature experience, if our guide hadn't tried to set a running record. 12 kilometers in about 3.5 hours! There was no picnic as described, just a quick stop to eat papaya! The guide was way ahead and either didn't notice some of our falls or didn't want to see them. The route is very challenging but beautiful, but it also requires a guide who cares about his or her group.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Santiago Island: 4-Hour Calabaceira Valley Hike & Guided Tour to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $81

Hike Calabaceira Valley, meet local farmers, and explore UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha on a small-group tour from Praia.

“Hiking through the Calabeceira Valley was definitely the highlight of my trip to Cape Verde. It was the perfect combination of nature, culture, and history. I am also very grateful for my guide Maria, who made this experience especially memorable by sharing her knowledgRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.From Tarrafal: Verdant Valley Hike & Lunch With Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 5 hours · from $82

Hike Serra Malagueta from Tarrafal, spot endemic birds, meet a local family, and enjoy a Cape Verdean lunch in Principal Valley.

“It was a very fun excursion. You start at the top and the hike is walking down into the valley. While receiving information about: plants, animals, culture and also rum. It was very interesting. The meal at the locals house was really good. My husband and I are vegetarian which was not a problem at all. They made the meal vegan. Absolutely amazing! We took a “bus” / local taxi with multiple people, which was very interesting, entertaining and gave insight into the culture and commutation. I recommend bringing hiking boots or some shoes with a good grip as some stones on the way down are slippery.”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Trek from Serra Malagueta to Rabelados Community

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $111

Hike Serra Malagueta’s mountain trails, enjoy island views and a picnic, then meet Cape Verde’s tradition-keeping Rabelados community.

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Hiking: Monte Tchota Natural Park – Pico D’Antónia (1394m) – Longueira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 13 reviews · from $98

Hike Santiago’s 1,394-meter summit, share a picnic, see local farms, and visit Longueira homes with a small local guide-led group.

“Cátia (the guide) and Nilton (the driver) were both wonderful! They are passionate about their country and didn't hesitate answering all my questions and even gave me some nice recommendations. I felt safe at all times, they made sure we were keeping a steady pace but Read more”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Santiago: Longueira, Pico de Antónia & Monte Tchota Trek

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · from $106

Trek Santiago from Longueira to Pico de Antónia and Monte Tchota, with local life, grogue, mountain views, and a demanding guided hike.

“Very nice hike, not easy especially the last meters which climb steeply. The very friendly guide as well as her trainee present today.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Private Hike through mountains and distant rural villages

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Hike from Rui Vaz through Santiago’s volcanic hills, farms, eucalyptus woods, and remote Longueira village with a local guide.

“Belle randonnée d’environ 1h de marche dans un sentier bien aménagé. José étais un excellent guide et nous beaucoup d’infos sur le Cap Vert. Visite de la distillerie et du petit village était super!”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Hiking Pico de Antónia – Summit Adventure & Scenic Views

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · 4 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $120

Hike Santiago’s 1,394-meter Pico de Antónia from Praia with private pickup, island-wide views, English service, and free cancellation.

“Great time great guys great share You can true the staff There are professionnal they do know how to have a really good time in this trekking”

Check availability →Read our full review