In a nutshell

A day discovering the island of Santiago. Accompanied by your guide, lose yourself among the scents of a botanical garden, before discovering the colonial buildings of Assomada and the most lively market on Cape Verde. Then, head to Tarrafal to take home a piece of the city's history. Hungry? The best of local cuisine awaits you in a typical restaurant.

Main stops

São Jorge dos Órgãos botanical garden and Tarrafal concentration camp: Interior visits
Walk through Assomada
Typical lunch in a local restaurant
Valley of a thousand palms and Calheta de São Miguel: photo stops

The programme

Climb aboard the bus and cross the island of Santiago from the southern tip to Tarrafal, the northernmost point.
Then, it's nature's turn: at the heart of the island, immerse yourself in the greenery of the botanical garden and take plenty of snaps of the colorful flowers and exotic plants.
Your bus will then head to Assomada, the second largest city in Santiago. Here, you'll wander past its colonial-style houses to the market, the most lively and important on the island.
The photo opportunities continue from your window, while you head to Tarrafal and its famous beach. The bay is also known for its prison, where opponents of the Portuguese regime were once detained. Your guide will tell you everything, including the happy ending of the 1974 revolution.
Feeling hungry? Before a final tour encompassing palm groves, little villages and the sea, enjoy some Cape Verdean cuisine, one of the world's first "fusion" cuisines, with African, European and Asian influences.

Good to know

Wear comfortable shoes and take sunscreen with you to protect yourself during the hottest hours of the day.
Based on the state of preservation and/or blooming season, the visit to the Botanical Gardens may be replaced with a visit to the Eco Center.