Cape Verde Hiking Tours: 7 Worth Booking

1.Fogo Island: Pico do Fogo Volcano Summit Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 92 reviews · 6 - 7 hours · from $51Our pick

Join a private or small-group hike from your accommodation to Pico do Fogo, Cape Verde’s highest point at 2,829 meters. Guides such as Nezito and Junior set a steady pace, explain eruptions and local life, and lead you down the soft lava ash. Allow 6 to 7 hours, bring water and hiking boots, and expect a demanding climb.

“Amazing experience to sleep in the Caldeira and then do the hike. The way down through the lava ash with the view of your feet, the lava, the village, the caldeira, the ocean and the cloud is something you will never forget!”

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2.Santo Antão: Day Trip by Car or Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $104Top rated

Take a full-day Santo Antão excursion from São Vicente, including hotel pickup, return ferry, and a local guide such as Madu or Danny. See Cova Crater, Pico da Cruz, Delgadinho, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol, Paúl, and a grogue distillery. Choose a car sightseeing day or ask about a walking or trekking version.

“Prima tour met prima gids die goede toelichting gaf, interessant en aangenaam. Zeker een aanbeveling.”

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3.Serra Malagueta: Principal Valley Hike & Lunch with Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 64 reviews · 7 hours · from $111

This seven-hour outing takes you from Serra Malagueta National Park down to Principal Valley on a moderate 4.5-kilometer trail. Expect mountain views, streams, plantations, a family lunch in Mato Dento, and a scenic east-coast drive back to Praia. Guides speak English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Guide quality can vary, so confirm your pickup and guide details.

“Excellent service from guide and driver. Nice trekking experience and family meal. Attention! The trek is for people with a minimum of mountain experience since the trail is steep and rough”

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4.Santiago Island: Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 61 reviews · 8 hours · from $106

Travel from Praia into Serra Malagueta Natural Park for a guided 8.5 km loop at 800 to 1,075 meters. Your guide may be Carlos, Elton, Americano, Elisanto, or Elisandro, depending on the day. After a picnic and views of rare island plants and birds, relax at Tarrafal Beach. Choose a private or small-group outing.

“I ended up being the only one attending the hike. So it was me, the guide and 2 trainees. The guide was very knowledgeable and all of the guys were very nice to spend time with. I booked the hike during the rainy season, so no views for me, but it was still a nicely spent day.”

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5.Praia: Baobab Mysterious Tree, Green Valley & Old City Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 53 reviews · 4 hours · from $53

Travel from Praia into Santiago’s farming country for a 4-kilometer, moderate downhill hike through banana, mango, coconut, papaya, and sugar cane groves. Guides such as Antonio, Alex, and Americio share local history, plant knowledge, and grogue-making traditions before the walk ends in Cidade Velha.

“Leuke tour met geduldige en goed geïnformeerde gids”

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6.Santiago: Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 49 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

From Praia, you’ll walk roughly 5 km downhill through Calabaceira Valley, passing baobabs, farms, tropical plants, and a local rum distillery. A multilingual guide such as Katia, Mario, Ivana, or Soraya then leads you through Cidade Velha, including its church, slave market, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. Lunch is extra.

“Lovely trip and beautiful surroundings, Ivana, the guide, was extremely nice and friendly, absolutely recommended:)”

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7.Santiago: Monte Tchota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 43 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

You’ll hike from Rui Vaz through Monte Txota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia, Santiago’s 1,394-meter summit. The difficult, narrow 9-kilometer route takes 4 to 5 hours of walking, with a picnic stop and views toward São Jorge Valley, Maio, and Fogo. Guides speak English, French, Spanish, or Portuguese. Guide Elder is praised for safety and nature knowledge.

“To była fantastyczna wyprawa. Elder był znakomitym, pomocnym i pełnym empatii przewodnikiem. Jego wiedza na temat otaczającej nas podczas wyprawy przyrody była imponująca, ale przekazywał ją w bardzo przystępny sposób. Podczas całej wędrówki Elder zarówno czuwał nad bezpieczeństwem naszej grupy jak i wspierał w trudniejszych momentach. Choć droga na szczyt Pico d'Antonio momentami łatwa nie była, to krajobraz widziany z góry wynagradzał wszystko. Dziękuję Elder za tą wyprawę.”

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