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Overview

A Cape Verde Walking Holiday on Santo Antao and the most colourful event of the year!

This is a Cape Verde walking holiday with a difference! Four days of walking on Santo Antao, carnival celebrations on Sao Vicente, and time on the beach. We think this is a fantastic way to enjoy the island culture of Cape Verde.

Santo Antao is one of the best islands for walking trails, with scenic trails traversing through steep valleys. You’ll cut through quaint little mountain-side villages and get a glimpse into rural life here. You start and finish on Sao Vicente, exploring the island on an off-road tour and enjoying carnival celebrations.

Cape Verde Carnival | Mindelo | Sao Vicente

Carnival is hugely popular amongst the residents of Sao Vicente. The expertly tailored costumes, dances, and music all reflect the rich culture of Cape Verde. The unique mix of African and Portuguese cultural celebrations is a reminder of Cape Verde’s pivotal role in the trans-Atlantic trade of the 1600’s. Though the main parade is on shrove Tuesday, there are parties, street bands, food stalls, and celebrations in the week leading up to the main parade. On the day of the main parade, the streets come alive with energetic drum beats, swirling dance troops and spectacular floats, each competing to win the coveted carnival prize: VIDEO FOOTAGE

What is the weather like?

Feb/March falls in the middle of Cape Verde’s dry season. Though the valleys won’t be as green as they are in the wet season, the trails will be dry and temperatures are pleasantly warm, in the low to mid 2o’s. Combine clear skies with elevated paths and you get expansive of views across the island.

Four day trek on Santo Antao

A one hour ferry crossing takes you to Porto Novo on Santo Antao. If you look out to sea you’ll often see jumping fish, such as the blue marlin. From Porto Novo, You’ll be driven up a steep and cobbled mountain road to the crater rim of Cova do Paul. You’ll trek to the crater floor, a flat fertile land that is perfect farmland  for growing of grain. You’ll ascend the crater rim on the other side and join a path that zig zags down a steep decline into the Paul Valley. The views are simply stunning and its easy to see why the Paul Valley walk is one of the most popular walking days across the whole of Cape Verde.

All of valleys in this area offer breath-taking views, so we’ve also included a walk in Cha das Pedras and Cha d’Igreja valley. You’ll follow small winding paths, often a little exposed, through mountain sides scattered with little houses. Your luggage will be transferred from point to point, so you only need to carry a small rucksack. For a change in scenery, we include a final days walk along the coast to Ponto do Sol.

Flexibility and Choice

Though the date of the main parade is fixed to Tuesday 17th February 2026, all other elements of the itinerary can be flexible to fit with your dates. If you would like to know more, do get in touch:

📞Call Us: 017687 21030

💻Email: team@archipelagochoice.com



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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1

Tuesday 10th February - After flying into Sao Vicente on Cape Verde, a private transfer will take you to your accommodation at Hotel Oasis Porto Grande, where you stay for two nights. The hotel is within walking distance of many restaurants and the harbour. In the evening you can head into town to join in with carnival celebrations and perhaps enjoy some food from one of the food stalls that are set up for carnival week.

Day 2

Wednesday 11th February - Today, you will be collected from your hotel to enjoy an off-road private jeep tour of the island. You will be visiting Palha Carga, Calhau, Sandy Beach, Praia Grande, Baia Norte, Baia das Gatas and Monte Verde. Lunch is included. After exploring the island, you return to more carnival celebrations.

Day 3

Thursday 12th February - After an early breakfast, transfer to the ferry port for your one-hour ferry crossing to Santo Antao. Your private driver and guide will already be waiting for you when you arrive. Drive up the steep road to Cova crater where you start your walk. Today you walk (4-5hrs) down the cobbled path which zigs zags its way down into the green fertile Paul Valley amongst towering cliffs and tropic vegetation consisting of sugar cane, mango and dragon trees. Depending on the time of the year, you can also visit a grogue distillery. The walk can be hard on the knees, so make sure you bring your walking poles. The walk ends at Casa das Ilhas where you stay for one night. A picnic is included.

