The 15 Best Hikes in Cape Verde

1.Pico do Fogo Volcano Summit Hike

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

You’ll hike Pico do Fogo with a local guide such as Nezito or Junior, taking 3 to 4 hours to reach Cape Verde’s highest point. Expect volcanic views, clouds below the summit, a picnic break, and a thrilling descent through soft lava ash. Hotel pickup is included.

“Unforgettable hike to Pico do Fogo with Nezito! Climbing Pico do Fogo was an amazing experience, made even better by our guide, Nezito. He made the hike feel safe, smooth, and enjoyable from start to finish. We started early in the morning, which helped us avoid the heat — definitely a good idea. The view from the top is absolutely breathtaking: vast fields of lava and ash, incredible volcanic landscapes, and clear signs of past eruptions. It really gives you a sense of the raw power of nature. The descent? Like skiing down a slope of soft volcanic ash — so much fun! A good level of physical fitness is…”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Day Trip by Car or Trek

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

Cross from Mindelo to Santo Antão by ferry, then tour the island’s mountain roads with a local guide such as Madu or Danny. See Cova Crater, Pico da Cruz, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol, Paúl, and a grogue distillery. Choose a scenic car tour or ask about a walking option.

“I had an absolutely wonderful time on this tour of Santo Antão. The tour was very well organised and was led by Madu, a native of Santo Antão who is super knowledgeable and passionate about his island. I would encourage everyone traveling through Cabo Verde to visit SaRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

This seven-hour trip takes you from Serra Malagueta National Park down to Principal Valley on a moderate 4.5-kilometer trail, followed by lunch with a local family. Guides may speak English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish. Expect a steep descent, plantations, village life, and an east-coast drive.

“I really enjoyed this tour if you want to see the locals life closer and enjoy the very tasty meal of a local family and the beautiful nature and animals and plantations you get to book this hike plus Peter the Guide was the cherry on top making everything so smooth, helping in every detail and gave so much information about the whole country and history and fauna and Flora, it was overall perfect!! Thank you :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Serra Malagueta & Tarrafal Beach Trek Tour

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

Travel from Praia into Serra Malagueta Natural Park for a 3-hour, 8.5-kilometre loop with a local guide, picnic, mountain views, and native wildlife. Afterward, unwind at Tarrafal Beach. Guides may include Carlos, Elton, Americano, Elisanto, Elisandro, or Nail.

“Elisanto was an awesome guide and I will rate it a 10/10”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

Travel from Praia into Santiago’s farming valleys, then walk 4 km downhill through fruit trees, sugar cane and rocky paths to Cidade Velha. Guides such as Antonio, Alex and Americio share local stories, plants, grogue production and island culture. Expect about two hours of walking in a small group.

“It was a beautiful route. The car was very small and the guide could have told us a little more or waited for the last ones in the group, who often missed out on things. We had to wait a very long time for the bus to take us back!”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Calabaceira Valley Trek & Visit to Cidade Velha

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

Walk downhill through Calabaceira Valley with a local guide, spot tropical plants and wildlife, visit a small rum distillery, then explore Cidade Velha’s slave market, churches, cathedral ruins, and São Filipe Fortress. Guides speak English, French, Portuguese, or Spanish.

“Mario notre guide était vraiment sympa et un puits de sciences quant à la connaissance des lieux visités et de son pays en règle générale. La randonnée et les visites étaient très intéressantes et instructives. Valérie et Christophe.”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

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

You’ll walk from Rui Vaz through cool, biodiverse Monte Txota Natural Park to Pico d’Antónia, Santiago’s 1,394-meter summit. A guide such as Elder leads the 9 km route, with a picnic, hotel pickup, transport, and possible views of Maio and Fogo. Expect narrow paths and a hard finish.

“Great tour and guide went mostly in our pace and was well informed and helpful”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Serra to Principal Hike & Lunch with locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 41 reviews · 5 hours · from $70

You’ll hike downhill from Serra Malagueta Natural Park to Principal Valley with a guide such as Alex, Ivana, Luis, or another multilingual local expert. Expect mountain views, plant and wildlife notes, a Cape Verdean lunch with a family, and a scenic drive back to Tarrafal.

