One Week in Cape Verde: Santiago Island on a Budget
When we stumbled upon cheap flight tickets to Cape Verde in November 2025, we didn't hesitate—we just jumped on the opportunity. What followed was an incredible week exploring Santiago Island, immersing ourselves in local culture, savoring authentic Cape Verdean cuisine, and connecting with the warmest people, all while sticking to our budget. Here's everything you need to know about our adventure in Cabo Verde.
The Budget Breakdown: €395 Per Person for 8 Days
We're always transparent about travel costs, so here's exactly how we spent our money during the week (all prices are total for 2 people):
Flight Tickets: €260 (Barcelona to Praia via Porto, round-trip with Ryanair and EasyJet)
E-Visas: €60 (must be done online minimum 5 days before arrival or directly at the Praia airport on arrival)
Once in Cape Verde:
Accommodation: €204.49 (46.71%) - We found places on Booking.com and paid cash at the properties. We stayed 7 nights across 4 different accommodations to experience various parts of the island (that's an average of 29€/night).
Restaurants: €99.48 (22.72%) - We mostly shared meals and ate plenty of cachupas and cuscus, the local specialties.
Transportation: €39.56 (9.04%) - We relied entirely on buses and aluguers (shared minivans) to move around the island.
Groceries: €36.55 (8.35%) - Instant noodles, cheese, snacks, water, and coffee. Having kitchenettes in some accommodations helped us save.
Drinks: €28.29 (6.46%) - We enjoyed local wine "Cha" at home with cheese, cocktails (caipirinhas), and beers.
Coffee: €14.05 (3.21%) - The coffee in Cape Verde is super good and incredibly affordable—around 80 cents for an espresso!
Fees: €8.40 (1.92%) - ATM and money exchange fees. Pro tip: minimize the number of withdrawals to reduce these costs. Euro bills are quite often accepted at a slightly worse rate than the official one.
Shopping: €7.01 (1.60%) - We bought some coffee and bissap to take home, though there wasn't much space in our luggage anyway.
Grand total: €395 per person for 8 days, door to door, with everything included. That's just €31 per person per day once in Cape Verde—pretty amazing value for a week of unforgettable experiences!
Our Santiago Island Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Praia
We landed in Praia around 5pm, headed straight to our hotel, and grabbed a quick dinner on Plateau. Our first cachupa was everything we'd hoped for!
Day 2: Praia to Tarrafal
We spent the morning wandering around Plateau, exploring the vibrant markets and enjoying a fantastic breakfast at Esplanada Morabeza. Then we caught a Hiace (aluguer) to Tarrafal. After checking into our accommodation and having lunch, we hit the beach to play in the huge waves before heading out for dinner.
Day 3: Serra Malagueta Hike
After breakfast at a local bakery, we took a Hilux (aluguer) to Serra Malagueta for a 3.5-hour hike. Parts of the park were closed, but the views were absolutely stunning. We had lunch at the market in Tarrafal (this is were the locals have lunch, expect to pay less than 4€ for huge meals), strolled around town, caught an amazing sunset, and enjoyed a calm dinner on our balcony with local red wine "Cha" and cheese.
Day 4: Ribeira da Prata
Another bakery breakfast, then a Hilux ride to Ribeira da Prata to visit the natural pools—truly beautiful! We spotted kingfishers around the area and stopped for a drink at the Big Bar, run by a German expat. After lunch at the Tarrafal market, we spent the afternoon snorkeling.
Day 5: Assomada Market Day
We caught a Hiace to Assomada and arrived on Saturday, which meant market day—the town was buzzing with life! After checking in, we hiked to see the massive Kapok tree in Poilão Park. That evening, our host—an amazing grandma—shared dinner with us and told us wonderful stories about her life.
Day 6: Pico d'Antonia Attempt
Despite a bit of rain, we were determined to hike. We took a Hiace down the road toward João Teves and embarked on what was supposed to be a 6-hour hike up to Pico d'Antonia. We didn't quite make it to the summit but stopped at the last panoramic viewpoint, which was breathtaking. The return journey was challenging—the trail toward Picos was poorly maintained and quite difficult. When we finally got back, our thoughtful host had prepared dinner for us even though we'd told her we'd be out. She'd even been worried about us!
Day 7: Back to Praia
We took a Hiace back to Praia, checked into our accommodation, and treated ourselves to lunch at Tambake, a trendy restaurant. We picked up some groceries and spent a quiet evening at home.
Day 8: Cidade Velha & Departure
Our final morning was spent in Cidade Velha, where we found an amazing coffee spot right by the water. We lingered there for hours, just reading and soaking in the atmosphere. We headed back to Plateau for lunch at Esplanada Morabeza (yes, again—it was that good!) before taking the bus to the airport.
Practical Tips for Visiting Santiago Island
Transportation: We didn't rent a car and found it incredibly easy to get around using public transport. The aluguers (shared minivans like Hiace and Hilux) are frequent and affordable. Important tip: There IS a bus from the airport to Plateau! It's bus number 20, and it runs regularly. From the airport, just walk to the nearest roundabout on the highway where the bus stops. Tickets are around 50 cents (have small change ready). The bus starts at Plateau in front of Papelaria Académica on 5 de Julho Avenue.
Communication: We didn't buy a SIM card—all our accommodations offered WiFi, which was sufficient. Most people speak French, making communication easy for us.
Safety: We felt completely safe throughout our trip. Nobody tried to scam us, and locals were genuinely friendly and helpful.
Wildlife: One thing we didn't expect: the incredible golden orb-weaver spiders (Cabo Verde's endemic species) with their massive webs that we encountered almost daily on our hikes—impressive but harmless giants!
Weather: The second half of November offered perfect weather for our adventures.
Payment: All places accept cash, and we paid for our accommodations directly at the properties in local currency. Bringing euros is also a safe bet in case you run out of escudos. ATMs often charge a 2€50 access fee.
Why We Loved Cape Verde
Santiago Island offered us the perfect mix of activities: stunning nature, authentic cultural experiences, delicious food, and genuine connections with locals. From challenging hikes with panoramic views to lazy afternoons by natural pools, from bustling market days to quiet moments with local wine and cheese on our balcony—every day brought something special.
The island's beauty surprised us at every turn, and the warmth of Cape Verdean hospitality made us feel truly welcome. For anyone looking for an authentic, budget-friendly adventure that's a bit off the beaten path, Santiago Island in Cape Verde is an absolute gem. We can't wait to go back explore another island (Santo Antão maybe?)!
