Things to do in Santo Antão
Santo Antão is the hiking island. You reach it by ferry from Mindelo, then walk the ribeiras.
Santo Antão is the hiking island. You reach it by ferry from Mindelo, then walk the ribeiras.
Most classic routes follow well-built cobbled paths, so you won't need scrambling skills, but they're steep and can be long. The Cova to Paul descent is mostly downhill, which is tough on the knees, and the coastal path from Ponta do Sol has big drops beside the trail. Shoes with good grip, plenty of water and sun protection matter more than technical kit.
Ponta do Sol is a favourite base, a small harbour town with restaurants and easy access to the coastal path. Guesthouses in the Paul valley put you among the terraces, with walks starting from the door. Porto Novo suits a night before an early ferry back to Mindelo.
You can walk all year. From about November to June the weather is dry and the air is often clear, with cool mornings on the high ground around Cova. The short rainy season from about August to October turns the valleys their greenest, though showers can leave the cobbles slippery. Carry a warm layer at any time of year, because cloud on the ridges brings a sudden chill.
Yes, and it pairs well with Sal or Boa Vista. Fly to São Vicente, spend a night in Mindelo and take the morning ferry across. Walk first and finish on the beach, so you're already on your departure island when it's time to fly home. Ten days gives you three or four nights of walking and several days by the sea.
Fontainhas, a turtle beach picnic and a coastal finish to Cruzinha after hotel pickup. From €156
From € 156
Crater farms at 1,100 metres, a Paul valley descent and seasonal grogue after hotel pickup. From €120
From € 120
Streams, Lombo Branco farms and a Sinagoga swim after hotel pickup on Santo Antao. From €78
From € 78
Riverbed, a 1956 aqueduct and a picnic above both valleys, then cobbles to Cha de Igreja. From €85
From € 85