My 1st full day Santiago Island Tour was a great way to start my West African journey in the beautiful country of Cape Verde!
As I continued my journey around the world, I started traveling again after a months hiatus. This time I’m in West Africa! Just a heads up, applying for an African visa is quite difficult and complicated for Filipinos, but you know me, that won’t stop me!
My country 174. – Cape Verde! When I started my Africa trip in Cape Verde I was blown away by the way people treated me! Everything is unforgettable and I will share with you all my experiences and why this African country has a special place in my heart.
During my days in Cape Verde I was so glad that Bu Country Tours hosted me. I stayed at Casa da Mizi where Mama Maria took care of me, gave me clothes and toiletries when I didn’t have any. It felt like I was being treated like a baby.
Other Articles You May Read:
Bu Country Tours – Full Day Santiago Island Tour
On my first days in Cape Verde, I hosted Bu Country Tours as they let me get to know one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country – Santiago Island.
This full day island tour of Santiago not only allowed me to see what the island has to offer but also allowed me to take part in a workshop with a local family. Yes! I learned how to cook cuscuz, a popular Cape Verdean dish.
Highlights of my Santiago Island Tour
I can’t hide my excitement when I started the tour, my photos will be the proof! More of my adventure below.
organizers
My tour began by learning the recipe of the popular dish Cuscuz from a local family who treated me like their own. If you are in Cape Verde, don’t miss this. One of the best experiences I have when traveling is eating local dishes, but this time I have to cook them!
Assomada
When we visited Assomada we went to the famous Assomada market. The market offers many different items and souvenirs to choose from.
You will find clothes, shoes, and food stalls offering meat, vegetables, fish, herbs, etc. I literally can’t stop looking left to right. Haha!
Serra de Malagueta
If you like hiking, this is one of the best parts of the Santiago Island Tour! We drove to the natural park and got an amazing view.
I also learned a lot about the people who live there. If you want to hike, here’s a tip, it’s 1100m altitude so prepare a jacket as it can get cold up there.
Tarrafal Beach
After an exciting drive we drove to Tarrafal Beach, the most beautiful beach in Santiago. The white sand, the beautiful sea and the sound of the waves, the beach is the perfect place to relax after a hard hike. You can snorkel as there are lots of fish to see! There are also restaurants nearby where we had lunch.
Rabelados
To end our day tour, we visited Rabelados, a community that preserves the oldest customs of Cape Verde. This part of the tour is so close to my heart. I was able to talk to the locals, understand their history, customs and much more.
My interaction with them was eye opening, you will learn more about the other side of the world that not everyone gets to see. I really was so lucky!
We ended our 1st day tour with a lot of knowledge and amazing experiences that left me in awe.
One day was not enough to spend time with the locals, talk to them, laugh with them, their hospitality and kindness is the first thing you should expect when visiting the island.
