Santo Antao Island, a place for photographers and hikers

KM² (KM²)

POPULATION (K)

If you are a lover of trekking or photography, a visit to this island will be a must in the archipelago.

A unique terrain, a perfect blend of volcanic and tropical features at the same time, which leaves us unprecedented postcards of deep valleys and humid ravines.

Santo Antao

The photographer’s and hiker’s spot

Santo Antao Island

Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular places in the world. The island of Santo Antao contains dramatic landscapes of indescribable beauty. A terrain between volcanic and tropical that favors areas with impressive valleys, some of them more than 1000m deep, in which settlements are visible in the cliffs themselves. We will find canyons with water circulating throughout the year, banana plantations and other apocalyptic landscapes with very long jagged walls and deep ravines. In short, a must for lovers of hiking and photography.

HIGHEST POINT (M)

KM FROM SAO VICENTE

LARGEST ISLAND

PONTA DO SOL

Entrance doors & Transportation

Access to the island of Santo Antao is by ferry only. It departs from Mindelo (Sao Vicente) and its trip lasts about 45 min. Its frequency is 2 ferries per day in each direction (morning and afternoon).

In terms of transportation, the best option for getting around the island are private 4×4 cars or aluguers (public transportation).

Santo Antao in data

779

Km2 of surface area

50000

Inhabitants residing on the island

1982

Topo Coroa meters, highest point

Rivieras on the island

Km separating them from Sao Vicente

2ª

Largest island of the archipelago

History

Despite being a fertile and green land, the island of Santo Antao was not populated when it was discovered in 1462, but years later in the 16th century. During the colonization of the Spanish and Portuguese crowns, in 1494, after the signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas, it was agreed to divide the discovered territory along a north-south line that passed only 1700 km from Santo Antao. Thus, the eastern part of the line plus Brazil would pass to the Portuguese empire, and the rest to the Spanish. After several disputes between crowns, such as mortgaging the island to the English for a certain period, the island of Santo Antao became the capital of the Windward Islands due to its wealth and resources. A curious fact was the disputes between the towns of Ribiera de Paul and Ribiera Grande, which ended with the destruction of part of the causeway linking the two. In 1934, Santo Antao lost its status as the capital of Barlovento to Sao Vicente. Santo Antao is currently a poor island with high unemployment rates and hopes to properly promote tourism and agriculture.

Biodiversity

The most fertile of the territories in Cape Verde, with postcards of deep valleys full of rural life.

The island of Santo Antao is different from all the others as it has a climate and a landscape completely different from many of them. Full of fertile areas, it has permanent water currents which make the existence of two banks, Paul and Janela, possible. Engineering studies have been carried out to retain the water during the heavy rainy season and prevent it from being lost, but like many things in Cape Verde, it is still in the project phase.

At the level of protected areas, we can find natural parks in Moroço, or the natural reserve of Cruzinha and the protected landscape of Pombas. In the past, during the Portuguese colonization, different types of plants and trees were introduced, such as the caneca, a type of mango and the jaqueira, producers of fruit throughout the year. In terms of fauna, some turtles choose the few sandy beaches to lay their eggs.

Biodiversity

Other locations

Paul Valley: one of the iconic places of the island of Santo Antao and a place for spectacular trekking.
Ponta do Sol: Small fishing town with a magical sunset.
Tarrafal Monte Trigo: the most remote point of the island and with the best black sand beach of all Barlovento.

Much more in:

@oicaboverde

Experiences in Santo Antao

As it is a different island, the activities we recommend on the island of Santo Antao are also different. Among the most famous is canyoning in this unique environment. For mountain biking enthusiasts, this sport can also be practiced, always taking into account the steep slopes throughout the island.

In terms of bathing, we can enjoy different beaches in the summer months, since between October and May they disappear between the trembling waters. If we are looking for water sports, we can go surfing in designated areas and, as usual, we can also go fishing. Finally, it is advisable to take a tour of the island by car accompanied by local guides who will show you the best spots on the island of Santo Antao.

Outstanding proposals:

Above all, Santo Antao is known and famous for its spectacular treks, with an almost infinite variety.
Some of the best and most recommended treks: