Discover Santo Antão: Day Trip by Car or Guided Trek

Discover the beauty of Santo Antão with one of our flexible full-day excursions. Your local guide will take you on a full-day island tour, bringing the Island’s stories to life. You can choose from 4 different options to best suit your travel plans and activity level 2 Island Highlights by Car: * From São Vicente: Includes harbor transfers and roundtrip ferry tickets. * From Santo Antão (Porto Novo): Ideal if you’ve already booked ferry tickets or are staying on the island. 2 Trekking Options: * From São Vicente: Includes harbor transfers and roundtrip ferry tickets. * From Santo Antão (Porto Novo): Perfect for those already on the island or with ferry tickets booked.

Itinerary

1. Option including Ferry Tickets: Begin with an early morning pick up at your accommodation in Mindelo, transfer to the Harbor for your adventure by Ferry to our neighboring island of the mountains, Santo Antão. On your ferry travel across the canal (up to 1 hour on ferry), you may stand on deck; if you’re lucky you will witness dolphins, pilot whales, flying fish, sea birds, and more, you can also relax on the comfortable seating inside. Check out the lighthouse on the rock in the middle of the ocean, Ilhéu dos Pássaros (Bird’s Island)! (30 min) Admission included
2. Option Excluding Ferry tickets: Arrive to Porto Novo, as you enter the Garemaritima terminal you will be met by your local guide who will take you to all the Island Highlights in one day by car! Begin your journey ascending through the mountains (20 min)
3. Begin your journey ascending through the mountains along the old cobblestone road, you will pass by small communities with traditional thatched roof homes, donkeys carrying water, farmers working the land and the daily hardworking people of this incredible place (40 min)
4. Stop at Pico d Cruz, above the clouds with its green pine forest and eucalyptus trees, feel the cool breeze, take in the picturesque view of Paúl from up top. (10 min)
5. Atop of Cova you will have breathtaking views inside the crater; the mist from clouds allows this farming community to self-sustain. (10 min)
6. Drive on to Delgadin, the narrow mountaintop crossing which separates two major valleys, Ribeira Grande & Ribeira da Torre; famous for photographs while on Santo Antão (10 min)
7. Arrive to the colorful city of Povacao one of the main cities in Ribeira Grande with its colonial, also modern homes, and beautiful street art. We will make a stop for lunch in town. (1h 0min)
8. Ribeira de Torre one of the greenest and most fertile valleys in Cabo Verde, where you will find bananas, mangos, sugar cane, and breadfruit trees. Also a large tank pool used by locals for swimming and fun. (15 min)
9. Then on to the fishing village of Ponta do Sol, with its old port of Boca de Pistola (Mouth of the Pistol), where you can experience the arrival of the fisherman, and see the catch of the day! (15 min)
10. Taste our local rum, Grogue is produced here, visit the distillery to see how it’s made. (15 min) Admission included
11. On to the municipality of Paúl, with its grand Saint Anthony statue overlooking Villa das Pombas for its protection. Arriving to the village of Eito, we will visit our rum distillery, also known as Grogue, and have the opportunity to taste. (20 min)
12. Traveling back to Porto Novo via Janela on the new stunning coastal road, pass through fascinating mountain tunnels, and see the lighthouse, Farol de Fontes Pereira de Melo.
13. Arrive to Porto Novo in time to board the afternoon ferry to São Vicente. Upon arrival to the Harbor, you will enjoy a transfer to your accommodation in Mindelo. (30 min) Admission included

Meeting & end point