“Luìs est un super guide !! Il nous a permis d'en apprendre beaucoup sur l'histoire de son magnifique pays et particulièrement de Santiago. Grâce à lui nous avons pu faire la rencontre d'habitants très chaleureux et généreux. La randonnée est incroyable. Et le petit plus de Luìs au-delà de sa gentillesse et son authenticité est son niveau de français ! Mille mercis Luìs !”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Guided Coastal Hike & Monte Leão Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 4 hours · from $58

Start at 3:00 pm with a multilingual guide at Ponta Preta Beach, then follow Sal’s west coast toward Monte Leão. Expect varied ground, strong sun, sea views, and a climb to the sunset point. Antonio Dias has led this hike, with a support pickup available when you need a rest.

“Belle randonnée, guide professionnelle. nous avons passé un très bon moment. Et le coucher de soleil... waouh... nous en avons pris plein les yeux”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Hiking Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 5 hours · from $100

Walk from Cova Natural Park, high above Santo Antão, down the famous trail to Paul Valley. Your English, French, or Portuguese-speaking guide may be Lea, Maira, Edy, Ravi, or Riva. Expect crater views, steep zigzags, tropical farms, local stories, and a Grogue tasting.

“I'm Extremely disappointed with the way that Bu Country Tours handled my booking! I confirmed an updated pick up location the day before my scheduled tour, only to find out on the actual tour day that the people in the office had neglected to notify the tour guides. What resulted from that mess up was that both me and the poor tour guides (Lea and Maira) were trying in vain to locate each other via Whatsapp for 2 hours. The person from the Bu Country Tour office that I spoke to on the day kept telling me that my tour guides were gonna head back to pick me up at…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Serra Malagueta Natural Park Hike & Relaxing Swim at Tarrafal Beach

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 30 reviews · from $104

Leave Praia for a guided, moderate 8.5-kilometer loop in Serra Malagueta Natural Park, where guides such as Afi or Alfonso may point out local plants and birds. After mountain views at up to 1,075 meters, cool off at Tarrafal Beach. Transport, picnic, and hotel pickup are included.

“The hike was not very challenging, and we went at a good pace for enjoying all of the beautiful views. The guides were very knowledgeable and friendly. It was a nice reward to end the hike in Tarrafal at the beach.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Serra Malagueta Natural Park: Hike to Gongon Valley & Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 22 reviews · from $106

From Praia, your guide leads a 12.5 km one-way hike from Serra Malagueta at 1,000 meters to the Gongon and Hortelã valleys. Expect steep descents, endemic plants, possible vervet monkeys, a picnic or local meal, and hotel transport.

“We had a wonderful and wonderful time with Cati, thank you for everything, it was unforgettable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Verdant Valley Hike & Lunch With Locals

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 17 reviews · 5 hours · from $82

From Tarrafal, hike downhill through Serra Malagueta with a local guide such as Ely, spotting endemic plants and birds before lunch with a family in Principal Valley. Expect mountain views, rural life, and a moderate trail that can turn slippery, so wear shoes with firm grip.

“Notre guide Ely était très à l’écoute. Très attentionné. Souriant et très interessant. La Rando a été extra grâce aux paysages et à notre guide. La pause dans son « jardin d’Eden » était inattendue et tellement bienvenue. Une belle expérience pour découvrir les paysages et le mode de vie à la montagne.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Hike to the highest point of Monte verde

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 14 reviews · from $69

Climb São Vicente’s highest point with a guide such as Yuran or Elody. Expect about three hours, mostly on a cobbled road, then a final trail to the summit. Enjoy volcanic views, endemic plants, and Cape Verdean tea, coffee, or grogue at the top.

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Hike Monte Verde

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 3 hours · from $64

From Mindelo, drive to Monte Verde and walk the island’s greenest mountain area with a guide such as Raquel. Follow an old donkey path past plants, farms, livestock, and abandoned homes, then stop at the summit tea house for local tea, coffee, or tea liquor. Expect wind, uneven ground, and changing views.

“Ich hatte eine unterhaltsame Wanderung mit Raquel. Einen Teil der Strecke sind wir einen steinigen, mäßig gesicherten Weg gelaufen, den Rest bis zum Gipfel dann die Straße mit Kopfsteinpflaster. Man sollte auf jeden Fall eine Windjacke mitnehmen, da es an manchen Stellen enorm windig und kalt sein kann. Leider war der Ausblick an dem Tag auch nicht gut. Dafür gab es oben einen kleinen Imbiss und Kaffee oder Tee zum Aufwärmen. Viele Touristen fahren einfach mit dem Auto zum Gipfel, es ist jedoch viel entspannter und bewusster, diesen Weg zu wandern.”

Check availability →Read our full review