Cap Verde

Santiago

Praia

1. The Port

2. on foot;

3. Shuttlebuses

4. public transport

5. Taxis

6. Local tour operators

7. Excursion tips for Praia

8. Rental cars

9. Book shore excursions

    9.1 Meine Landausflüge

    9.1 Get Your Guide

    9.2 Viator

The Cape Verde Islands are also known as the 'Islands of the Blessed.' They owe this nickname to the fact that, based on their vegetation, they belong geographically to Macaronesia, which literally translates to 'Islands of the Blessed.' Cape Verde is located in the central Atlantic, off the west coast of Africa. It consists of ten islands, nine of which are inhabited. A distinction is made between the northern 'Windward Islands' and the southern 'Leeward Islands'.

Santiago is the largest of the Cape Verdean islands and belongs to the Leeward Islands (Sotavento). It is well known for its beaches and its unique blend of Portuguese and African culture. Furthermore, the island played a significant role during the era of the slave trade. In Cidade Velha, the historic center of the town of Ribeira Grande, a marble pillory serves as a reminder of the place where enslaved people were once shackled. They were sold here before being shipped to Brazil and the Caribbean.

Praia is the capital of Cape Verde and has nearly 160,000 inhabitants. The residents call the old town 'Plateau' because it sits on a rocky plateau overlooking the Atlantic. We wanted to explore Praia and used the cruise line’s paid shuttle bus to get there. The day ticket cost €9.90. You can also walk into town, but as mentioned above, it is located slightly uphill from the harbor, and the path leads along a busy, uninviting road with no shade.

The Port of Praia on Santiago is located in the south of the island. It is one of the most important harbors in the Cape Verde Islands. It possesses the necessary infrastructure to accommodate all types of vessels, including cargo and container ships as well as cruise ships.

The Port of Santiago is barely four kilometers away from Praia. While this distance is generally manageable, the route leads along a busy road and offers very little in terms of scenery.

The cruise lines provide shuttle buses to Praia. These run throughout the day between the port and the city. During our stay in 2022, a day ticket cost just under €10.

On the two main routes, Praia – Assomada – Tarrafal and Praia – Pedra Badejo – Calheta – Tarrafal, you can travel by public transport almost anytime on weekdays. The most common means of transport in Cape Verde are collective taxis, known as Aluguers. These are typically minibuses or pickups. There are two types of collective taxis: the most affordable option are vehicles that only depart once they are full. The other option is to rent the entire vehicle for a private trip; while this is significantly more expensive, it offers much more flexibility.

Taxis are available at the port exit. These can be used for the short trip into the city as well as for excursions across the island.

Local tour operators also wait at the port exit for cruise passengers. The prices for these tours are fixed, and tourists can pay in either Euros or Dollars

TUI Cars offers rental cars on the island of Santiago

Praia can be explored very well independently. Here you can see the highlights awaiting you.

Meine Landausflüge offer you fantastic cruise trips at the most popular ports worldwide. Typically, they are available in much smaller groups and at more affordable prices than the cruise line’s own excursions. All our options are carefully selected to guarantee you an unforgettable outing experience.

• Small group sizes  
• Punctual return guarantee  
• Convenient pick-up and drop-off service from/to the port  
• Money-back guarantee for itinerary changes and port cancellations  
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the tour (Flex option up to 60 minutes before the tour start)

With GetYourGuide, you can book land excursions in small groups, often at better prices than those offered by cruise lines. All experiences are carefully selected and reviewed by experts. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start of the excursion.

Viator, a Tripadvisor company, is one of the world's leading online marketplaces for travel experiences. The platform provides travelers with access to more than 300,000 activities, including guided tours, day trips, attraction tickets, and exclusive experiences in thousands of destinations worldwide. A key advantage for users is the millions of authentic traveler reviews that help in making informed choices. 

Viator is known for its high flexibility:

• offering free cancellation on many bookings up to 24 hours in advance.
• Additionally, the "reserve now, pay later" option provides financial freedom during trip planning. 

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