FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SHORE EXCURSIONS, SAFETY, LOCAL LIFE AND OUR TERMS
Because people here are still treated like human beings — not like algorithms, consumers or numbers in an office.
I am surrounded by smiling, cheerful people. Children are everywhere. People look out for one another instead of focusing only on possessions and social status.
Shall I continue the list? I would be happy to do so during our excursion together.
Yes, very safe. However, there are still a few basic rules you should follow.
During daylight hours, there is generally little to worry about. To be on the safe side, avoid empty side streets and keep your distance from suspicious-looking individuals.
My most important advice: Do not walk through the streets at night — regardless of where you are or how large your group may be. After dark, use a taxi in Praia (and Mindelo).
Cruise ships dock at the Port of Praia. There is only one cruise terminal.
The walk from the ship to the port exit is approximately 500 metres. Pick-up inside the port area is not permitted.
The port is approximately two kilometres from Praia city centre, known as the Plateau.
There is no particularly pleasant or safe walking route from the cruise port into the city.
Practically nothing.
Take a taxi. The fare into the city is around 200 escudos, equivalent to approximately €2.
And make sure you are not overcharged 😉
The main road from Praia via Assomada to Tarrafal is fully paved. Due to the low volume of heavy goods traffic, it is in very good condition as of 2026.
The attractive coastal route from Praia via Pedra Badejo and Calheta de São Miguel to Tarrafal is also largely paved. Some sections still consist of cobblestones.
Once you leave the two main roads and travel into coastal villages or mountain communities, cobbled roads are common.
No. We have something much, MUCH more unpleasant: quebra-molas!
These are what we call speed bumps, road humps or “sleeping policemen”. They are found almost everywhere and often appear unexpectedly.
When driving a hire car, your main concern is therefore not: “Will I be caught speeding?” It is: “Will I return the underside of the car to the rental company in one piece?” 😉
Yes, you will.
We are in Africa. Material poverty is visible and forms part of everyday life.
Along many roadsides, you will see people selling fruit, vegetables, fish, second-hand clothing or baked goods in order to earn their daily income.
Many houses are basic or built provisionally. Corrugated-metal roofs are a normal part of the streetscape.
Praia has clinics offering a reasonably European standard of care. However, specialised treatment remains limited. The first kidney transplant in Cape Verde was only carried out in 2026.
Outside Praia, larger municipalities have hospitals and health centres that provide emergency medical care.
In Cape Verde, as elsewhere in Africa, the best advice remains: avoid becoming seriously ill.
Yes, surely.
However, distances, driving times and the time pressure caused by the ship’s departure should not be underestimated.
I can illustrate this with the story of my long-time friend Karl-Heinz Scherer.
Karl-Heinz is an impressive 2.03 metres tall, while his wife is 1.85 metres. For this good reason, the retired couple do not particularly enjoy group tours in buses. They usually hire a car and explore independently.
That is what they did in January 2025 during a cruise call at Praia.
Hiring the vehicle was straightforward. The car was older, but usable, and they set off towards the interior of the island.
It took them three hours to reach Tarrafal. Karl-Heinz’s driving was significantly affected by his fear of the quebra-molas. Added to this were countless unfamiliar bends and many people of all ages standing or walking along the roadside.
Their cruise ship was scheduled to remain in Praia for only seven hours. They had barely arrived in Tarrafal before they had to turn around.
The ticking clock, the possibility of roads being blocked by debris, unfamiliar junctions and, of course, the fear of missing the ship made the Scherers’ independent excursion "unforgettable" — though not entirely by choice.
I particularly enjoy discussing the cultural differences between life in Europe and life in Cape Verde.
As an entrepreneur and independent author, I also enjoy talking about the island’s economic conditions — including both their advantages and disadvantages.
I am happy to answer all your questions face to face when we meet 🙂
Naturally, our shore excursions also include the traditional historical facts and background.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
It is very simple: choose your preferred excursion on our website and send us an enquiry using the form or by email. Please also tell us your travel date and the number of people you would like to book for. We will confirm availability, price and meeting point as soon as possible.
You then transfer 50% of the agreed amount as a deposit to our Volksbank account in Germany. We will confirm receipt promptly. The remaining 50% is paid in cash on the day of the excursion.
There are no hidden fees.
Praia port is small. We will be waiting for you outside the only main gate, holding signs marked “Landausflüge Santiago.”
The walk from the ship to the meeting point is short and safe.
Yes. Our excursions are specifically planned around cruise-ship schedules.
We always allow generous time buffers and know the traffic conditions, distances and local procedures very well. If the ship’s departure time changes at short notice, we adapt the excursion immediately.
a) Your ship does not call at Praia
If your ship is unable to call at Praia because of weather conditions or for any other reason, you will incur no costs. Your booking will be cancelled automatically and free of charge, and your deposit will be refunded.
b) One of us becomes ill or is otherwise unavailable
If one of us becomes ill or is unable to operate the excursion, we will inform you in good time before the excursion begins. Your deposit will then be refunded as quickly as possible.
c) You wish to cancel the excursion
Cancellation up to 7 days before the excursion
Your booking will be cancelled free of charge and your deposit will be refunded in full.
Cancellation up to 48 hours before the excursion
The booking will be cancelled. To cover costs already incurred, we retain 50% of the deposit and refund the remaining 50%.
Cancellation less than 48 hours before the excursion or failure to appear
In this case, the deposit is retained in full as a cancellation fee.
As an officially operating agency, we provide:
• legal operation
• insurance cover for guests
• clear organisation and local responsibility
Very cheap providers — sometimes found through social media such as Facebook or through private contacts — do not always guarantee these services.
For this reason, when prices are unusually low, we recommend asking about insurance, official operating status and who is responsible if something goes wrong.
Anyone who values safety, transparency and professionally organised delivery is in the right place with us.
About us! Edney & Don
Don is German and has lived on Santiago Island since 2022. He is an entrepreneur and author. Before moving to Cabo Verde, he worked for 22 years as a freelance journalist for a German daily newspaper.
Edney is the owner of Somada Tour, a tourism agency based in Assomada, and is a licensed tour guide.
The two have clearly defined roles: Don is responsible for sales and marketing, while Edney’s agency provides the legal framework for their cooperation.