Lamp Hope — Tourism With Purpose in Cape Verde

Island guide

Santo Antão Island Guide: A Refuge for Nature Lovers

Santo Antão is a place of unsurpassed beauty. Set in the north-west of Cape Verde, the moment you set foot on the island the contrast of its landscapes is unexpected and overwhelming. The magnitude of the island — with its vast rocky escarpments, open sea and green valleys — offers a singular experience. Discovered in 1462 by Portuguese explorers, it carries European, African and South American influences, and is the birthplace of musicians, artists and writers including the poet Corsino Fortes. This guide covers the trails, the valleys, the grogue, the markets, the beaches and the cultural attractions of Santo Antão, and how to visit in a way that supports its communities.

The unbreakable spirit of Santo Antão

A refuge for nature lovers, discovered in 1462.

Santo Antão is a place of unsurpassed beauty. Set in the north-west of Cape Verde, the moment you set foot on the island the contrast of its landscapes is unexpected and overwhelming. The magnitude of the island, with its vast rocky escarpments, open sea and green valleys, offers a singular experience.

Santo Antão was discovered in 1462 by Portuguese explorers and is a territory with European, African and South American influences. The capital is Porto Novo, and other important towns on the island include Ribeira Grande and Paúl. Santo Antão is the birthplace of several musicians, artists and writers, including the poet Corsino Fortes, and holds a rich cultural heritage that blends African, Portuguese and Brazilian influences. Traditional music and dance are an important part of island life, with morna, coladeira and funaná the most popular styles.

Discovering the island through its trails

Some of the most impressive trails in the world, for walkers of every level.

Santo Antão is home to some of the most impressive trails in the world, offering a unique experience for walkers of all levels. The island's rugged terrain and diversity of landscapes provide the perfect setting for the adventurous to explore and discover new paths. From the picturesque Ribeira Grande to the lush Paúl Valley, not forgetting the challenging ascent of Topo da Coroa at 1,979 metres, there are many trails available. All of them are an opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the island and to know its culture and traditions first hand. Here are three options.

Cova – Paúl – Ribeira das Patas trail

A favourite of walkers for its stunning landscapes and challenging terrain.

This trail begins in the village of Cova and follows through the Paúl Valley, one of the most fertile regions of the island. The trail then climbs to the ridge that separates Paúl from the Ribeira das Patas valley, offering panoramic views of both valleys. It is a favourite of walkers for its stunning landscapes and challenging terrain.

Cruzinha – Ponta do Sol circuit

A trekking circuit from the picturesque village of Cruzinha to the coastal town of Ponta do Sol.

This trekking circuit takes walkers from the picturesque village of Cruzinha to the coastal town of Ponta do Sol. The trail passes through green valleys, offering views of the island's imposing peaks and the open sea. Along the way, it is possible to visit the traditional villages of Fontainhas and Xoxo.

Ribeira da Torre – Corda trail

Considered one of the most challenging walks on Santo Antão, but the reward is worth it.

Considered one of the most challenging walks on Santo Antão, but the reward is worth it. The trail takes walkers through the Serra da Corda, offering spectacular views of the island's rocky peaks and deep valleys. The trail also passes through the picturesque village of Lagoa and ends in the green Ribeira da Torre valley.

Exploring the local markets

The markets of Santo Antão are a feast for the senses, full of fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, handicrafts and other local products. The Mercado Municipal da Ribeira Grande is the largest market on the island, and a great place to absorb the lively atmosphere and browse the colourful stalls. There is everything: from traditional woven baskets and pottery to exotic fruit and vegetables. The markets are good places to taste local delicacies — such as cassava cake — and to mingle with the locals.

Learning the history and traditions

The Museu das Romarias is in the village of Ponta do Sol, dedicated to the religious festivals of the island, known as romarias, which are an important part of the island's cultural heritage. The museum's exhibitions include traditional clothing, musical instruments and other objects used in these festivals, as well as photographs and videos showing their traditions. The museum also organises workshops and events related to the romarias, providing an immersive and interactive experience.

Tasting grogue and the local cuisine

The island is known for the famous Cape Verdean grogue, a sugar-cane spirit produced on the island for centuries, usually served in small coloured glasses and pleasing locals and visitors alike. It is possible to visit a grogue distillery to see how it is made and to taste different varieties of the liquor.

The cuisine of Santo Antão includes fresh seafood, tropical fruit and locally grown vegetables, but to feel the true flavour of Santo Antão you must try the goat stew with beans (ensopado de cabrito com feijão).

Pocket guide: sun & beach attractions

Santo Antão's coast offers quiet coves and fishing-village beaches rather than resort strands. The main sun and beach attractions:

  • Praia d'Aranhas (Cruzinha).
  • Praia de Areias da Sinagoga (Ribeira Grande).
  • Praia de Bote (Porto Novo).
  • Praia de Campanário (Porto Novo).
  • Praia de Escorralate (Porto Novo).
  • Praia de Formosa (Porto Novo).
  • Praia de Lisboa (Ponta do Sol).
  • Praia de Tarrafal (Tarrafal).
  • Praia de Tarrafal do Monte Trigo (Monte Trigo).
  • Praia de Toninha (Porto Novo).

