Crossing Santo Antáo from East to West

⛴️ Early departure for the boat crossing from São Vicente to Santo Antão , the most mountainous island in the archipelago where our trek will take place. After an hour's sailing, we arrive in Porto Novo.

We take a shared taxi (aluguer) along the Corda road to reach the Cova crater, the starting point of the trek. Between pine and eucalyptus trees, we skirt this depression, situated at 1300 meters altitude, a testament to the island's volcanic past. The crater's interior is a magnificent patchwork of cultivated fields. The precious clouds that bring coolness and humidity to the Paul Valley cling to the hillsides. We then descend the 77 switchbacks of the beautiful, cobbled mule track to reach the small farming village of Cha De Manuel Dos Santos , in the heart of the Paul Valley, where we spend the night.

We leave this farming village and head towards Boca de Figueiras. This is an opportunity to discover rural life. Following the mule tracks built by hand at the foot of the levadas and terraced fields, we meet the locals. Every last scrap of arable land is cultivated. In the late afternoon, we settle into a small guesthouse in Vila das Pombas.

We begin the day with a short transfer to the colorful fishing village of Sinagoga, home to a small shipyard, and then on to Lombo Branco. We start our hike in the valley above Pinhao, passing through small villages amidst terraced fields. We arrive on foot in Ribeira Grande and explore the town. At the end of the day, we meet up with the shared taxi (aluguer) which takes us to Ponta do Sol, a seaside village where we will spend the night.

We set off on foot for the small, colorful village of Fontainhas , following a mule track along the hillside. At every turn, the views of the ocean are magnificent. We cross a small pass at 200 meters altitude and descend to Corvo. The route leads us between cliffs and the ocean to the village of Forminguinhas, revealing the rugged landscape of the "windward coast," sculpted by the ocean over time. In the late afternoon, we reach Cruzinha da Garça, a small fishing port at the end of the world, and then Cha de Igreja.

Today, we leave the ocean behind. We ascend the arid Mocho Valley and reach the small village of Selado do Mocho, perched at approximately 350 meters above sea level. We continue to the Ladeira da Garça pass and then descend into the Ribeira Grande valley. In the afternoon, we meet up with the shared taxi (aluguer) which takes us to Boca de Ambas as Ribeiras before reaching Caibros, a small village nestled in an agricultural valley.

We set off for two days and pack our belongings for an overnight stay in Lagoa. We leave the charming village of Caibros and head towards the Lagoa plateau. As we hike, we discover stunning panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. We settle into a guesthouse in the village. In the evening, we enjoy a dinner prepared by the villagers.

We set off for a beautiful and varied day, from the mountains of Lagoa to a lovely agricultural valley. With an approximately 800-meter descent, we arrive at our guesthouse , where we can swim in the pool and relax.

We 're carrying our belongings for another night. The terrain is a bit arid, with some agricultural sections. We're passing through small villages. The inhabitants have carved terraces into the steep mountainsides to cultivate their land. We have some superb views along the way.

We set off to climb the island's highest point, Topo de Coroa, at 1979 meters . It is part of Cape Verde's protected areas. After a transfer to Cha de Fejual, we begin our ascent of Topo de Coroa. The path winds through impressive lunar landscapes, offering beautiful views of the volcanic cones and stretching all the way to the sea. In the late afternoon, we reach the village of Norte, where we settle into our guesthouse.

We leave the Norte plateau and set off for a two-day trek, packing our overnight gear , to reach the fishing village of Monte Trigo. We skirt the immense Coroa crater and begin a long descent towards the coast. We arrive in Monte Trigo in the mid-afternoon and settle into a local's home for the night.

Free morning to enjoy Tarrafal beach.

After lunch, departure for Porto Novo to take a boat in the afternoon back to Mindelo.

Free time in Mindelo at the end of the day.

We set off for a short walk from the beach to reach the Dona Amelia lighthouse, along the Atlantic Ocean and return by the same path.

As an optional extra (payable locally), for those who wish, you can take a fishing boat to see the turtles (just a few meters from the beach). Afterwards, we'll enjoy lunch at a nearby local restaurant.

Free time in Mindelo at the end of the day.