Mindelo
Tours

Our most recommended things to do in Mindelo

From Mindelo: São Vicente's Enchanting Sea Turtle Snorkeling

From Mindelo: São Vicente's Enchanting Sea Turtle Snorkeling

Celebrate an exhilarating and exclusive sea turtle encounter in São Pedro, meticulously tailored for the delight of travelers. Your journey kicks off with the thrill of a pickup, whether at the Port of Mindelo or your accommodation in Mindelo, laying the foundation for a day etched in your memory. As you step into São Pedro, your seasoned guide warmly welcomes you, equipping you with premium snorkeling gear, sharing essential safety insights, and imparting snorkeling expertise. Next, embark on a brief boat voyage to a concealed, unspoiled sanctuary where sea turtles hold court. Submerging into the azure depths reveals a surreal world unfolding before your eyes. Glide in harmony with these splendid creatures in their natural habitat, engaging in a heart-pounding, hour-long aquatic ballet. With guaranteed turtle sightings, your senses ignite with the profound connection to one of Earth's most ancient residents. As your heart fills with wonder and your pulse steadies, your extraordinary journey concludes with a return to either the Port of Mindelo or your Mindelo accommodation. This cherished memory transcends time and place, a testament to the beauty of São Pedro that you carry with you.

São Vicente: Full Day Guided Highlights Tour, Mindelo

São Vicente: Full Day Guided Highlights Tour, Mindelo

Hear about our history, culture, lifestyle. Enjoy the architectural style of our colorful buildings. Visit the bustling markets of Mindelo; Fish Market, African Market, and Municipal Market (closed on Sundays). From the lookout point, we will have the best views of Mindelo, Monte Cara, and Laginha Beach. Take a scenic drive to the top of Monte Verde, natural and protected park, the highest peak in Sao Vicente. Head to the small charming sea side fishing villages on the Island. Take a swim in the clear blue lagoon of Baía das Gatas, and marvel at the contrasting long beach coastline. Calhau is an oasis! A charming small farming and fishing village also home of Vulcao Viana, one of the of last extinct volcanos on the Island. In the valley of Calhau we will see traditional farming by hand, animals, water wells, and windmills.

From São Vicente: Santo Antão Day Trip with Local Guide

From São Vicente: Santo Antão Day Trip with Local Guide

Start your adventure with a pick-up from your accommodation in São Vicente followed by a transfer to the port for a 1-hour ferry ride to Santo Antão. Upon arrival, meet your local expert and drive through the mountains to Cape Verde's largest volcanic crater, Cova de Paúl, an extinct volcano used for the cultivation of potatoes, carrots, onions and more. After visiting the Cova Natural Park, take the Corda Road and traverse the island' smost spectacular landscapes. Enjoy a photo stop at the Delgadinho mountain viewpoint and be amazed by stunning views of sharp cliffs and beautiful valleys. Proceed to the fishing village of Ponta de Sol, meet the locals before a scenic drive to Ribeira Grande. Next, take a break for lunch before arriving in Vale de Paúl, surrounded by greenery, thatched-roof houses and stunning scenery. After discovering one of Cape Verde's most beautiful islands, be transferred to Porto Novo and catch your ferry back to São Vicente. The tour ends with a drop-off at your hotel in Mindelo.

São Pedro Snorkel and Swim with Sea Turtles

São Pedro Snorkel and Swim with Sea Turtles

After picking you up at the cruise port or your hotel we will drive 15 minutes to the beach of S. Pedro where the turtles are, after a short briefing with instructions and safety measures from an expert tour guide you will get on the wooden boat and enter the sea, suddenly dozens of young and old species of turtles start approaching the boat curious, this is a perfect moment to jump into the water and snorkel around and enjoy the moment guided by a personal tour guide. After this amazing experience, your driver will get you back to the starting point.

São Vicente Island: Full-Day Tour

São Vicente Island: Full-Day Tour

Starting from Mindelo, this full day trip includes most highlights of São Vicente Island. Explore Mindelo, the capital of the island, known as the most welcoming and attractive city in the country. Walk through the colonial buildings, visit its church, municipal and Afrikan markets, and enjoy a panoramic view of the capital from the top of Fortin.  Drive to the eastern part of the island where animals, endemic plants and farmland can be seen along the Calhau Valley. Here, take time for a delicious lunch in a local atmosphere, and enjoy the local cuisine. Next, visit the fishing village of Salamansa, Baía das Gatas, and pause for a swim at its beautiful beach before heading to the sand dunes brought by the wind from the Sahara Desert. Finally, drive to Monte Verde Natural Park and admire the stunning scenery of the entire island and, weather permitting, take stunning photos of other Cape Verde islands.