Pocket guide: nature & adventure attractions

The island's interior is the draw for hikers and nature lovers. The key nature and adventure attractions:

  • Aldeia das Fontainhas (Ribeira Grande).
  • Alto Mira (Porto Novo).
  • Borda de Cova (Paúl).
  • BTT / mountain biking (Lagoa, Paúl, Ribeira Grande, Porto Novo).
  • Buggy, 4x4, quad bike (Porto Novo).
  • Caldeira Vulcânica de Cova (Paúl).
  • Canyon Ponte Sul (Lagedos).
  • Chã de Branquinho (Porto Novo).
  • Coculi (Ribeira Grande).
  • Corda Road (Ribeira Grande).
  • Cratera Vulcânica de Lagoa e Espadaná (Porto Novo).
  • Cratera, Cova do Paúl (Paúl).
  • Dunas de Foz da Ribeira de Fundão (Porto Novo).
  • Farol de Fontes Pereira de Melo (Paúl).
  • Figueiral de Cima (Ribeira Grande).
  • Floresta de Pico da Cruz e Pêro Dias (Paúl).
  • Fontainhas (Ribeira Grande).
  • Grutas de Esmarcela (Porto Novo).
  • Ilhéu da Cruzinha (Ribeira Grande).
  • Ilhéu de Lombo de Boi (Janela, Paúl).
  • Lombo Figueira (Porto Novo).
  • Manuel Lopes (Porto Novo).
  • Miradouro de Campo Redondo (Porto Novo).
  • Morro vermelho (Porto Novo).
  • Observação da desova das tartarugas (Tarrafal, Cruzinha).
  • Observação de aves (Planalto Leste).
  • Paleodunas de Cruzinha (Ribeira Grande).
  • Parque Natural de Moroços (Porto Novo).
  • Ponta do Sol Chã de Igreja (Ribeira Grande).
  • Ponte Delgadinho (Ribeira Garça).
  • Pozolanas de Santo Antão (Porto Novo).
  • Queda de Neve (Ribeira das Pombas, Paúl).
  • Ribeira da Cruz (Porto Novo).
  • Ribeira dos Bodes (Porto Novo).
  • Ribeira dos lajedos (Porto Novo).
  • Ribeira Fria (Porto Novo).
  • Rota da Bruxa — Pico da Cruz / Janela (Paúl).
  • Rota dos Flagelados (Porto Novo).
  • Shark Mountain (Entrada Novo, Escurraleto, Porto).
  • Tarrafal (Tarrafal).
  • Topo da Coroa (Porto Novo) — 1,979 m.
  • Trilho da Celado do Mocho (Ribeira Garça).
  • Trilho do Vale do Paúl (Paúl).
  • Trilho Pinhão a Lombo Branco e Sinagoga (Ribeira Garça).
  • Trilho Ponta do Sol à Cruzinha (Ribeira Garça).
  • Trilho Tarrafal a Monte Trigo (Porto Novo).
  • Trilho Vale da Ribeira da Torre, Xôxô a Ribeira Grande (Ribeira Garça).
  • Vale Aldeia de Xôxô (Ribeira Grande).
  • Vale da Figueira (Ribeira Grande).
  • Vale da Ribeira da Garça (Ribeira Garça).
  • Vale da Ribeira da Torre (Ribeira Grande).
  • Vale da Ribeira das Pombas (Paúl).
  • Vale da Ribeira de Paúl (Paúl).
  • Vale da Ribeira do Duque (Coculi, Ribeira Grande).
  • Vale das Aranhas (Ribeira Grande).

Pocket guide: nautical attractions

The sea around Santo Antão is for diving, boat trips and traditional fishing. The main nautical attractions:

  • Mergulho / diving (Porto Novo, Tarrafal).
  • Passeio de Barco / boat trips (Ribeira Grande, Porto Novo).
  • Pesca Tradicional / traditional fishing (Ponta do Sol, Ribeira Grande, Tarrafal).
  • Snorkeling (Porto Novo, Tarrafal).

Pocket guide: cultural attractions

Santo Antão's culture runs from mountain villages to grogue distilleries and religious festas. The main cultural attractions:

  • Aldeia das Fontainhas (Ribeira Grande).
  • Aldeia de Chã João Vaz (Paúl).
  • Aldeia de Espongeiro (Ribeira Grande).
  • Aldeia de Monte Trigo (Monte Trigo).
  • Cabo da Ribeira (Paúl).
  • Centro da Ponta do Sol (Ponta do Sol).
  • Cidade das Pombas (Paúl).
  • Destilaria de grogue (Paúl, Ribeira Grande, Tarrafal, Ribeira da Cruz).
  • Estátua da Mulher Cabo-Verdiana (Porto Novo, Ponta do Sol).
  • Fábrica de produção de Grogue no Vale do Paúl (Paúl).
  • Fábrica de Queijo (Porto Novo, Tarrafal).
  • Festa de Nossa Senhora de Fátima (Alto Mira).
  • Festa de Nossa Senhora de Piedade (Janela).
  • Festa de Santo Antão (Ribeira Grande).
  • Festa de Santo António das Pombas (Paúl).
  • Festa de São João (Porto Novo).
  • Festa de São Joãozinho (Ribeira das Patas).
  • Festa de São Pedro (Garça).
  • Museu das Romarias (Ponta do Sol).
  • Porto Marítimo da Cidade de Porto Novo (Porto Novo).
  • Street Art / murals of Ribeira Grande (Ribeira Grande).
  • Tarrafal de Monte Trigo (Porto Novo).
  • Terrinha Vermelha (Figueiral Coculi).
  • Vila de Sinagoga (Ribeira Grande).

