Santiago
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£1519pp(from/pp)
Pestana Tropico is a comfortable hotel located on a promontory overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
Our Guest’s Opinion
- Mr Pickett
Set in a residential area of Praia, the capital of Cape Verde and the largest town in the archipelago, Pestana Tropico Hotel is flanked by the famous dark sand Prainha Beach, popular with the locals for relaxing and playing sports. Guests here are also perfectly placed to explore the heart of the old city, Cidade Velha, with its colourful colonial architecture, bustling squares and vibrant markets all just a short ride up the hill.
In the hotel itself, guests will find the rooms set over two floors, all of which enjoy sea or pool-facing views. The large pool and terrace area is the focal point of the hotel, providing a wonderful spot to soak up the sunshine and recharge your batteries after a busy day. In addition to this, you’ll have some tasty meals to look forward to courtesy of the restaurant Creole, serving up Cape Verdean, Portuguese and international dishes.
Pestana Tropico is an excellent hotel choice for those looking to explore the island of Santiago, before heading on to the island of Fogo.
You can take a direct international flight to Sal, before hopping on an internal flight to/from Santiago.
Santiago is best experienced as part of a multi-centre island hopping holiday around the archipelago. We offer a number of itineraries that include a stay on Santiago. Visit our Island Hopping Holiday Ideas page, or call one of our experts about a tailormade itinerary.
Official local hotel rating: 4 star
Internal flights are provided by BestFly or TACV. It should be noted that internal flights can and do change schedules and flights are sometimes cancelled, delayed or even early!
Travelling time between Sal to Santiago is approximately 45 minutes' flying time.
Standard Room
From £1,279pp
Sleeps up to 2
Standard rooms have twin beds, and a shower over bath. These rooms are facing the pool area, table and chairs are located on a shared outdoor space.
Premium Room
From £1,415pp
Slightly larger than Standard Rooms, these bedrooms have twin beds. These rooms are facing the pool area and have a balcony or terrace.
Junior Suite
From £1,478pp
Sleeps up to 3
Junior suites have twin beds and sofa bed in the living room. These rooms have a pool view with a terrace. Sleeps 2 adults + 1 child.
Suite
From £1,569pp
The Suites are larger, with double bed, sofa bed and seating area. These suites also have either sea or pool views, with a balcony or terrace and sleep 2 adults + 1 child.
Opening dates are subject to change and beyond our control.
Hotel
Creole's - Praia
Cape Verdean
More information
Local
Terazza Italiana
Italian Cuisine
Quintal da Musica
Cape Verdean & European Cuisine
Cafe Sofia
Cape Verdean Cuisine
Zero Point Steakhouse
The largest island in the archipelago and the first to be populated, Santiago is rich in history and culture. The various mountainous peaks of the island reflect its volcanic origin.
With a unique blend of diverse landscapes, volcanic rocks, green valleys, barren regions and beautiful beaches Santiago is aesthetically pleasing. Hiking is popular here as this is one of the few islands with a refreshing hinterland which can be very rewarding. Ornithologists will be in their element as most of the species endemic to Cape Verde can be spotted here.
Praia is the capital of Santiago, a traditional bustling African town and the trading hub for agricultural products. Live music plays a huge role in the city's culture and can be heard playing in bars and restaurants and is hugely popular amongst the locals and tourists. No visit to Santiago would be complete without a trip to the old capital of Cidade Velha and Forte Real de Sao Filipe, the main slave trading point between Europe, Africa and America.
The following are just a couple of festivals that take place on Santiago:
Gamboa Festival - 17/18/19 May - Held in the bay of San Fransisco and arguably the biggest music festival in Cape Verde. Musicians from other countries come to Santiago to participate.
Tabanka - June/July - A celebration of the liberation of slaves which takes place in Assomada.
The Islands provide some spectacular scenery and there are walks to suit all levels of fitness and experience.
Some of the walks in the islands provide challenges which require previous hill walking experience, a higher-than-average level of fitness and proper walking footwear. For some walks guides are a necessity and can be arranged and paid for locally where as others are well signposted and there is no need for a guide.
The interior of Santiago provides many beautiful walks that start at a point in the centre of the island and follow a Ribeira down to the coast.
We highly recommend taking part in a full day tour of Santiago. Visit Praia - the island's capital, local markets, old settlements and Cidade Velha, the old capital.