Cape Verde Walking Holiday on Santo Antao

A Walking Holiday on Santo Antao that is perfect for keen hikers and nature lovers.

Our Cape Verde Walking Holiday starts and finishes on Sal getting an inter-island flight to Sao Vicente, from where you can catch a ferry across to Santo Antao. These three islands are a great introduction to Cape Verde. You can relax on the beaches of Sal after your flight, then immerse yourself in the music and culture of Sao Vicente. But the real highlight will be Santo Antao, where you get to enjoy four spectacular days of walking in steep, rocky mountain valleys.

The city of Mindelo on Sao Vicente is the crossing point for the ferry to Porto Novo on Santo Antao. It’s an enjoyable one hour journey and you often see jumping fish, such as the blue marlin. Santo Antao is one of the best islands on Cape Verde for walking, with its green valleys and dramatic, steep sided mountains. From Porto Novo, you’ll be driven up a steep and cobbled mountain road to the crater rim of Cova do Paul.

From the crater rim of Cova do Paul, you trek to the crater floor. You’ll see farmers hard at work in the fertile volcanic soils of this extinct caldera. Depending on the time of year, they may be sowing or harvesting corn, bean, and other produce. After gaining the crater rim on the other side, the path zig zags down a steep decline into the Paul Valley. The views are simply stunning; a hazy blue mountain scape and the green valley below. You’ll walk through terraces of banana, almond and mango trees. The aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans wafts up from the little hamlets as you head down to the coast. Enjoy a dinner of fresh fish and sample a glass of the local sugar-cane grogue, whilst watching the sun go down.

The valleys in this whole area are absolutely breath-taking, 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 will only carry a small rucksack. Your final walk takes you along to coast to Ponto do Sol, swapping steep green valleys for a refreshing coastal breeze!

At the end of your holiday, you return via the same route. Take the ferry to Mindelo, then hop across to Sal on a short inter-island flight. We’ve recommended the Hotel Morabeza on Sal, because its a great place to relax after four strenuous days of walking.

Jake and Max are our destination specialists for Cape Verde. Get in touch if you would like to talk through your options:

📞Call Us: 017687 21030

💻Email: team@archipelagochoice.com

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