Full Day Island Tour, Highlights of São Vicente
Description
Experience São Vicente in a single unforgettable day, from cosmopolitan city streets of Mindelo to volcanic peaks, blue lagoons, and timeless village life. Start in Mindelo, Cabo Verde's most vibrant city, where colorful colonial architecture meets buzzing local markets (Fish Market, African Market, and Municipal Market). Rise above town to a scenic lookout for postcard views of Monte Cara and Laginha Beach, then climb to Monte Verde, the island's highest point and a protected natural park with sweeping panoramas. Continue along the dramatic north coast to swim in the crystal clear lagoon of Baía das Gatas and take in the wild shoreline of Norte Baía. In Calhau, a peaceful fishing and farming village, see one of the island's extinct volcanoes and watch traditional wells, windmills, and livestock still in daily use. No other tour covers this much of São Vicente in one day: city, sea, mountain, and countryside, all in a single journey.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Visit the old pirate fort lookout with amazing views of our Port City and learn about the history and culture of the Island
Visit the Cultural Center to observe the current talent on display, with its local bookstore and shop
Visit the bronze Statue of Portuguese Navigator Diogo Alfonso - right in the heart of Mindelo, you will witness daily lifestyle and culture of the people, with fantastic views of our bay city
Lifestyle of Cabo Verde, Fisher men and women, coming in from the sea with a variety of beautiful fish. Fish is a staple in the Cabo Verdean diet; the fish market is the best place to find a wide and interesting variety of fish.
Walk through the lively markets of Mindelo with your local guide* (Fish, Municipal/Vegetable & Fruits, African)
Largest market in São Vicente, you will see a colorful array of fruits, vegetables, teas, liquors, and handmade local products.
Ascend to the highest point on the Island of São Vicente, Monte Verde, 750 meters, 2,460 feet, here you will take in the fresh mountain air, smell the crop of fresh growing teas, observe the entire city of Mindelo with the best views! Enjoy a cup of tea or coffee at the natural tea house on top of Monte Verde.
Lively fishing village, witness and hear about living in the villages of São Vicente. Also home of he best beach for kite or windsurfing on the Island.
Beautiful enclosed bay of blue/green water, with amazing views of the coast. Take some time for a swim. This beach is where we have held the annual International Music Festival of Baia das Gatas for 35 years.
Enjoy a swim or dive off of the trampolim into the clear blue lagoon at our famous beach of Baia das Gatas.
Drive along the stunning coastal road of North Baia / Praia Grande, the coastline here is sweeping of majestic white sand dunes and black volcanic mountains, with gorgeous changing blue waters. Head to our fishing village of Calhau also home of Volcano Viana
Discover our Agricultural Oasis on the Island, and farm animals
Hear about our cultural traditions, and religion. Have a look into our beautiful and peaceful cemetery.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
We may pick you up at your accommodation in Mindelo, or we can meet at the Centro Cultural, Mindelo - SHORE EXCURSIONS GUARANTEED to return to your ship on time!
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Let us know if child seat is required
- Be advised that we will travel up to the summit of Monte Verde with high altitude.
Reviews(115)
The tour was fun and very informative. Our guide was the best in the world I recommend anybody to take a tour with this company and ask for p
Highly recommend the company. We were supposed to dock at Mindelo, however we could not due to the weather. Greenline gave us a refund even though it has already passed the free cancellation window. We will definitely book with them again if we ever come to the island again.
Thank you so much for your understanding and for taking the time to leave this review, Jennifer. We know how disappointing it must have been not to be able to dock in Mindelo - those situations are never easy. It was important to us to do the right thing, and we are really glad it left a good impression. We truly hope the sea cooperates next time and that we get to show you São Vicente properly! #GreenLineToursCV Team
This tour was a great opportunity to discover the cultural richness and local spirit of Mindelo and São Vicente. Sonia was a fabulous guide — full of energy, warmth, and great insights. She brought the city, its history, colors, markets, and everyday life to life in a very authentic way. We really enjoyed the experience and would definitely recommend it.
