Cape of Good Hope and Boulders Penguins Day Tour from Cape Town

A full coastal route in one day: from Bo-Kaap's colored houses to penguins on the sand.

A guided day tour from Cape Town covering the Cape Peninsula's main landmarks (Bo-Kaap, Chapman's Peak Drive, Cape of Good Hope, and Boulders Beach penguin colony) with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport, and a local guide in English. National park fees are optional at checkout. The boat trip to Duiker Island to see Cape fur seals and lunch in Simon's Town are at your own cost.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bo-Kaap25m
2. Cliftonpass by
3. Camps Bay10m
4. Duiker Island1h
5. Chapman's Peak Drive20m · entry included
6. Cape Point2h
7. Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve30m
8. Boulders Beach1h

Cape Town to Cape of Good Hope Tour

• Hotel pickup in Cape Town
• Visit historic Bo-Kaap neighborhood
• Pass by Bantry Bay and Clifton
• Stop at Camps Bay for photos
• Arrive in Hout Bay
• Optional boat trip to Duiker Island
• Drive along Chapman's Peak Drive
• Pass through Noordhoek farm village
• Stop at ostrich farm for photos
• Explore Cape Point Nature Reserve
• Visit Cape of Good Hope sign and optional hikes
• Walk or funicular to old lighthouse
• Stop in Simon's Town for lunch
• Visit Boulders Beach Penguin Colony
• Pass by Muizenberg Beach if time allows
• Return to Cape Town hotel

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup and a stop in Bo-Kaap, where brightly colored houses line the streets and your guide walks you through the neighborhood's history. From there the route heads toward the coast, passing through Clifton and Camps Bay (two affluent suburbs with views of the Twelve Apostles mountain range) before reaching Hout Bay. You'll have an hour to decide: take an optional 40-minute boat trip out to Duiker Island to see over 5,000 Cape fur seals, or explore the craft market and a short walk to Hout Bay Beach.

The Chapman's Peak Drive comes next, a 9-kilometer mountain road that winds along cliffs dropping toward the ocean, with stops for photos of the Atlantic views and white sand beaches. After passing an ostrich farm and a farm village with shops and cafés, you reach Cape Point Nature Reserve. Here the guide offers optional hiking trails to the summit or the old lighthouse (funicular at your own cost), where a 360-degree view spans the national park. The reserve itself is part of one of the world's richest plant families, and you can explore it on foot or from the vehicle.

Simon's Town, a Victorian-era town on False Bay, is where you can stop for lunch at a seafood restaurant (your cost). The final major stop is Boulders Beach, where you walk on the sand among thousands of African penguins: endangered birds you'll photograph up close while the guide explains their current status. If time and traffic allow, Muizenberg Beach, known for its colorful changing huts and surf culture, is a last stop before the drive back to your hotel. The full tour runs 9 to 10 hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Cape Town.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout the day.
• toll fees to all attractions.
• bottled water.
• and a local guide in English who leads you through Bo-Kaap's history, walks with you at Boulders Beach among the penguin colony, and explains the landscapes and wildlife along the route.

Options for this experience

2 options

Without national park entry feesGuide in English · 08:00

Including national park entry feesGuide in English · 08:00

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 47

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Cape Archives Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the Cape Peninsula's main sights (from penguins to the Cape of Good Hope) in a single day without arranging your own transport or navigation. The guide's local knowledge and the fixed itinerary mean you move through multiple landscapes and towns without planning the stops yourself, though you'll decide at checkout whether to add national park fees and can opt into the seal-watching boat trip if you want it.

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Top questions

Can children come?

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

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What's included in the Cape of Good Hope tour from Cape Town?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, toll fees, bottled water, and a local English-speaking guide are included. National park entry fees are optional at checkout. The boat trip to Duiker Island (R150 adult, R80 child) and lunch in Simon's Town are at your own cost.

Do I get to see the African penguins at Boulders Beach on this tour?

Yes. Boulders Beach is a main stop where you walk on the sand and take close-up photos of the endangered African penguin colony. The guide provides information about the penguins while you're there.

What is Chapman's Peak Drive and why is it on the tour?

Chapman's Peak Drive is a 9-kilometer mountain road that winds along cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean, locally known as "Chapies." It's an engineering landmark and one of the world's most scenic coastal routes, with stops for photos of the ocean views and white sand beaches.

Can I take a boat trip to see seals during this tour?

Yes, there's an optional 40-minute boat trip to Duiker Island in Hout Bay, where you'll see Cape fur seals from the boat. This adds about an hour to the tour and costs R150 per adult and R80 per child, paid separately.

Is there time for lunch, and what are the lunch options?

The tour stops for about an hour in Simon's Town, a Victorian town with fresh seafood restaurants where you can grab lunch at your own cost. Depending on how the tour timing goes, the guide may arrange lunch at Cape Point instead.

What happens at Cape Point and Cape of Good Hope?

Cape Point Nature Reserve is home to the Cape of Good Hope, the southwestern corner of Africa where the Atlantic and Indian oceans meet. The guide offers optional hiking trails to the summit or to the old lighthouse (funicular at your own cost), with 360-degree views of the national park and its rich plant and animal life.