Santiago Island Tour: Cooking Class & Tarrafal Beach

One day covering Santiago's history, a kitchen lesson, and the island's best beach

A full-day guided tour of Santiago Island that combines the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cidade Velha, a cooking workshop where you learn to make Cape Verdean couscous with a local family, and swimming at Tarrafal beach. Pickup from your accommodation, a live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French, and transportation across the island are included. The fortress entrance fee and lunch are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Cidade Velha and Tarrafal Beach

• Pick up from accommodation
• Travel to Cidade Velha UNESCO site
• Guided tour of São Filipe Fortress
• Visit ruins of first Cathedral and city views
• Meet fishermen and visit former slave market
• Walk along Banana Street with traditional houses
• Cook Cape Verdean couscous with local family
• Drive through mountains with photo stops
• Enjoy views from 1000 meters above sea level
• Swim and relax at Tarrafal beach
• Lunch at local restaurant
• Drive along east coast road and visit coconut plantation
• Drop off at accommodation

The experience

You start with pickup from your accommodation in Praia or Cidade Velha and head straight to Cidade Velha, the oldest European settlement in Sub-Saharan Africa. A guided walking tour takes you through the São Filipe Fortress (where you'll learn the defense system built against pirate attacks), then to the ruins of the first Cathedral built by Europeans in the region. From the top of Calhau fishing bay, you get a panoramic view of colonial buildings in the city center. The tour moves on to the Pillory, where local fishermen share the history of slavery, and Banana Street, lined with traditional thatched houses that was the first urbanized street built by colonists.

In the interior of the island, you meet a local family and cook together: you'll make Cape Verdean couscous, a traditional cake from corn flour, and fidjós, learning the techniques and ingredients that define the island's food. After the workshop, the drive takes you through the mountains with stops at the villages of Picos and Assomada, then through Serra Malagueta Natural Park at 1,000 meters above sea level. The views open up across the island before you descend to Tarrafal beach, where you swim and relax on the shore ringed by hills and palm trees. A local restaurant provides lunch, and on the way back along the east coast road, you can buy fresh coconut water at the country's largest plantation if you'd like.

The tour runs about 10 hours and ends with drop-off at your accommodation. You'll need moderate fitness for the walking and the elevation changes. Bring sandals, a towel, a hat, swimwear and sunscreen. Note that the fortress closes on holidays and the Assomada Market opens only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, so timing matters if those stops are on your mind.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia or Cidade Velha.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• transportation across the island.
• a cooking workshop where you make Cape Verdean couscous and fidjós with a local family.
• liability insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Shared Group TourUp to 8 people · Guide in 4 languages · 08:30Lasts 10 hours, with pickup included

Private TourUp to 10 people · Guide in 4 languages · 08:30Private option lasting 10 hours, with pickup included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 5.68

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Bu Country Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the private tour if you want the flexibility to linger at any stop or adjust the pace. The shared group tour keeps costs lower and pairs you with other travelers following the same route and schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What exactly happens during the cooking workshop with the local family?

You cook Cape Verdean couscous and fidjós, a traditional corn flour cake, with a local family in the interior of Santiago Island, learning the recipes and techniques that are central to the island's cuisine.

Is the entrance fee for São Filipe Fortress included in the tour price?

No, the €5 per person fortress entrance fee is not included and is paid separately at the site.

Can I swim at Tarrafal beach, and how much time do I have there?

Yes, swimming and relaxation time at Tarrafal beach are part of the tour. You'll have time to swim and rest on the shore before lunch at a local restaurant.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

Pickup and drop-off from your accommodation, the guide, transportation across the island, liability insurance, and the cooking workshop are included. The fortress entrance fee (€5 per person) and lunch are not included.

Is this tour available as a private tour or only as a shared group tour?

You can book either a private tour or a shared group tour. Both follow the same itinerary and include the same guide and workshop.

What should I bring, and are there any physical limitations I should know about?

Bring sandals or flip-flops, a towel, a hat, swimwear, and sunscreen. The tour involves walking, elevation changes, and a 10-hour day, so moderate fitness is needed. It's not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.