Assomada tour from Santiago: Market, Poilão tree & Groggu tasting

Climb inland to the heart of Santiago and taste what locals drink

A 6-hour guided tour from Praia to Assomada, the interior market town of Santiago, led by Don or Edney in English, Portuguese, French or German. You'll see the 30-meter-thick Poilão tree that has stood for 800 years, walk the pedestrian market square with its church and statues, and finish with a private tasting of Groggu (a high-proof sugarcane spirit), home-brewed beer and fresh fruit juices. Public transportation is included. Children from age 7 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Tour of Santiago and Assomada highlights

• Short city tour of Praia
• Visit viewing platform for photos
• See the giant Poilão tree
• Explore Assomada and taste Groggu

The experience

What makes Assomada worth the climb from the coast? The town sits in the cool inland hills of Santiago, a sharp shift from Praia's heat, and it's where the island's real rhythm lives. The tour starts with a short loop through the capital, then heads up to a viewing platform built in 2025 that opens onto the island's interior. The angles here are why photographers book this trip. From there, the road leads to Poilão, an 800-year-old giant tree with a trunk 30 meters thick, standing as a marker of centuries on the island.

Assomada itself is the draw. Don, a German who has lived in Cape Verde for over four years, or his co-guide Edney, leads you through what locals call "the most African city in Cape Verde": the market stalls, the pedestrian zone, the church, the open square, and statues of ancestors and historical figures. The tour wraps with something you won't find elsewhere: a private tasting of Groggu, the high-proof spirit made from sugarcane that Capeverdeans drink straight or mixed into punch. You'll also sample Igor's home-brewed beer and fresh fruit juices blended on the spot. The tasting is included in the price, and it's the kind of detail that stays with you.

The whole day runs six hours. Public transportation gets you there and back. Children from seven years old can join. The guides speak English, Portuguese, French and German, so language isn't a barrier. This tour is built for cruise passengers who want to step off the ship and see the real island in one morning or afternoon.

What’s included

• Public transportation to and from Assomada.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Portuguese, French or German.
• entry to the Poilão tree site.
• a private tasting of Groggu, home-brewed beer and fresh fruit juices.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 89 years) · Infant (7 to 17 years) · Under 7: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Martin Kohler Investimentos

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're docked in Praia for a few hours and want to see the real Santiago beyond the capital: the guide's four years living in Cape Verde means you get angles and stories most visitors miss, and the Groggu tasting is something you can only do here.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (7 to 17 years). Children under 7 can't be included in the booking.

How long does it take to get from Praia to Assomada?

The full tour runs six hours from start to finish, with the drive inland and back taking up a portion of that time. The viewing platform and the Poilão tree are stops along the way, and Assomada itself is where you spend the bulk of the afternoon.

What exactly is Groggu and why is it worth tasting?

Groggu is a high-proof spirit distilled from sugarcane that Capeverdeans drink straight or mix into punch. The tasting is private and exclusive to this tour. You'll also sample home-brewed beer and fresh fruit juices, so you get a real taste of what locals drink and how they drink it.

What's special about the Poilão tree?

Poilão is 800 years old with a trunk 30 meters thick. It's one of the oldest and largest trees on the island and a landmark that marks the passage of centuries on Santiago.