Santiago North Island Tour

The northern half of Santiago Island is a world apart from the beaches most visitors picture when they think of Cabo Verde, and this tour is built around that contrast. The Santiago North Island Tour is a five to six hour easy circuit that takes you through cloud-draped mountain passes, a lively market town, one of the island's most iconic natural landmarks, and finally down to the calm bay of Tarrafal, all in a single morning or afternoon.

Leaving Tarrafal, the road climbs quickly into the Serra Malagueta mountain range, where the air cools noticeably and the valleys below open up like a relief map of the entire island. The peaks here rise to nearly 1,100 metres and on clear days the views stretch out over both coasts of Santiago Island simultaneously. This is Cape Verde as few visitors expect it: green, dramatic, and surprisingly temperate, a landscape shaped by the northeast trade winds that push moisture up against the volcanic ridge.

Assomada is the natural midpoint of the tour and one of the most authentic market towns in Cabo Verde. On Wednesdays and Saturdays it fills with vendors, farmers, and craftspeople from villages across the interior, selling everything from hand-woven baskets to freshly harvested papaya. Your guide will take you through the stalls at a relaxed pace, with time to pick up a piece of local craftswork if something catches your eye.

Before descending back toward Tarrafal, the route passes through Boa Entrada to visit the legendary Poilão tree, a specimen so large and so old that it has become a kind of living monument on the island. The return leg follows the coast into Tarrafal town, where the famous crescent bay provides a natural full stop to the journey. Priced at €90 per person, this tour works as both a standalone experience and a perfect complement to the full-day circuit. Send a WhatsApp message to check dates and book your place.