11 Workshops & Classes in Cape Verde to Build a Day Around

1.Banana Plantation Tour and Cuscuz Workshop

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 75 reviews · 4 hours · from $88Our pick

Travel from Praia to Santa Cruz and Orgãos with a local guide such as Bamba or Carlos. Walk through Cape Verde’s largest banana and coconut plantation, then cook cuscuz and fidjós with a local family. The four-hour trip includes transport, hotel pickup, and a scenic mountain drive.

“Une activité très intéressante et enrichissante. Bamba et Ericson ont répondu à toutes nos questions, sont pleins d’anecdotes qui nous ont fait découvrir cette île magnifique,et ont toujours beaucoup d’humour. Mama Luisa est extrêmement gentille et chaleureuse. La découverte de la plantation de banane a été riche de connaissance”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Catxupa Cooking Class with a local family

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 72 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

Join a Cape Verdean family on Sal for a two-hour Catxupa cooking class. With local cooks and guides such as Melissa or Alejandro, you’ll prepare the country’s famous corn, bean, meat, or fish dish, hear about local traditions, and enjoy the meal together.

“Incroyablement surprise par cette belle expérience. Nous avons pu nous glissé dans la culture cap verdienne, on a même eu droit à un petit cours de danse, le partage de l’histoire et le plat typique qui était excellent. Je recommande cette activité et obrigada🤗”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Surf Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 60 reviews · from $39Top rated

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde in Santa Maria for a one-hour Atlantic surf lesson. Your instructor teaches board skills on the beach, then guides you into the waves. Beginners and intermediates are welcome, with a surfboard, wetsuit, and surf shoes included. Ruben may lead some sessions.

“J'ai beaucoup aimé mon premier cours de surf 😍Hâte d'en faire d'autres au plus vite! Le moniteur était top !”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Surf Lesson

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 48 reviews · from $40

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde in Santa Maria, collect your board, wetsuit, and surf shoes, then walk to the beach for a land lesson and one hour in the water. Ruben and the team adjust coaching for beginners and improving surfers. You must be able to swim.

“We were welcomed and escorted to beach where our guide explained we would practice on dry land first and then proceed into the water once the technique had been explained. He explained to my son when his technique wasn't correct and why, and he quickly learnt the technique required. Once in the water my son was taken out to the required depth and the guide stayed with him. My son quickly got the hang of it and soon he was accompanying the locals, thanks to an expert guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Kizomba Group Class – Santa Maria, Cape Verde

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 28 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Best value

Meet the English, Portuguese, and French-speaking instructors at Chill Out bar in Santa Maria for a lively one-hour Kizomba class. You will learn simple partner-dance steps, switch partners during the lesson, and enjoy the bar atmosphere. Drinks cost extra, and the group is limited to 10 people.

“Foi gira, achei muita gente para o espaço. Ficou apertado. O casal de professores foram muito atenciosos”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Kite Surf Lessons on Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews

Meet Atlantic Star in Santa Maria, then head to Kite Beach for a two-hour lesson with an experienced instructor such as Jailson, Kenny, or Gilson. Beginners and returning riders are welcome. You must be able to swim and weigh at least 35 kg. Lessons suit one person or two-person groups.

“Great spot, great team, great experience! I had an amazing 5 day course when I spent a week over the New Year! Strongly Recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Banana Plantation, Natural Park & Workshop with a local family

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $87

Travel from Praia to Pedra Badejo and São Lourenço dos Órgãos with a small group of up to eight. Walk through Cape Verde’s largest banana and coconut plantation, then cook cuscuz and fidjós with a local family. Guides may include Ricardo, Katia, Ayrton, and Cleber.

“beautiful experience. the company made changes to my trip to help me with discovering even more as i already took part in the workshops and this trip was magical. words don’t describe how amazing Ricardo and the team was. we had a beautiful trip and i am very grateful. would recommend to anyone!”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Kitesurf Lessons in Cape Verde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $141

Meet Surf Hub Cabo Verde in Santa Maria, collect your kite gear, and head to Kitebeach for a two-hour first lesson. You’ll practice with a small kite, learn the larger kite’s safety systems, then enter the water for supervised body dragging. Swimming ability and moderate fitness are required.

“Awesome travel experience thanks to the amazing Amy who organized all my staying including accomodation,transfers,island trips,sailing turn,yoga classes and of course the surf and kite classes. Perfect package witRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Kitesurfing Lessons

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 2 hours · from $141

Spend two hours learning kitesurfing near Santa Maria with an IKO-qualified instructor. You’ll handle a training kite, learn safety systems, practice body dragging, and possibly work toward a water start. Amy and her team teach in several languages, with equipment and hotel transfers included.

“The instructor was friendly and kind, but the online description is somewhat misleading. I expected to be able to go on the water properly at the end of my lesson, but was told it would take 9-10 hours of lessons to reach that point.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Mindelo Cultural: city tour with live music and dance class

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 3h 30m · from $141

Meet guide Marion at Ouril Hotel for a walking tour of Mindelo, including the marina, market hall, Praça Estrela, and Cesária Évora’s story. Then hear live guitar and learn six Cape Verdean rhythms with dance instructor Noelisa Santos.

“A nicely paced walk with our guide to view nearby historic sites and architectural influences. included meeting with a guitarist who demonstrated Cabo Verdian rhythms while a dancer instructed us on how they dance to each. interactive and fun. if you like to dance take this tour!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Best of Santiago Island: Cidade Velha, Workshop & Tarrafal Beach Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 3 reviews · from $140

Spend 10 hours seeing Santiago Island with a private guide, from Cidade Velha’s fortress and former slave market to mountain villages and Tarrafal Beach. You’ll cook cuscuz and fidjós with a local family, meet fishermen, and return to Praia or Cidade Velha by vehicle.

“Tour de l'ile très enrichissant, de très beaux paysages et de belles rencontres au programme. Coup de coeur pour le site de Cidade Velha.”

Check availability →Read our full review