Santo Antão

Discover Santo Antão

Remote Santo Antao is the most westerly island in the Cape Verde archipelago. To get there, you simply hop on a ferry from Mindelo, on Sao Vicente. Its a scenic journey, and it’s nice to approach the island by sea. The high mountains and green valleys of Santo Antão make it an obvious choice for hikers, and so few people know about it, which means you often get the trails to yourself. You don’t have to be a walker to appreciate the island, of course. There is plenty to see on Santo Antão and our driver-guides will take you to the best spots.

Though Cape Verde has a dry and sunny aspect, the mountains create their own micro-climate and attract moisture from the ocean, which means you get a delightful contrast between arid high, rocky mountains, and fertile, green valleys that are bursting with the colours and smells of tropical fruits and flowers. Some of the landscapes are truly jaw-dropping, and make sure you try some of the local grogue when you pass by one of the grogue distilleries.

Things to do on Santo Antão

The best way to familiarise yourself with Santo Antão is to head out on a jeep tour of the island, and its possible to do this as a day trip from Sao Vicente, or as part of your stay on the island. There are a variety of tours, most taking you into the mountain ranges at the north eastern end of the island.

From Porto Novo you cross the island on a spectacularly scenic mountain road called Estrada Valha, which winds its way through pointed rocky peaks. The views are beyond amazing. One of the most popular spots of visit in this area is the volcanic caldeira of Cova do Paul, which has a great viewing platform. The famously green and fertile Paul Valley is also a highlight, as is the Xoxo valley, with its iconic rock monolith. If you fancy a little exploration on foot, you have the option to enjoy a short walk in each of these locations.

Santo Antão has a great range of walking trailing, from well established self-guided options, to high mountain trails that require a local walking guide. One of the most popular routes is the Paul Valley Walk starting at the crater rim of Cova do Paul. From here, you walk down to the crater floor, a large basin where crops like beans and corn are cultivated. The path skirts around the crater and ascends the crater rim on the opposite site, connecting you to the path that zig zags down into the Paul Valley.

This walk can be done with or without a guide, but we recommend having a local guide if you want to spend some time explore the surrounding valleys, each as enchanting as the next. Another popular walk, which can be done independently, is the coastal walk from Cruzinha to Ponta do Sol.

Top places to stay on Santo Antão

If you’re here for two to four days then we recommend that you concentrate on the valley at the north eastern end of the island. The Paul Valley is a really special place and there are several guest houses, such Casa Cavoquinho, the lovely Aldeia Manga, or simple but sociable Casa das Ilhas. There’s a network of paths in the Paul valley that you can explore by yourself and the guest house owners will point you in the right direction.

Ponta Do Sol is a lovely port town on the north eastern tip, with views back along the northern coast and a small selection of cafes and restaurants. There’s a fantastic coastal walk that takes you from Cruzinha into Ponta do Sol, and we recommend staying at the Musica do Mar on the seafront.

If you’re staying on Santo Antao for a few days and want a simple that gets you away from it all, then the Mamiwata Eco Village is hard to beat. Or stay in one of the cliff-top pods at the RM Green Hotel, which opened in 2025 and has been getting some great reviews.

Getting to Santo Antao

Remote, Santo Antão can be accessed via a ferry that runs twice a day from Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente. A day trip is possible but we’d definitely recommend staying longer if you have the time.

And remember, all of our holidays are tailor made for you. We’ve put together a few holiday suggestions on our website, but all of them can be amended to include the parts of Cape Verde that you most want to explore.

Chat to Max or Jake about Santo Antão: team@archipelagochoice.com