Unique local experiences in Cape Verde
If you want to experience Cape Verde in a truly authentic way, we always recommend adding some local experiences to your trip. Spending time with a local guide, whether on a jeep tour or a guided walk, is one of the best ways to really discover the culture, landscapes and way of life across the islands. You can also look out for experiences that are unique to Cape Verde, such as floating in the salt-rich waters at Salinas, swimming with sea turtles off the coast of São Vicente, and tasting the local sugar cane spirit on Santo Antão.
Our holidays are all fully tailor-made, so you simply choose the islands you would like to visit and the experiences you want to enjoy whilst there. So, let’s explore some of the most unique experiences that Cape Verde has to offer and the islands you simply must visit in order to enjoy these experiences👇
Star gazing and wine tasting on Fogo
Fogo is one of Cape Verde’s most extraordinary islands and simply being there feels like an authentic experience in itself. Fogo’s dramatic volcanic landscape is unlike anywhere else, with perfectly cone-shaped Pico do Fogo volcano, lava fields, black-sand beaches, and steaming sulphuric vents that remind you the island is still very much alive.
Cha das Caldeiras is at the heart of it all. This remarkable village sits within the vast crater of Fogo’s active volcano, creating a setting that feels both surreal and deeply connected to nature. While staying here, you can join guided hikes across the lava fields, climb to the summit of Pico do Fogo with an expert guide, sample locally produced wines grown in the volcanic soil, and spend evenings stargazing from Casa Marisa. These experiences all capture the raw beauty, culture and spirit of Fogo.
Guitar-making, cooking classes, and Carnival time on São Vicente
São Vicente is often regarded as one of the most culturally rich and authentic islands in Cape Verde, with the colourful city of Mindelo at its heart. Known for its vibrant music scene, lively atmosphere, delicious cuisine and strong artistic heritage, Mindelo offers visitors a wonderful introduction to Cape Verdean culture. If you like a lively atmosphere, then visit during the Cape Verde Carnival and we can arrange a holiday that pairs the highlights of carnival with some quieter parts of São Vicente and neighbouring islands.
Our newest experience on São Vicente is a traditional cooking lesson, included as part of a full-day guided island tour. The class is hosted in Spanish, German or French, with translation provided by your English-speaking guide, allowing you to fully enjoy the experience while discovering local flavours and cooking techniques. Another favourite stop on the full-day tour is the guitar-making workshop, where you can learn about the craftsmanship behind these beautiful instruments. Visits are often accompanied by live music from local musicians, creating an authentic and memorable atmosphere as you watch the different stages of guitar building.
Another very special experience on São Vicente is swimming with turtles from São Pedro Beach. Heading out in a small boat, you anchor in the shallow waters of the bay and swim from the boat (snorkels are provided).
Try the local sugar cane spirit on Santo Antão
Santo Antão is widely considered one of the most beautiful islands in Cape Verde, celebrated for its dramatic mountain scenery, lush green valleys and spectacular hiking routes. It’s especially popular with walkers, thanks to the incredible trails that wind through areas such as the Paul Valley and Xoxo, all of which can be enjoyed with one of our local guides, who always make the experience extra special.
The island’s towering mountains create their own microclimate, capturing moisture from the ocean and transforming the valleys into rich agricultural land. Much of Cape Verde’s sugar cane is grown here, and it is also the home of grogue, the country’s traditional sugar cane spirit, produced in small, local distilleries across the island.
While exploring Santo Antão with a local guide, you’ll often have the opportunity to visit one of these traditional grogue distilleries. Here, you can learn about the production process and sample the strong, sweet and unrefined spirit for yourself. It’s often compared to rum, but has a character that is distinctly Cape Verdean.
Visit Cape Verde’s oldest settlement on Santiago
Santiago is regarded as one of Cape Verde’s most historically significant islands, as it was here that the first Portuguese settlers established themselves, in the coastal settlement of Ribeira Grande, now known as Cidade Velha. During the Age of Discovery, when European explorers were mapping new trade routes across the Atlantic, Portuguese sailors arrived in Cape Verde and settled on Santiago, establishing it as an important stopping point between Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Today, Santiago offers visitors a fascinating insight into Cape Verde’s history and cultural roots. Exploring Cidade Velha with a local guide allows you to discover historic churches, colonial architecture and centuries-old fortifications, while learning about the island’s role in maritime trade and the cultural influences that shaped modern Cape Verde. There is a really lovely valley walk that leads the Cidade Velha, or you can simply go by road. It’s a really charming town, particularly walking along the cobbled street of Rua Banana.
Santiago is also known for its bustling local markets, both in Praia and in the hilltop plateau town of Assomada. The markets are a great insight into island life because you will see a colourful array of tropical fruit and vegetables, and all of the fresh fish that’s been hauled in from the ocean that day, including giant tuna! These are authentic local markets, so the produce on sale is for the people who live here rather than tourist souvenirs and trinkets.
Float in salt pools and watch loggerhead turtles nest on Sal
Sal is the most well known of Cape Verde’s islands and attracts visitors from all over the world, who flock here to enjoy the wonderful weather, the luxury all-inclusive resorts, and the watersports centres on Santa Maria Beach. We often tell people that to experience the real Cape Verde, they should explore the lesser-known islands. Whilst this is true, there are still some authentic experiences to be had on Sal, and it’s certainly a great place to kick back and relax for a few days. Floating in the dead sea in Jordan has to be one of the most iconic experiences amongst the travelling community, but did you know that the volcanic crater pools at Pedra da Lume are even saltier, and even more buoyant! On our half-day tour of the worlds only , you can walk between the grided salt pans, float in the salty waters, cover yourself in the salty mud (considered to be great for removing impurities from the skin), and then head to Buracona, to swim in the natural sea pools.
Another truly special experience on Sal is witnessing sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. As Sal is the busiest and most visited of Cape Verde’s islands, we arrange this as a private experience, allowing you to enjoy a quieter and more secluded setting away from the larger tour groups.
Under the cover of darkness, you can watch these remarkable creatures emerge from the ocean, slowly making their way up the beach to dig their nests and lay their eggs before returning silently to the sea. It’s a peaceful, unforgettable experience and a rare opportunity to observe one of nature’s most extraordinary wildlife events in an intimate and respectful way.
How do I book the local experiences in Cape Verde?
If you are booking your holiday with Archipelago Choice, we can arrange for you to enjoy any of these experiences during your stay in Cape Verde. All of our holidays are fully customisable, so you get to pick the experiences you want to include. If you have any questions, our Cape Verde specialists can describe these experiences in more detail:
Have a chat with Max or Jake, on: team@archipelagochoice.com.
