Santo Antão is the second largest island in Cape Verde, offering unspoiled nature and spectacular landscapes. As soon as you arrive, you will most certainly be amazed by this place where green valleys, steep peaks and the Atlantic Ocean meet in unison. Here, you will feel an undeniable authenticity: In Santo Antão, where tourism is less dense, travelers live a more human and real travel experience.

• Area: About 779 km², characterized by valleys and mountains.

• Population: Around 40 inhabitants, living mainly in villages nestled along the coasts or in the valleys.

• Highlight: Topo da Coroa with a height of 1 meters.

• Main access: Ferry from São Vicente Island (Mindelo), the crossing takes 50 minutes.

Santo Antão is renowned for being the most popular hiking spot in Cape Verde, with each trail inviting you to discover new terrain. Whether you're a fan of long walks or simply curious to explore a different landscape, you'll find plenty of marked trails that lead to incredible high-altitude viewpoints.

• Exceptional hikes: The island is full of unique hiking trails, particularly in Ribeira Grande and Paul, which take you through fields, remote villages and pine forests.

• Unusual villages: Fontainhas, for example, is one of the most beautiful villages on the island, perched on the edge of a sheer cliff. It's a great place for a photo break and to soak up local life.

• Hospitality of the inhabitants: The Cape Verdeans of Santo Antão are proud of their island and welcome you with a warm smile. They are happy to share anecdotes about their lives, most often over a glass of grogue, the local alcohol.

Isolated beaches: The beaches of Tarrafal de Monte Trigo and Ponta do Sol are ideal for relaxing by the sea and sunbathing on the beach. These beaches are often deserted and exude a natural and authentic charm.

Paul's Valley: It is one of the most beautiful valleys on the island, famous for its sugar cane plantations and tropical fruits. It is also the starting point for several hikes that offer splendid views of the valley and the coastline.

Pico da Cruz and Cova Crater: These sites offer unparalleled views of the mountains and the ocean. The climb to Pico da Cruz is difficult, but you will be rewarded with a splendid view of the island and the distant ocean.

To go further, explore our article on “ What to do in Santo Antão?"

Santo Antão is like the Cape Verdeans: warm, lively, rich in diversity, proud. For example, life here is based on music, which occupies a central place in the lives of the inhabitants. Thus, we will regularly find in the air, the sweet melancholic music that is the morna. The sounds of guitar, souls and bittersweet stories resonate in the evening in Ribeira Grande or Ponta do Sol.

São João Festival: If you're near Cape Verde in June, take the opportunity to attend the island's largest festival, which features dancing, music and parades through the villages.

Also, sampling the local flavors is a must during your trip. Almost every household has its cachaupa, a Cape Verdean stew whose main ingredient is corn, and which also includes beans, meat or fish. And if you have the chance, try grogue, a local spirit made from sugarcane grown in the Paul Valley – a strong drink that captures the essence of Santo Antão: authentic and unfiltered.

There are a multitude of accommodations in Santo Antão, all of which are authentic and welcoming. You will mainly find yourself in guesthouses, family hotels and a few homestays.

At Sandro's in Ponta do Sol: A welcoming guest house where you feel like part of the family.

Residencial Penedo in Ribeira Grande: A small family hotel with views over the valley.

Hotel Paul Mar in the Paul Valley: Comfortable with local restaurant, which is also ideally located for hikers.

The roads of Santo Antão are often winding and narrow, but it must be said that they cross breathtaking landscapes.

Car Rental: If you have already picked up a car in São Vicente, you can transport it by ferry or rent a car from agencies in Porto Novo, the main arrival point on the island. Pegaso Rent offers vehicles adapted to the island's rough roads, as do other agencies. Whichever you choose, you will find yourself on winding roads for which you will need good mountain driving skills.

You can also use the "aluguer" (minibuses) or local taxis. Although they do not always have fixed schedules, the aluguer are an economical and authentic option to visit the areas of Porto Novo, Ribeira Grande and Paul.

The climate of Santo Antão, in the semi-arid tropical zone, varies depending on the altitude and the time of year. When the climate is dry and temperatures are ideal for hiking, it is a good time to visit, from November to May. The rainy season, between August and October, makes the trails muddier and the roads sometimes difficult to access.

Prepare for the hike: If you are not a seasoned hiker, the trails of Santo Antão will tempt you to go for a walk. You will not regret taking a good pair of hiking shoes with you.

Hydrate yourself: The air is dry, especially at altitude. So remember to take a water bottle with you when you go out to avoid dehydration.

Respect local customs: The people of Santo Antão love their culture and their environment. Take the time to greet people in the villages and especially do not leave any waste on the hiking trails that you take, of course it is common sense but it is better to remember it.

Visiting Santo Antão means immersing yourself in a piece of land in the middle of the ocean, where time seems to slow down, where each path and each encounter becomes an adventure in itself. Take your time to explore this island, enjoy the landscapes that are at your disposal and seize the opportunity to confront people who define themselves by the sweetness of life and the most total generosity.

It is a piece of land very different from our Western world, nothing seems fake, nothing seems fabricated. And know this, when you visit Santo Antão, it is very likely that the island will leave an indelible mark on your heart.