Praia – Island Drive and Tarrafal

Visit the cooperative, the old prison, and the botanical garden, and enjoy a traditional lunch. Visit the inland portion of the island.

  • Visit the inland portion of the island.
  • Enjoy a full-day experience seeing the natural highlights of the island.
  • Visit the botanical garden and the old prison.
  • Take advantage of photo ops on the way back.

  • Difficulty level

    Level 2: Moderate - some mobility needed

  • Duration

    3 hrs 30

  • Max. passengers

    60

  • Booking Code

    AF-PRA9

  • From

    $ 132

  • Notices

    Appropriate clothing, warm layers, and comfortable walking shoes.

Drive inland, visit the local village of São Domingos and its handicraft cooperative. You can see the beauty of the Cape Verdean botanical garden in São Jorge dos Órgãos. During your scenic drive to Assomada, you will pass by little villages and have a window into local life. Assomada plays an important commercial role. It has a pleasant combination of urban areas and fields. We will visit the market of Assomada, one of the largest on the island.

Our drive will continue to Tarrafal, with a few short stops for 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 into the landscape. Despite the beauty of its beach, Tarrafal is infamous due to the former concentration camp. The Portuguese colonial-fascist regime built this prison near the town. Finally, after a long day full of contrasts between the nature and the history of the island, we will drive back to the ship.

Practical information:

  • Included: Traditional lunch.

  • Remarks/requirements: Appropriate clothing, warm layers, and comfortable walking shoes.

  • Walking information: Surfaces include rock, cobblestone, gravel, and sand at the beach.

  • Wheelchair accessible: No.

  • Language: English (Portuguese, German, and French upon request).