Santo Antão Travel Guide

Trek Zone

Island

Facts and practical information

Nestled in the heart of Cape Verde, Santo Antão is a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. Located in the Porto Novo region, this island offers a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and outdoor adventures that will leave you mesmerized.

Santo Antão is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes. As you explore the island, you will be greeted by dramatic mountains, lush valleys, and cascading waterfalls. The Paul Valley, with its terraced fields and banana plantations, is a sight to behold. Hiking enthusiasts will be in paradise as they traverse the rugged trails and witness panoramic views that will take your breath away.

But it's not just the natural beauty that makes Santo Antão special. The island is known for its vibrant culture and warm hospitality. Immerse yourself in the local way of life by visiting traditional villages, such as Ponta do Sol and Ribeira Grande, where you can experience the rich Cape Verdean heritage firsthand. Don't miss the opportunity to taste the local cuisine, which is a delightful fusion of African and European flavors.

For those seeking adventure, Santo Antão offers a wide range of outdoor activities. Whether you fancy mountain biking, canyoning, or simply exploring the island's hidden beaches, there is something for everyone. The rugged coastline is perfect for surfing and windsurfing, while the crystal-clear waters are ideal for snorkeling and diving.

As the sun sets over the Atlantic Ocean, the vibrant nightlife of Santo Antão comes alive. Join the locals in lively bars and restaurants, where you can enjoy live music and dance the night away to the rhythms of traditional Cape Verdean music. This is an experience that will truly immerse you in the island's vibrant culture.

Local name: Ilha de Santo Antão Area: 303.86 mi²Maximum elevation: 6490 ftCoordinates: 17°4'12"N, 25°10'11"W

Location

Porto NovoCape Verde

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Santo Antão Top Attractions

Santo Antão Attractions - What to See and Explore

Santo Antão offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Topo da Coroa, Cova, Pico da Cruz, Fontes Pereira de Melo Lighthouse. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Nature • Natural attraction • Cliff
Topo da Coroa
Tope de Coroa is a mountain on the island of Santo Antão's, Cape Verde. At 1,979 m elevation, it is the highest point of the island. It is in the western part of the island, 25 km west of the island capital Porto Novo. The mountain is entirely of volcanic origin.
Nature • Natural attraction • Volcano
Cova
Cova is a volcanic caldera in the eastcentral part of the island of Santo Antão in Cape Verde. It is situated at the southwestern end of the municipality of Paul. Its lowest point is 1,166 meters, and the highest point of the crater rim is about 1,500 m. The diameter of the caldera is about 1.0 km.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Pico da Cruz
Pico da Cruz is a mountain in the eastern part of the island of Santo Antão. Its elevation is 1585 m. It is 5 km southwest of the town Pombas. It gives its name to the nearby village of Pico da Cruz, part of the municipality of Paul. Pico da Cruz is part of the protected area Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park.

