Santiago: Roots & Mountains
The island where Cape Verde began — history, mountains and Creole soul.
From$1,500/person
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Our signature trip splits your time across the two islands we know best: the history, highlands and culture of Santiago, then the beaches, salt crater and reefs of Sal. Private local guides on both islands, 24/7 support, and the inter-island flight included.
A starting point, not a straitjacket — we tailor every day to your pace. Below is the one-week rhythm.
Private transfer and a welcome dinner with live morna in the Plateau.
Private transferGuided UNESCO morning at Cidade Velha, then the Plateau and Sucupira market.
Private guideA highland hike and lunch with a farming family in the mountains.
Guided hikeYour included inter-island flight to Sal; settle into Santa Maria and catch the sunset at the pier.
Inter-island flightPrivate 4x4 tour: the Pedra de Lume salt float, the Buracona Blue Eye and Palmeira harbour.
Private guideCatamaran and snorkel over the reefs — turtles and swim stops — then the beach at Santa Maria.
Boat & beachA last morning by the sea, then a private transfer to Sal airport.
DepartureThe one-week version gives you three days on Santiago and four on Sal. Go two weeks and it's a full week on each — adding Tarrafal and the Santiago interior, then diving and slow beach days on Sal.
A relay of our two island teams — Santiago hands you to Sal — so every day is led by someone who actually lives there, and someone's on call the entire trip.
Comparable privately-guided Cape Verde trips run $3,400–$3,900 per person. Ours starts at $1,850.