Hike Serra Malagueta to Principal Valley From Tarrafal

Beautiful hike with quite a bit of negative elevation and a little slippery but still accessible. Stunning landscapes.

We stayed one week individually on the island of Santiago in mid-March and booked some tours with Cape Verde Tours. We can recommend the organizer without hesitation, punctual pickup from the hotel as well as reliable and problem-free execution of the excursions with competent guide. named Flavio. Good English and general knowledge of fauna, flora, social structures and regional studies. The tour started with pickup from Tarrafal, in 30 minutes to the NP Parque Natural de Serra Malagueta with destination hike through the Principal Valley. Entry was near the NP Center at the edge of the main road. Walking sticks are mandatory, medium condition recommended. Duration approx. 4h-5h on 7km length , downhill in serpentine paths 700 meters downhill. At the start, a route description shows the difficulty (medium) with time duration, altitude difference and distance. It is advisable to inquire beforehand at the NP Center whether obstacles or changes in the route make the path more difficult or less passable due to previous natural events. The path had trail breaks in places in the first course, which made border-heavy surefootedness difficult. Due to heavy rainfall in Nov 2025, the last third of the way was washed away in places at the end of the riverbed. This means that the hike or scrambling led in the end mostly through the dried-out riverbed with large stones, rubble, etc. Without a guide, it would not have been possible to recognize the route. The tour ended at the reservoir with pickup by Aluguer and back to Tarrafal. Tour is recommended! But only if the route is dry, as a sloping and uneven course can easily lead to slipping.