Santiago Island: 4-Hour Calabaceira Valley Hike & Guided Tour to Cidade Velha
Overview
Enjoy a 2-hour trek in the Green Valley of Calabaceira with a local guide. Admire the lush vegetation, and explore the history of the first city built by Europeans in sub-Saharan Africa, Cidade Velha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Inclusions
- Pickup and drop-off at your accommodation in Praia or Cidade Velha
- Transportation
- Tour Guide
- Liability insurance
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
After being collected from your accommodation in Praia depart toward the verdant volcanic valley of Calabaceira.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Igreja Calabaceira, WCM3+7WH, Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
Start the hike through the greenery, follow a simple and accessible trail for any hiker and discover the famous giant baobab tree mentioned by Charles Darwin during his passage through the island. Get in touch with local farmers on their agricultural fields of sugar cane, mango, cassava, banana, and more.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Convento de Sao Francisco, Fortsetzung der Rua Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
The Convent of São Francisco was built in the middle of the 17th century, having served as a place of worship and formation.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rue Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago Cape Verde
It was the first hurbanized street built by the Portuguese in sub-Saharan Africa
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosario, Rua Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Here is the oldest colonial church in the world, built in 1495, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, in Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) style.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pelourinho, W97V+XXR, National Highway, Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
Was built in 1512, with white marble, and was used as a slave market
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Se Catedral, Einfahrtsstrasse von Praia nach Cidade Velha, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Visit the ruins of the Sé Catedral, that was the first Catedral built, in África, by Portuguese
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Fortaleza Real de San Felipe, Rua de Forteleza, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Was built in 1587 to defend the city of pirates attacques
From the top, enjoy a beautiful view over the whole old town and find out about the system of defense used against pirates.
Please, note that the €5 per person for Fortress entrance is not included.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation in Praia.
Duration: 20 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
After being collected from your accommodation in Praia depart toward the verdant volcanic valley of Calabaceira.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Igreja Calabaceira, WCM3+7WH, Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
Start the hike through the greenery, follow a simple and accessible trail for any hiker and discover the famous giant baobab tree mentioned by Charles Darwin during his passage through the island. Get in touch with local farmers on their agricultural fields of sugar cane, mango, cassava, banana, and more.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Convento de Sao Francisco, Fortsetzung der Rua Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
The Convent of São Francisco was built in the middle of the 17th century, having served as a place of worship and formation.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Rue Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago Cape Verde
It was the first hurbanized street built by the Portuguese in sub-Saharan Africa
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Igreja Nossa Senhora do Rosario, Rua Banana, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Here is the oldest colonial church in the world, built in 1495, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Rosário, in Manueline (Portuguese Gothic) style.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Pelourinho, W97V+XXR, National Highway, Cidade Velha, Cabo Verde
Was built in 1512, with white marble, and was used as a slave market
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Se Catedral, Einfahrtsstrasse von Praia nach Cidade Velha, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Visit the ruins of the Sé Catedral, that was the first Catedral built, in África, by Portuguese
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Fortaleza Real de San Felipe, Rua de Forteleza, Cidade Velha, Santiago 7629 Cape Verde
Was built in 1587 to defend the city of pirates attacques
From the top, enjoy a beautiful view over the whole old town and find out about the system of defense used against pirates.
Please, note that the €5 per person for Fortress entrance is not included.
Duration: 20 minutes
Stop At: Praia, Praia, Santiago
The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation in Praia.
Duration: 20 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Please bring decent footwear, hat, sunscreen and water
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- Activity for travelers over 6 years old.
- Route File: Walking Distance: +/- 5 km // Total Walking Duration: +/- 2 hours // Degree of difficulty: Easy // Elevation gain: +/- 3 m // Elevation loss: -/+ 186 m // Max Elevation: +/- 200 m // Min Elevation: +/- 14 m // Trail type: One Way // Path quality: Medium tilt, narrow at the beginning and safe.
- Social distancing enforced throughout experience
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
377cornelius
April 2023
Nice walk through the greenery with our friendly and knowledgeable guide Ricardo, with a look at the Old City at the end. A different view of an otherwise quite dry island, and lots of information about local agriculture and history. Do note that the hike is not «easy», the path is rather rough e...
Nice walk through the greenery with our friendly and knowledgeable guide Ricardo, with a look at the Old City at the end. A different view of an otherwise quite dry island, and lots of information about local agriculture and history. Do note that the hike is not «easy», the path is rather rough especially when descending into the valley. A minimum of fitness and good shoes required. Smooth organization at short notice too.Darling_D
February 2023
Hiking through the Calabeceira Valley was definitely the highlight of my trip to Cape Verde. It was the perfect combination of nature, culture, and history. I am also very grateful for my guide Maria, who made this experience especially memorable by sharing her knowledge on plants, birds, history...
Hiking through the Calabeceira Valley was definitely the highlight of my trip to Cape Verde. It was the perfect combination of nature, culture, and history. I am also very grateful for my guide Maria, who made this experience especially memorable by sharing her knowledge on plants, birds, history and more. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Santiago Island or Cape Verde in general! Thanks Bu Country Tours for making this experience possibleRumskys
January 2023
We had an absolutely fantastic day with Maria! The tour had a little bit of everything, wildlife, local culture, nature, and intriguing history. Maria is a very special tour guide, eager to share her Cape Verde with visitors. She has an extensive knowledge of her country, including the local plan...
We had an absolutely fantastic day with Maria! The tour had a little bit of everything, wildlife, local culture, nature, and intriguing history. Maria is a very special tour guide, eager to share her Cape Verde with visitors. She has an extensive knowledge of her country, including the local plants and their uses. We learned all about the early Portuguese colonization and horrific slave history, tasted the home made rum (grogu), and even watched vervet monkeys respond to her calls! The hike was very interesting and well paced, not strenuous, with lovely views. The old town is beautiful and very interesting. Best of all, Maria shared stories about her childhood which really made island living come alive. I just can’t recommend this tour enough! A must do for every visitor to Cape Verde!jordyr348
June 2022
The valley hike was really nice, the area is very beautiful and my guide Ailtom knows a lot to tell your during the tour.
The valley hike was really nice, the area is very beautiful and my guide Ailtom knows a lot to tell your during the tour.Lucie_J
August 2023
Belle randonnée avec la découverte d'une jolie vallée ainsi que de la Cidade Velha. Guide très sympa accompagné des apprentis guides. Merci à vous ! 👍
Belle randonnée avec la découverte d'une jolie vallée ainsi que de la Cidade Velha. Guide très sympa accompagné des apprentis guides. Merci à vous ! 👍martin888899
February 2022
Tour en buggy avec « no limits », , très bien et les guides d’une gentillesse rare . De belles plages , l’intérieur de l’île vaut le détour.
Tour en buggy avec « no limits », , très bien et les guides d’une gentillesse rare . De belles plages , l’intérieur de l’île vaut le détour.