Santo Antão : between land and sea

Transfer to the port of Mindelo. Board the ferry for the famous crossing between Porto Grande, the main port on the island of São Vicente, and Porto Novo, on the island of Santo Antão (1 hour crossing). You will be swept up in the hustle and bustle of the locals when you embark and disembark! For your first hike on Santo Antao, you'll set off to discover the Janela and Penedo ribeiras. After the "rocha scribida", a monolith bearing enigmatic inscriptions, you head up the valley along a paved path that leads from house to house. Banana, mango and orange trees punctuate your walk to a small pass with spectacular views. Descend through the prosperous Janela valley to the ocean. Transfer to Vila das Pombas, a peaceful seaside village.

Walk: Ribeira de Penede > Faja de Janela > Ribeira de Janela | 3h30 |6.5 km | Elevation : + 630m / - 630m
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Night:  Vila das Pombas

On foot, you leave your accommodation for a magnificent loop hike in the Paul valley. Follow the small, paved road dotted with hamlets as it enters a small valley bursting with vegetation, where banana trees, sugar cane, yams and breadfruit trees grow side by side... The small thatched-roof houses admirably laid out, the rustling of the water and the rum factories (in operation from January to June) punctuate your walk to the pass from where the view over the valley and the ocean is breathtaking.  We recommend a stop for refreshments on Sandra's terrace, who lives on the pass, before continuing on to the hamlet of Chã de Joao Vaz where the taxi to Vila das Pombas awaits.

Walk: Loops Vila das Pombas > Pico do Antonio > Villa das Pombas | 6h30 | 14.2 km | Elevation : + 650m / - 650m
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Night:  Vila das Pombas

Transfer to Ponta do Sol, a fishing village and one of the island's former thriving ports. Free time to explore the village which marks the starting point of one of the most beautiful and majestic hiking trails on the island: the narrow, paved road leads to Fontainhas, a colourful, tiered village nestling among tiny, cultivated terraces. Continue along a high path above the blue waters, passing through two the villages of Corvo and Formiguinhas, then the abandoned hamlet of Aranhas. Arrive at the small fishing village of Cruzinha da Garça and continue to Chã de Igreja, where you will spend the night. NB : if you choose the comfort option, transfer to your accomodation in the mountains.

Walk: Ponta do Sol > Fontainhas > Cruzinha > Cha de Igreja | 5h45 | 16km | Elevation : + 650m / - 650m
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Night:  Chã d'Igreja (Standard version) or Boca de Coruja (Comfort version)

Transfer to Coculi in the central valleys. Following a magnificent and spectacular path, some of which is paved, you climb up the João Alfonso valley through maize terraces and sisal groves. Arrive on the high plateaux dominated by grass and maize, before reaching the ridges with spectacular views of the northern valleys and the ocean in the background. Transfer to the vast Ribeira das Patas cirque and the Alto Mira valley, in the south-west of the island. Settle in for 2 nights in a family home with magnificent views over the gorges and mountain cirques.

Walk: Manuel Ribeiro > Espongeiro | 5h00 | 8.2 km  | Elevation : + 1200m / - 100m
Meals: breakfast and dinner
Night:  Alto Mira (Standard version) or Ribeira das Patas (Comfort version) 

Starting from your accommodation, you enjoy a magnificent downhill walk towards the ocean. A beautiful, deep valley, surrounded by imposing mountains from which water flows to reach the levadas. These small irrigation channels are used to water the abundance of terraced plantations in this fertile valley. Arrive at the sea and then at the hamlet of Chã de Branquinho. Return by taxi to your accommodation.

Walk : Alto Mira valley > Cha de Branquinho | 3h30 | 11.5 km | Elevation : +450m/ -920m
Meals included : breakfast and dinner 
Night : Alto Mira (Standard version) or Ribeira das Patas (Comfort version) 

Today, the Bordeira do Norte wall overlooking the Ribeira das Patas cirque will be your challenge. After a short transfer, the path winds its way up through the rocky pinnacles. From the plateau, take the time to admire the landscape, which embraces the heights of the island as far as Porto Novo, via the Tope de Coroa, which rises to 1979 m. Descend to the village along a majestic, almost vertical cobbled path. On arrival, a taxi will be waiting to take you to the remote village of Tarrafal de Monte Trigo, with its magnificent, immense black sand beach that stretches the length of the bay. Sheltered from the strong winds, Tarrafal is a haven of peace that has retained all its charm, and where time seems to have stood still!

Walk: Cirio > Bordeira do Norte > Curral das Vacas | 5h20 | 13 km | Elevation :  +900m / - 900m
Meals: breakfast
Night: Tarrafal

Free day in this timeless fishing village to enjoy the gentle pace of life, take a swim from the long black sand beach, play a game of football with the local children or watch the fishing boats come in. Fishing is an integral part of local life, with the weighing, preparation and sale of fish and shellfish providing an opportunity for the fishermen and villagers to get together.

Meals: breakfast
Night: Tarrafal

Transfer to Porto Novo in the early afternoon to catch the return ferry to Mindelo. Check-in at the same accommodation as on day 1.

Meals: breakfast
Night: Mindelo

Transfer to the airport for your return flight.

Meals: not included