Beaches, Villages and Monte Verde (excludes city)

Beaches, Villages and Monte Verde (excludes city)

Get picked up from your accommodation in Mindelo and head out of the city for an exciting day of exploring more of São Vicente! Let’s go sightseeing to our stunning coastal beaches, learn about our culture and daily lifestyle on the Villages of São Vicente. Take a scenic drive to the southwestern part of our Island, visit our busy fishing village and stretched out coastal beach of São Pedro / Santo André; see the village in action! Departing to Calhau, you will drive on the old cobblestone road; visit the agricultural Valley of Calhau where you will see and smell our Islands Traditional Farming activities, vegetation, animals, water wells, and old iron windmills, also home of Vulcao Viana. We will make a stop for lunch at the best restaurant on the Island. After lunch, we head on along the majestic coastal road of Praia Grande / Norte Baia, the coastline here is sweeping of majestic white sand dunes and black volcanic mountains, with gorgeous changing blue waters. At our famous beach of Baia das Gatas, enjoy a swim or dive off of the trampolim into the clear blue lagoon. Head to the town of Salamansa, this is a charming, lively fishing village; people are busy here with the day to day lifestyle, and always happy to welcome guests! Also at Salamansa you will find our windsurfing, and kitesurfing activities, along with charming local places to stop for a refreshing beverage on the beach. Last, but not least, Monte Verde, 774m or 2,539ft, the highest point of Sao Vicente, at the summit we will enjoy a cup of locally grown tea or coffee at the Tea House, while taking in the spectacular views of the Island; On a clear day you will see the Islands of Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Ilhéu Raso and Branco - Mindelo and the Coastal beaches are stunning from the top! Return to Mindelo after a fantastic day of exploring the best of São Vicente!

Half Day Island Tour, Best of São Vicente, Highlights

Half Day Island Tour, Best of São Vicente, Highlights

Get picked up from your accommodation for an exciting day of exploring and learning more about São Vicente’s history, culture and daily lifestyle! Depart to our Islands Old Fort, Fortim del Rei where you will have phenomenal views of the Bay City of Mindelo and our popular city Beach, Laginha. Take a walk through the city where you will visit the Cultural Center to observe the current talent on display, walk through the bustling markets of Mindelo; Fish, Municipal (vegetable / fruits) and African* (Closed on Sundays). Departing the city we will pass by the home of our famous Barefoot Diva, Cesária Évora, taking a scenic drive through the mountains to Monte Verde, 774m or 2,539ft, the highest point of Sao Vicente, at the summit we will enjoy a cup of locally grown tea or coffee at the Tea House, while taking in the spectacular views of the Island; On a clear day you will see the Islands of Santo Antão, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, Ilhéu Raso and Branco - Mindelo and the Coastal beaches are stunning from the top! Head to the town of Salamansa, this is a charming, lively fishing village; people are busy here, with the village lifestyle, and always happy to welcome guests! Also, at Salamansa you will find our windsurfing, and kitesurfing activities with local places to stop for a refreshing beverage on the beach. At our famous beach of Baia das Gatas, enjoy a swim or dive off of the trampolim into the clear blue lagoon. Return to Mindelo after a fantastic day of exploring the Best of São Vicente!

São Vicente: Snorkel with Sea Turtles Adventure

São Vicente: Snorkel with Sea Turtles Adventure

Get up close with sea turtles at São Pedro, home to an abundance of sea turtles. Great for beginners, this is the perfect adventure for all the family. Start the tour with pickup from your accommodation then head to São Pedro. Upon arrival, your guide will hand out the snorkeling gear, give you a quick safety briefing and teach you how to snorkel. Next, take a short boat ride and travel to a designated bay to admire sea turtles in their natural environment. Here, spend approximately 1-hour swimming and snorkeling. Get up close to these spectacular creatures with sightings guaranteed and enjoy an adventure that you won’t forget, swimming with one of the planet's oldest living species. Finally, get dropped off back at your accommodation where your memorable experience concludes.

Day Trip Santo Antão, highlights, from São Vicente, 11h

Day Trip Santo Antão, highlights, from São Vicente, 11h

Only an hour by ferry from São Vicente, yet this green Paradise Island boasts of lush agricultural farming, mountain peaks, valleys, charming villages, combined with the hardworking spirit, and simplicity of the people and culture which cannot be justified by words, but must be taken in by your encounter! Most of our agriculture comes from Santo Antão, also our local Grogue rum is produced here, we will visit a distillery. Santo Antão is an Island you MUST EXPERIENCE you will remember it a lifetime!

S.Vicent: Markets, Mountains, fishing villages and beaches

S.Vicent: Markets, Mountains, fishing villages and beaches

We will meet you at the reception of your hotel or at the exit gate of the harbor in Mindelo and head for a Guided visit into the city center of Mindelo, depending on the day of the week, here you will visit the main attractions in the city of Mindelo, such as the cultural center of Mindelo or the fruit and vegetable market, and the central square. After visiting Mindelo we will drive to the highest point of the island to enjoy a memorable panorama from the top of Monte Verde, which offers a panorama view of a deserted island full of very interesting volcanic landscapes. Than we will drive to Salamança fishing village to walk Barefoot on the peacefull white sand beach on the north of the island. Then you discover an an amazing village with the name of Baía das gatas, this is the place where the biggest music festival in Cape Verde is celebrated all year round, it is located few km from the center of the city of Mindelo and offers to visitors moments of calm and a beach of shallow waters with an ideal temperature to (short) swim in the Atlantic. At the end its time to come back to our starting point

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What people are saying about Mindelo

Overall rating

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7
4.7 out of 5 stars
(26 reviews)
5 out of 5 stars

We had sooo much fun on the tour! The island and spots they took us to were absolutely stunning and Lea was the sweetest guide! Definitely highly recommend!

5 out of 5 stars

The guide was very open and professional. The tour gave us great insights about the culture and how people live in Mindelo. I highly recommend this tour.

5 out of 5 stars

Magical experience with caring and wonderful guides. Thanks to Nelson and Ruy: the best!!

5 out of 5 stars

It was awesome!!!!Nelson Ruy and Willy were fantastic! Thanks to them again

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent service 🤩 top expérience! I recommend it.