Things to do in Maio

Depart from Praia towards the interior of the island, making your first stop at Serra Malagueta. Drive to Serra Malagueta Natural Park, one of the greenest areas of the island, and start the trek at 800 meters above sea level. Discover a natural paradise with rich local fauna and flora and reach an altitude of 1,064 meters.  The entire trail follows a mostly flat surface, with various endemic plants and animals, offering magnificent views of Assomada, and, on clear days, all the way to the islands of Fogo and Maio. After 2 hours walking, take a break for a picnic in the middle of the forest.  Continue along the top of the mountains with incredible 360-degree views between two verdant valleys. Afterwards, visit the Rabelados religious community, the only community that still lives in thatched houses and preserves the oldest customs and beliefs of Cape Verde. The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation in Praia.

Get picked up in your accommodation and depart toward the city center. First stop of the day is the Eco-Museum. There, learn about the history of the colonization of the island, rooted in the exploitation of salt, which was exported to several countries such as Brazil until the 19th century. After, visit the Salinas wetland of Porto Inglês and have a chance to see the locals producing salt. Next, drive to Morro village and have a typical breakfast with a local family, including the famous Cape Verdean Cuscuz. Continue to Calheta, to visit its handcraft center and buy some souvenirs. Then, travel through agricultural and fishing areas until you reach the Morrinho dunes. There, enjoy an easy walk through the white sand dunes created by the wind bring sand from the Sahara Desert. Drive to Pedro Vaz village, the first village on the island to be inhabited, and take some free time to buy lunch at a typical, local restaurant. After lunch, learn about the local production of goats cheese in Ribeira João. Then, drive back to the capital and visit Our Lady of Grace Church, and the São José Fortress, built in the 18th century to protect the island from pirate attacks. The tour ends with a dip at the most beautiful beach on the island, Bitchirotcha Beach. You will then be dropped off at your accommodation.

You can hire up to 6 surfboards from us at the same time with friends or family. From shortboards to longboards, everything is at your disposal. You can also get the right equipment from us, such as wetsuits and wax. You can pick up the boards from our surf school in Morro on the beach. If you want, our surf instructor Antonio will give you the best insider tips on where you can ride the best waves in peace and quiet without the crowds. You can decide whether you want to hire the boards for 1 hour, 4 hours or the whole day. After your adventure, simply return the boards to the surf school.