A Taste of Santiago
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port
Praia, Ilha de Santiago, Cape Verde
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activityLevel
Moderate Activity
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excursionType
Information Not Currently Available
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wheelchairAccessible
No
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startingAtPrice
$120
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minimumAge
Information Not Currently Available
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duration
Approximately 8 Hours
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mealsIncluded
Meals included
Drive inland from the capital of Santiago to visit a local village in Santo Domingos. Here you'll find the village cooperative where local arts and crafts are for sale.
The beauty of the Cape Verdean Botanic Garden is yours to discover in São Jorge dos Orgãos.
During a scenic drive to Assomada, watch for little villages and a glimpse of the local life. Assomada plays an important role in the islands' commercial wellbeing and it boasts a pleasant combination of urban areas and fields. The city center features many Portuguese-style colonial buildings. In the center of town, churches, shops and banks surround several town squares.
The market of Assomada is one of the largest on the island of Santiago, with a large variety of agricultural products and crafts. It is the central collection and distribution point for produce from the surrounding countryside. This wholesale market is very large and vibrant -- most of the trade is between middlemen (rabidantis), who on-sell the produce at larger national and international markets.
During the ride to Tarrafal, you will view the landscape of Santiago, with a few short photo stops to take photos. The bay and beach of Tarrafal are on the northern tip of Santiago Island. The little houses are part of the tourist resort, which is relatively well integrated in the landscape. Despite the beauty of its beach, Tarrafal is infamous due to the former Concentration Camp located here. The Portuguese colonial-fascist regime built this gruesome place where many opponents to the regime were imprisoned and tortured, and died. The hell of the concentration camp ended in 1974, after the April 25 Revolution in Portugal, which led to the end of the colonial war.
Please note: Tourism infrastructure is limited in Cape Verde; the coach may not have air-conditioning or a PA system. Public markets are closed on Sundays and holidays.