Santo Antão Trails: From A to Z, 15 Days

Be welcomed by our professional driver at Cesária Évora International Airport and enjoy a private transfer to your accommodation in Mindelo city center, including free waiting time.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mindelo

Our team will also take you from door to door with complete security and professionalism, providing all relevant information about your stay.

15 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Mindelo

Starting from your hotel in the city of Mindelo, head straight to the harbor. Then, embark on a beautiful one-hour ferry trip to Santo Antão and enjoy the forbidding behind Mindelo, and it stunning guardian rock erupting from the harbour.

1 Hours 30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Porto Novo-Ribeira Grande Road

Arrive in Porto Novo and depart toward the Cova Natural Park.

30 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Cova - Krater

From the starting point, enjoy a privileged view of the volcano crater, and see locals in their agricultural fields. Start your 4-hour hike from 1,100 meters above sea level, with an oasis of vast vegetation emerging in the interior of the Volcano Crater.

20 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Paul Tal

Then, reach the crater’s edge and have the best and the most breathtaking view ever: standing on the edge of the crater, look out over the impressive green valley of Paul that lies in the depth before you plus the beautiful ocean view that is 10 kilometers away. After that, start the zigzagging part of the hike, going down via a stone path for 3 hours. During the descent, explore Cape Verde’s greenest valley, see and learn about native flora and fauna, soak up scenic views of the island's landscapes and have opportunity to see abandoned vineayrds, sugar cane and banana plantations; mango, avocados and coconut trees. Next, experience the production of a local rum-making distillery and taste the famous “grogue” (The Rum production season runs from January 1 st to May 31st).

3 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation.

10 Minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Paul Tal

After being collected from your accommodation, depart toward the Cobo de Ribeira, from where the hiking adventure will start. Follow the cobbled paths lined with dry-stone walls and the small villages nestled on steep sided mountains. Along the way, admire some simply decorated straw houses, perched on the side of a hill, facing a steep cliff reaching the clouds, with spectacular views of the valley. Next, move on to the Paul valley, known to be the greenest of the archipelago. There, dive into the lush-green vegetal world between sugarcane fields, fruit tree plantations, coffee, banana, guava, mango, breadfruit, eaucalyptus, papaya and more. Continue the walk through areas with crisp mountain air and past tiny communities. The tour concludes with drop-off at your accommodation.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

This spectacular walk begins at the Vila de Ribeira Grande riverbed, passing through scattered houses, banana plantations and a large windmill that helps residents collect water. After 1 hour of walking, arrive at Coculi Village with its prominent Santo Crucifixo parish church and then reach the second Ribeira Grande (at the mouth of two Ribeiras). Learn about the local fauna and flora from your guide and walk between the sugarcane plantations to a slender aqueduct built by the Portuguese in 1956, which still carries water today. Half an hour later find the small village of Boca das Ambas Ribeiras or “Mouth of Both Valleys”, where you will enjoy the picnic with a vertiginous view of the valley floor, far below. After that, enjoy a zigzagging cobled path that leads to the tiny settlement of Selado do Mocho and the Ribeira Garça. Finally, catch a glimpse of Chã da Igreja, meet locals and finish the walk in the village´s promontory. The tour concludes with drop off at your hotel.

6 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Monte Fontainhas

Start your walk from Ponta do Sol, a waterfront-fishing village and enjoy a background decoration overlooking the sea. Then, head through a sinuous road sculpted on the top of a mountain and surrounded with deep valleys that will lead you to the picturesque village of Fontainhas, one of the 10 villages with the best view in the world according to National Geografic. Follow a steep descent and a pedestrian path, crossing Corvo, Formiguinhas and some dazzling heights to the Aranhas valley. Next, arrive at a beautiful Praia das Aranhas, a place for turtle’s nesting where you can swim depending on the sea conditions. There, find a scenic spot for a well-deserved rest and enjoy a picnic on the shore. Then, start your 2.5-hour hike between volcanic rocks and the ocean, offering stunning views until you reach Cruzinha, a small fishing village with breathtaking views on the coast and the ocean. At the end of an unforgettable day, sit back and relax on the return transfer to your accommodation.

6 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

The “Estritin” corner (Estreitinhoem Português) is located at the ends of the Caibros stream, within the Ribeira Grande valley. After passing through the Ribeira Grande, you enter the river and after about 20 minutes of climbing, there is a beautiful waterfall, flanked by mountains that, according to the Santatoneneses, reach the sky. The waterfall water is fresh and crystal clear. In caves where water flows, amazing stalactites and stalagmites are formed. A mixture of charm and fear invades the visitor who is frightened by the authoritarianism of the rocks. Estritin is a place par excellence to be part of a tourism circuit based on nature. Places like this should be referred to as natural monuments.

6 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Tarrafal de Monte Trigo

This route runs through the places of Chã de Cruz, Chã Dura, Pascoal Alves, Figueirinha de Pascoal Alves, Ribeira Preta, Ribeira de Purgueira and Selada de Monte Trigo, between Morrinho d´Égua / Topo de Coroa and Monte do Trigo (a fishing village) which, due to its modern 24/24 hour photovoltaic energy system, has been dubbed the “most renewable village in Cape Verde”). On the route between this town and Tarrafal de Monte Trigo, the connection can, alternatively, be made, in either direction, by sea, through small artisanal fishing boats, lasting 50 minutes. In this crossing, the traveler can enjoy a unique and singular landscape, shared between the tranquil blue sea of ​​this bay and the high peaks of the Topo de Coroa volcano that rise, imposing, from these waters.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Departure at 8 am. Start the ascent along the cobblestone path and then fork to the right (white sign about 900 m) to the shortcut. At noon, the heat is felt and you need at least 3 liters of water. Arrival at Casa do Lusiano. Meals and breakfast served by a local family.

5 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Tope de Coroa, Santo Antão's highest altitude, at 1,979 meters, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of Santo Antão, and is therefore one of the main tourist attractions of this island. This volcano is inserted in the natural park of the same name, with more than 84 kilometers of extension, where there are 61 percent (%) of endemic species of plants typical of Cape Verde, of which 25% are on the list species in the process of extinction

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Enjoy spectacular view of the three groups of houses Alto Mira 3, 2 and 1 surrounded by terraces. At the bottom, reached after going through a canyon, you can eat and sleep in basic conditions at Tutu's.

5 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

As in the previous stage, you have to pass several canyons before reaching Cha de Igreja.

5 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Get picked up at your accommodation and start this incredible trail in the small village of Pinhao, located 600 meters above sea level. Cross small streams and hills with peaceful settlements along green valleys and see endemic plants and tropical birds.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Ribeira Grande

Discover Ribeira de Torre, the most beautiful valley of Santo Antão and be delighted with amazing views from Xoxo to the valley of Ribeira Grande. Pass close to a gorgeous waterfall and enjoy a natural swimming pool with locals.

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Santo Antao

Morning ferry trip to São Vicente

1 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Praia da Laginha

Enjoy your day in the beautiful beach of Laginha

4 Hours • Admission Ticket Free

Sao Vicente

Custom Transfer to Cesária Évora international airport.

20 Minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Drop off and say Goodbye Cape Verde!!!

• Admission Ticket Free