Merci beaucoup pour ce beau témoignage ! Nous sommes ravis que la journée vous ait permis de découvrir Mindelo et São Vicente de façon aussi authentique. L'énergie et la passion de notre guide pour l'île sont quelque chose de vraiment unique, et nous sommes heureux que cela vous ait touché. Nous espérons vous accueillir à nouveau au Cabo Verde très bientôt ! #GreenLineToursCV Team
Beautiful day to discover the island of Sao Vincente. The driver is very skilful on sometimes chaotic roads. And our guide, Aires, is great. He is very interesting and competent. He gave us a lot of information about the island, its people and their way of life. As well as many anecdotes about the places we visited. He speaks English, French, German and of course Portuguese. All participants (9) were thus able to exchange with ease. The landscapes and colors are fantastic. The choice of restaurant excellent. A very nice day, in good company and nevertheless at the Cape Verdean rhythm: no stress!! I highly recommend.
Merci beaucoup pour ce compte-rendu si détaillé et si chaleureux ! Nous sommes ravis que la journée ait été à la hauteur de vos attentes - les paysages, les anecdotes, le restaurant, et bien sûr cette ambiance cabo-verdienne si particulière. C'est exactement l'expérience que nous souhaitons offrir à chacun de nos visiteurs. Nous espérons vous revoir bientôt sous le soleil de São Vicente ! #GreenLineToursCV Team
Travelers need to know that this was a great tour. Why? Because we had a great guide and a great driver. The day and the tour were perfect. All of us had a great time. The tour guide, Aires, was very knowledgeable of the Island and everything having to do with it. This tour is highly recommended.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that the tour was everything you hoped for, and that our team made the day truly special. Santo Antão is an island that never stops surprising, and it means the world to us that our guide's passion and knowledge came through so clearly. We hope to welcome you back to Cabo Verde one day soon! #GreenLineToursCV Team
Great progressive and friendly people, accepts all ethnicity with love and happy. Great country to see how they manage themselves and happy with what they have..
Thank you for these beautiful words! The warmth and spirit of the people of Cabo Verde is something truly special, and we are so happy it touched you during your visit. São Vicente has a way of staying with you long after you leave. We hope to see you back on the islands one day! #GreenLineToursCV Team
The tour was way too many people on tour. Sonia was an excellent tour guide but took a star off because the group was too large and we were expecting a private tour or a much smaller group. I think there was 21 peopke in a mini van
Thank you for your feedback and we are glad you enjoyed the experience overall! We want to clarify that traveling by van is the authentic way of life on the islands and very much part of the local culture we love to share. We are always intentional about the comfort of our guests and work hard to ensure every detail is taken care of. We hope that despite this, the beauty of Cabo Verde and the quality of the tour left a lasting impression. We hope to welcome you back! #GreenLineToursCV Team
We had a lovely tour of Sao Vincente. I believe we saw the highlights and had a great explanation of the history and culture. Communication beforehand was excellent. All I all it, was a great tour.
Thank you for your lovely words! We are so glad you felt the history and culture of São Vicente come to life. It was a pleasure having you with us and we hope to see you again in Cabo Verde! #GreenLineToursCV Team
From the moment we were picked up, everything was seamless and thoughtfully planned. Our guide was not only incredibly knowledgeable about the island’s history and culture, but also genuinely passionate about sharing the beauty of Cape Verde. It felt less like a tour and more like being shown around by a local friend. We explored the vibrant streets of Mindelo, full of music, color, and charm, and then ventured into the more remote parts of the island where the landscapes were absolutely breathtaking—dramatic coastlines, volcanic terrain, and stunning ocean views at every turn. Each stop felt intentional and unique, offering a perfect balance of culture, scenery, and relaxation. What truly set this experience apart was the attention to detail and the personal touches throughout the day. We never felt rushed, and there was plenty of time to take in the views, ask questions, and fully enjoy each location. The guide made sure we were comfortable, safe, and having an amazing time the entire day. If you’re visiting São Vicente, this tour is an absolute must. It’s the perfect way to experience the heart and soul of the island—and one we’ll be talking about for years to come
Thank you for these wonderful words! We are so glad the experience felt genuine and personal. Sharing the beauty and soul of Cabo Verde is what drives us every day. We hope to have you back soon! #GreenLineToursCV Team
It was a great experience. I saw Mindelo with other eyes. The tour of the island was also wonderful and the guide and the driver very friendly, well informed. Thank you.
