Santiago Island Tour: Meet with a Local Family & Tarrafal Beach
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia
Liability insurance
Transportation
Workshop of Cuscuz and Fidjós (local delights)
Tour Guide
Lunch
What To Expect
Praia
Get picked up at your accommodation, then depart toward the interior of the island.
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.
Options
Shared Group Tour
Small group tour
Duration: 8 hours
Mini Van
Pickup included
Reviews
135 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
A great day trip.
MadanGopalM,
Nov 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The tour started promptly, the guide Alecandra is quite knowledgeable and polite,his narrations with historical facts, life and times of Cape Verde was very informative and educative. The introduction to the local family, traditional breakfast, dance with music was the most beautiful experience. We stopped at the scenic viewpoints and could capture enchanting moments, the visit to concentration camp set up by colonial portugese regime is an eye opener to the brutalities and heroic struggles of people, the time given at Tarrafal Beach was quite sufficient, all together it's a great day trip.
Nice experience
Codissou,
Nov 9, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00The experience was beautiful and the guides were super pro and kind. From start to finish, everything was done to make the experience perfect
It's worth it.
Ann L,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Nice way to discover the island in 1 day. You visit the market with a lot of Mood. The cooking class is a bonus. The 2h break in Tarrafal was a bit disappointing because we had to wait more than 1 hour for food. Because of that not being able to enjoy the beach. The coastline back was beautiful and the nature reserve was top notch. The guides were very friendly. Nice stop for a coconut drink.
Great Day tour from Praia
Wale O,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour was fantastic. The guide Elton and the driver were both amazing. Elton was knowledgeable and he kept us informed
Lovely local team, please lose the trainee guide
StephanieP,
Sep 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
3.00We had a mixed bag of experiences with Bu Country Tours, having taken both the round island trip of Santiago as well as the half day Praia/Cidade Velha tour. Our originally assigned guide for the full day tour, Ivana and her Cape Verdean colleagues were highly professional, kind and knowledgeable. Our Cabo Verdean guide for the more historical tour, however, was lacking historical knowledge and couldn't really reply to questions in English or Portuguese. It was clear he didn't care about guests and just wanted to get the job done as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, both days, the team was joined by a guide in training who was one of the most unpleasant people I have met in travelling over 90 countries. He insisted speaking German to entire groups of people, clearly keen to practice his German, which was unfortunately barely intelligible or telling us random stories from his private life which were simply inappropriate. He ended up shouting German at people who didn't even speak the language, leaving them rightfully confused. He also kept repeating everything, the most basic and obvious things, 10 times throughout the day in both English and German, after other guides had already explained it. We talked to other guests who all had the same exhausting experience with this particular person.
Wonderful tour of Santiago island
Simon T,
Sep 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent tour of this beautiful island. Ricardo was an excellent guide and made us want to see more of this friendly country🇨🇻🇨🇻🇨🇻
Exceptional
lebretdavid,
Aug 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Exceptional day faithful to the description... and the good surprise was bamba our football guide from ivory side that brightened our day.. Not to be missed David
Great Santiago tour with all the highlights Spots
40aferditah,
Jun 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a very nice tour of Santiago. Our guide told us a lot about the places and the island. We would book this tour again anytime.
Good tour de lile
Destination278133,
Mar 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Good contact information before the visit. Pick up on time at my hotel. Nice visit consistent with the description. I recommend.
Recommended
mirelaelena t,
Mar 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Very organized tour. The guide tour Ricardo was amazing full of knowledge. All our question got answered
From €89.00
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Operated by Bu Country Tours