Lighthouse • Vernacular architecture
Fontes Pereira de Melo Lighthouse
Farol de Fontes Pereira de Melo is a lighthouse at the northeastern point of the island of Santo Antão in northwestern Cape Verde.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Gudo de Cavaleiro
Gudo de Cavaleiro is a mountain in the middle of the island Santo Antão in Cape Verde. Its elevation is 1,810 meters. Part of the eastern plateau of Santo Antão, it lies directly south of the Moroços natural park.
Harbor
Tarrafal de Monte Trigo
Tarrafal de Monte Trigo is a settlement in the southwestern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 841. It is situated on the coast, 27 km west of the island capital Porto Novo. The settlement was mentioned as Terrafal in the 1747 map by Jacques-Nicolas Bellin.
Area
Moroços
Moroços Natural Park, in the middle of the island of Santo Antão, is one of ten "natural parks" in Cape Verde. The protected area is 8.18 km². It covers 7.46 km² of the municipality of Ribeira Grande, and 0.71 km² of Porto Novo.
Harbor
Monte Trigo
Monte Trigo is the westernmost settlement on the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is situated on the coast, at the foot of the Tope de Coroa, the highest mountain of the island. It is 28 km west of the island capital Porto Novo. In 2010 its population was 274.
17°0'53"N • 25°14'37"W
Bolona
Bolona is a settlement in the westcentral part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 112. It is situated about 19 km west of the island capital Porto Novo. At about 1,500 m elevation, it is one of the highest settlements of the island.
17°7'52"N • 25°2'6"W
Figueiral
Figueiral is a settlement in the eastern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 591. It is part of the municipality of Paul. It is situated in the valley of the Ribeira do Figueiral, a tributary of the Ribeira do Paul, 2 km southwest of Eito and 3 km southwest of Pombas.
Village
Fontainhas
Fontainhas is a settlement in the northern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is situated near the rocky north coast of the island, 2 km southwest of Ponta do Sol and 19 km north of the island capital Porto Novo. The settlement includes the smaller villages Corvo and Forminguinhas, about 1 km west of Fontainhas proper.
17°7'28"N • 25°6'47"W
Chã de Pedras
Chã de Pedras is a settlement in the northcentral part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 1,266. It is situated about 5 km south of Coculi, 8 km southeast of the city Ribeira Grande and 12 km northwest of the island capital Porto Novo.
17°8'10"N • 25°5'17"W
Corda
Corda is a settlement in the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is part of the municipality Ribeira Grande. It is situated in the mountainous interior of the island at about 1,000 meters elevation, 13 km north of the island capital Porto Novo.
17°7'11"N • 25°3'7"W
Cabo da Ribeira
Cabo da Ribeira is a settlement in the eastern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. In 2010 its population was 912. It is situated at about 500 m elevation in the upper valley of the Ribeira do Paul, 5 km southwest of Pombas. It is part of the municipality of Paul, and lies in the Cova-Paul-Ribeira da Torre Natural Park.
17°6'25"N • 25°14'42"W
Ribeira da Cruz
Ribeira da Cruz is a settlement in the northwestern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. Situated 22 km northwest of the island capital Porto Novo, it is part of the parish of Santo André, in the municipality of Porto Novo.
Town
Coculi
Coculi is a town in the northern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is situated on the river Ribeira Grande, 4 km southwest of the town Ribeira Grande and 17 km north of the island capital Porto Novo.
17°6'50"N • 25°9'54"W
Garça de Cima
Garça de Cima is a settlement in the northern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is situated in the upper valley of the river Ribeira da Garça, 15 km northwest of the island capital Porto Novo. The southernmost part lies in Moroços Natural Park.
17°6'0"N • 25°13'1"W
Alto Mira
Alto Mira is a settlement in the northwestern part of the island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde. It is situated 4 km southeast of Ribeira da Cruz and 18 km northwest of the island capital Porto Novo. Its population was 1,003 at the 2010 census. The Moroços Natural Park lies east of the settlement.
City
Porto Novo
Porto Novo is a city in the island of Santo Antão, in Cape Verde. It is the seat of the Porto Novo municipality. At the 2010 census, the town had 9,310 inhabitants, which makes it the most populous settlement of the island.

Day trips

Santo Antão – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Santo Antão, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Praça Amílcar Cabral (Mindelo), Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Light (Mindelo), Viana (São Vicente).

17 milesSE
Square
Praça Amílcar Cabral, Mindelo
Praça Amílcar Cabral, also popularly known as Praça Nova, is an important square of the city of Mindelo, São Vicente, Cape Verde. It is located in the northern part of the city center of Mindelo. The square is named after Amílcar Cabral, a leader of the independence movement of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau.
18 milesSE
Church
Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Light, Mindelo
The Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of the Light is a Roman Catholic church in the city of Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. It is located on Rua da Luz, in the city centre. Built in 1862, it is one of the oldest buildings of Mindelo.
26 milesSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Cliff
Viana, São Vicente
Viana is a low volcano in the southeastern part of the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Its elevation is 163 metres. It is situated 3 kilometres south of Calhau and 14 kilometres southeast of the island capital Mindelo.
18 milesS
Lighthouse, Vernacular architecture
Dona Amélia Lighthouse, São Vicente
Farol de D. Amélia is a lighthouse in the southwestern point of the island of São Vicente in northwestern Cape Verde. It lies 3 km west of the village of São Pedro. The lighthouse is a white square tower with a lantern and a gallery, 14 m high. The lighthouse was completed in 1894.
16 milesSE
Nature, Natural attraction, Mountain
Monte Cara, São Vicente
Monte Cara is a mountain in western part of the island of São Vicente, Cape Verde. Its elevation is 490 m. It resembles a human face looking at the sky, hence its name, which means "face mountain".