Day 4

Friday 13th February - Your private guide will be picking you up again after breakfast and you will be driven to the Cha das Pedras valley, where your walk starts. Today's walk (4-5hrs) including a picnic, starts with an uphill stretch, but you're soon rewarded with magnificent views of the valley below, where small houses are scattered about on the steep hillsides. Once you have reached the ridge, you can see a long but interesting path winding its' way down to the next village in the valley and your accommodation. Your luggage will be transferred separately and will be waiting for you at Pedracin Village where you stay for one night.

Day 5

Saturday 14th February - Accompanied by your private guide, you'll hike up and over to the remote Cha d'Igreja valley and the pretty village of Casa d'Igreja itself. The moderate to difficult walk (4-5hrs) has some exposed and narrow paths, but the scenery is stunning. Your luggage will be transferred separately to Kasa d'Igreja for your one night stay. Picnic is included.

Day 6

Sunday 15th February - Your final walk on the island takes you, again accompanied by your private guide, along the dramatic Atlantic coast from your Kasa to Ponta do Sol. The walk has plenty of photo opportunity spots and although it is moderate in distance, there are some steep and challenging sections. The duration is 5 to 6 hours and a packed lunch is included. Your luggage will be transferred separately to Musica do Mar where you stay for one night.

Day 7

Monday 16th February - Early morning transfer the ferry port for your crossing back to Sao Vicente. Depending on the flight to Sal, you may have some free time in Mindelo before it's time for your transfer to the airport. On arrival transfer to the Morabeza where you stay for two nights.

Day 8

Tuesday 17th February - Shrove Tuesday is the day of the main parade at Sao Vicente Carnival Carnival, so we've left the day free for you to immerse yourself in the experience. The streets are awash with colourful costumes, accompanied by the sounds of lively music. This is a spectacle not to be missed and celebrations go on late into the night.

Day 9

Wednesday 18th February - After your week of walking and carnival celebrations, we thought you would appreciate some relaxation time! You'll check out around noon and we'll transfer you to the Foya Branca hotel on the south west coast of Sao Vicente. Your Hotel sits right on the white sands of Praia de Sao Pedro beach, where you can read a book on a sun lounger, or just soak up the beautiful coastal scenery with an ice-cool drink in hand.

Day 10

Thursday 19th February - The golden sands of the Praia de São Pedro beach are very enticing, so we've included a second full day here, allowing you to explore the area at your own pace. More time at the beach is a must for sun lovers, but there's also plenty to see and do, if you want to have a stroll around.

Day 11

Friday 20th February - After a last morning catching Cape Verde's rays, you'll check out and we'll transfer you to the airport for your connecting flights to Heathrow, via Lisbon.

£3,250pp

We can create a tailor-made holiday to suit your budget.

INCLUDED: International flights (guide price only), accommodation in twin share, en-suite rooms on a breakfast only basis throughout, dinner is included at Casa das Ilhas, Pedracin and Kasa d'Igreja. Return ferry tickets to Santo Antao. Private off-road tour of Sao Vicente, support from our team in Cape Verde. Four Days of guided walking on Santo Antao. EXCLUDED: Meals not specified above and insurance. Additional excursions on free days.

Accommodation

The combination of accommodation we choose for your trip is the key to an unforgettable holiday. From coastal hideaways to small hotels nestled in the mountains, each island has a variety of great accommodation choices and the hotels on this trip will be specially selected for you.

Kasa d’Igreja
Musica do Mar Pedracin Village Hotel Morabeza Hotel Oasis Atlantico Porto Grande Hotel Foya Branca Casa das Ilhas

Activities

We have included four amazing days of walking on Santa Antao. These walks can be changed prior to booking, if you would prefer an easier option.

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Location

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