Cape Verde · SANTO ANTãO DAY TRIPS
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The ferry out of Mindelo takes an hour and lands you on the greenest island in the country. Below are the day trips: the Cova crater down into Paul valley, the cliff road to Ponta do Sol, and the ones that drive rather than walk. Ferry times and what is included in each.
Explore Santo Antão on a guided day trip from São Vicente, with Cova de Paúl crater views, Ponta de Sol, Vale de Paúl, and round-trip ferry.
“Pasamos un día excelente gracias a nuestra guía Maira y el conductor. Fueron muy agradables, nos explicaron todo con mucha dedicación y detalle, fue un auténtico placer. Totalmente recomendable!”
Sunrise ferry day trip to Santo Antão from São Vicente: Old Mountain Road, crater views, villages, grogue distillery, and a scenic return.
“Foi um dia maravilhoso! As paisagens são de cortar a respiração. Mas o melhor de tudo são mesmo as pessoas. Já tinha lido boas referências sobre o Madu, o nosso guia, mas superou todas as nossas expectativas. Tão simpático e atento às necessidades de cada um e à gestão do grupo. Mais do que um guia turístico, Madu revelou-se um extraordinário guia cultural, dando-nos a conhecer não só os ambientes mas a forma de vida das suas gentes. O orgulho colocado no seu património natural e humano e no percurso de desenvolvimento desta nação contagia e fez-nos crescer o respeito e a empatia com um povo que vive feliz com…”
Santo Antão day trip from São Vicente: morning ferry, crater and valley viewpoints, Ribeira Grande, grogue distilleries, return road.
“I had an absolutely wonderful time on this tour of Santo Antão. The tour was very well organised and was led by Madu, a native of Santo Antão who is super knowledgeable and passionate about his island. I would encourage everyone traveling through Cabo Verde to visit SaRead more”
Full-day Santo Antão tour to Cova de Paúl, Vale de Paúl, and a grogue distillery tasting. Volcano views, villages, and lunch stop.
“Really great day with Itza and Ivan. Though it’s a lot of in and out of the van, the stops were perfect for trying local snacks and drinks and for taking pictures that really capture the essence of the island.”
Hike Santo Antão from Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl, then taste Grogue rum at a distillery. 5 hours, $100.
“Fantastica! Il miglior paesaggio mai visto in vita mia! Edy (la nostra guida) è preparatissimo ed è stato gentilissimo per tutto il viaggio! Stra consigliato”
Full-day Santo Antao tour with Cova Crater views, Delgadinho panoramas, and Ribeira Grande lunch, plus Paul Valley tea and grogue option.
“Lovely quick tour around the Eastern Part of the island with super tasty lunch included. If I knew the island was this beautiful, I would have stayed longer!”
Guided Santo Antão tour from Ponta do Sol to Fontainhas, ending with a coastal hike and a black-sand picnic at Praia das Aranhas.
“superbe randonnée, bouclée en 4h, mais avec une grosse condition physique. Rivaldino, notre guide, super pro. A faire, sans hésitation.”
Hike Santo Antão from Cova de Paúl crater to Paúl green valley. Local guide, 1,000m views, optional grogue tasting.
“The scenery was amazing! Edson was a great guide: he seemed to sense our pace; he was very informative. We had a wonderful lunch at a cafe he recommended. My legs were sore for days….we did it downhill, but it is frequently steep, with loose gravel over paving stones. Still, very do-able and totally worth it! Highly recommended.”
Ferry to Santo Antão for a guided hike from Cova de Paúl crater into Paúl Valley, with grogue distillery visit and local lunch.
“Unser Guide Madù war wirklich überaus freundlich und zuvorkommend. Er konnte mit seinem Wissen überzeugen und wirklich alle Fragen zu Kultur, Flora & Fauna beantworten. Er ist voll und ganz auf unsere Bedürfnisse eingegangen und hat die Tour somit zu einem herausragenden Erlebnis gemacht.”
A full-day Santo Antão tour with views from Cova de Paúl crater, mountain ridges, villages like Fontainhas, and Vale de Paúl rum tasting options.
“Excursion très complète pour contempler les points emblématiques de l’île de santo antao . Notre Guide RIVA a été génial, et d’une gentillesse absolue. Natif de l’île, il nous a expliqué toute l’histoire de celle ci et fait découvrir des endroits à couper le souffle . Ses compéRead more”
A difficult, scenic hike on Santo Antão from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha, with Fontainhas views and a black-sand turtle beach.
“Hands down one of the most memorable outdoor experiences I've had. From the very start, our guide was welcoming, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the area, not just the trails, but also the local wildlife, history, and ecology. ThRead more”
Hike Paúl Valley on Santo Antão, see straw-and-basalt houses, taste rum and brandies, then enjoy a traditional lunch stop.
“Super randonnée, quelle paysage !!! 3h-3h30 de marche que nous n'avons pas vu passé. Merci Sue, notre guide pour sa bonne humeur !”
Hike Santo Antão's Ribeira de Torre valley from Ribeira Grande, see villages and a natural waterfall pool, then tour Grogue rum.
“João was an excellent guide, the chat with local people, the scenary”
11 days across Santiago, Fogo, São Vicente, and Santo Antão: UNESCO sites, Pico do Fogo hike, ferry hops, and grogue rum.
“It’s very rare that my expectations are exceeded, but in this case it’s no exaggeration to say that the BU Country team in Cabo Verde have way exceeded my expectations. My first experience with them was in April 2022 for my first trip to CabRead more”
Hike from Cova Volcano crater to Paúl valley with big altitude views, tropical vegetation, and a rum distillery stop on Santo Antão.
“O passeio como um todo foi incrível. O guia John nos buscou na nossa hospedagem e nos levou até a Cova de carro, de onde partimos numa trilha a pé durante algumas horas. O percurso todo tinhas vistas espetaculares e o guia conhecia muito bem o caminho e a natureza. Recomendamos a todos!”