Visiting responsibly

Santo Antão's valleys are farmed and its trails are maintained by local communities.

A few habits make the difference between a welcome visitor and a burden.

  • Always hire a local guide for the mountain trails — guiding is a key community income.
  • Buy grogue, cheese and crafts directly from the producers.
  • Carry out your rubbish; many trailheads have no bins.
  • Respect romaria processions — observe quietly, don't interrupt.
  • Take the ferry rather than flying between islands to lower your footprint.

Itinerary ideas by trip length

Half day (3–4h): Ribeira Grande market & Coculi

A morning at the island's largest market and the green Coculi valley.

  1. Browse the Mercado Municipal da Ribeira Grande — fruit, baskets, pottery, cassava cake.
  2. Walk down to Coculi in the Ribeira Grande valley.
  3. Taste grogue at a small distillery on the way back.

One day: Cova crater to Paúl valley

The best single day of walking in the archipelago — downhill through sugar cane and grogue distilleries.

  1. Drive to the Cova crater farmed caldeira.
  2. Cross the rim and descend into the green Paúl valley.
  3. Pass sugar cane, mango trees and grogue distilleries to Vila das Pombas.
  4. Lunch on goat stew with beans at a local eatery.

Long weekend (2–3 days): Coastal cliffs & Fontainhas

Two days walking the Ponta do Sol–Cruzinha cliff path and the Ribeira da Torre.

  1. Day 1: Ponta do Sol – Fontainhas – Cruzinha cliff-edge walk (12 km).
  2. Day 2: Ribeira da Torre – Corda trail through Serra da Corda.
  3. Day 3: Museu das Romarias in Ponta do Sol and the Tarrafal coast.

Full week: Santo Antão grand tour

A full week covering Porto Novo, the Corda road, Paúl, Ponta do Sol and Topo da Coroa.

  1. Day 1: Arrive Porto Novo by ferry, drive the Corda road to Ribeira Grande.
  2. Day 2: Cova crater to Paúl valley descent.
  3. Day 3: Ponta do Sol – Fontainhas – Cruzinha coastal walk.
  4. Day 4: Ribeira da Torre – Corda trail.
  5. Day 5: Topo da Coroa summit (1,979 m) with a local guide.
  6. Day 6: Markets, grogue distilleries and the Museu das Romarias.
  7. Day 7: Tarrafal coast and beach before the ferry back to Mindelo.

Places to see in Santo Antão Island

Frequently asked questions

How do you get to Santo Antão?
Santo Antão has no airport. Fly to São Vicente (Mindelo), then take the daily ferry to Porto Novo — about one hour, weather permitting. From Porto Novo, shared aluguers run over the Corda mountain road to Ribeira Grande and Paúl.
What is the best trail on Santo Antão?
The Cova crater descent into the Paúl valley (about 9 km, 3–4 hours, mostly downhill) is widely rated the single best day walk in the archipelago. The Ponta do Sol–Fontainhas–Cruzinha coastal path is the most photographed. The Ribeira da Torre–Corda trail is the most challenging.
Do you need a guide for the Santo Antão trails?
Not strictly for the main marked paths, but a local guide adds enormous value — wayfinding, context on the farming terraces, and direct income to the community. The Topo da Coroa ascent (1,979 m) should not be attempted alone.
What is grogue and where do you try it?
Grogue is a sugar-cane spirit produced on Santo Antão for centuries, served in small coloured glasses. Visit a distillery in Paúl, Ribeira Grande, Tarrafal or Ribeira da Cruz to see how it is made and taste different varieties.
When is the best time to visit Santo Antão?
December to May, when the trade winds keep temperatures comfortable and the green valleys are at their best. Avoid the August rains if you are here for hiking, as trails can be slippery.
What should you eat on Santo Antão?
Fresh seafood, tropical fruit and locally grown vegetables — but the dish to seek out is ensopado de cabrito com feijão, goat stew with beans. Pair it with grogue and buy cassava cake at the Ribeira Grande market.

Keep reading

Walk the green valleys of Santo Antão

Book a Santo Antão experience with local guides from the Paúl valley and Ribeira Grande, with 85% of the price staying in the community.

How booking works

Choose a date and number of guests, then pay securely by card (Stripe) or Vinti4. Instant-booking experiences are confirmed immediately; on-request ones are confirmed by the local host. 85% of every booking stays with the local community and host; 15% supports the Lamp Hope platform.