The ferry from Mindelo crosses the channel in about an hour and ties up at Porto Novo, the main town on the south coast of Santo Antão. Aluguers and taxis wait by the quay, so the town is busiest when a boat comes in. Porto Novo's municipality covers nearly three-quarters of the island, taking in the dry south and west, where brown volcanic slopes run down to the sea. Above them rises Topo da Coroa, the island's highest peak at 1,979 metres, above a high plateau of lava fields and scattered farms.
Mountain roads and a remote coast
Two roads head north from town. The old cobbled mountain road climbs past the Cova crater and along the narrow ridge at Delgadinho, while the newer road follows the east coast through Janela and Paul. Heading west, a long drive across the plateau brings you to Tarrafal de Monte Trigo, a fishing village on a black-sand bay. From there, a coastal hike of around 10 kilometres runs beneath the island's highest slopes to Monte Trigo, a village you can only reach on foot or by boat. Fishermen can often bring you back by sea.
Booking on adventuro
Most people pass through Porto Novo on the way to the northern valleys of Ribeira Grande, and many guided walks include the pickup at the quay. To see the west coast, plan a night in Tarrafal, because transport there is limited. Use the Book here tab to see live dates for walks that start from the ferry.
