The island of Santo Antão, Cape Verde


	Santo Antão - A Trekking Paradise Please Note: TACV have stopped flying for the foreseeable future from Stansted to Cape Verde. Please call us for a quotation using alternative airlines pending re-calculation of holiday prices shown on the following pages of our website.
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Home Multi-Island Itineraries Flight Details Travel Tips Transfers, Ferries and Inter-Island Flights Local Transport Local Weather Currency Converter Visa Requirements Buying Property About Us Visitors Book Links Order Brochure Booking Conditions Brochure Errors Site Map Special Offers Travel Insurance Airport Lounge Pass Car Parking Contact Us	Santo Antão is considered by many to be the most beautiful of the Cape Verde Islands, and it is certainly the most sought after by visitors who love trekking. Here nature lovers can discover fascinating landscapes of towering mountains and cliffs that fall headlong into sea. The landscape on the Southern side of the island is one of parched brown or grey exposed rock on the lower slopes gradually featuring eucalyptus and finally pine as one climbs the winding road to the summit from which, if there is no mist, spectacular views of Sao Vicente and in the extreme distance Sao Nicolau can be appreciated. Having topped the mountain one travels downhill over a narrow spur of rock, no wider than the road, again with spectacular views downward into – and this is the surprise – lush green, fertile but very steep sided valleys. Continuing this descent towards Ribeira Grande, one realises why Santo Antao is the source of most of Cape Verdean vegetables and fruit including sugar cane, manioc, papaya, banana, breadfruit and mango. The Northeast is the most accessible fertile part of the Island though the Northwest is equally fertile. Hikes up, and/or down or between the Ribeiras are well recorded, there are 5 preferred Hikes mainly on cobbled pathways but even so it is advisable to take a guide (readily provided) to benefit most from the experience (or in the event of mist – for safety). Walks involve steep paths with breathtaking drops into deep valleys at the side, so not for the faint hearted! However one can appreciate some of scenery by looking upwards from a vehicle in the bottom of the valleys. Other points of interest on the Island are: Visit the Grogue factory at Chã de João Vaz near Paul (Vila das Pombas) and see Napoleon, the enormous black bull happily walking around turning the “Trapiche”, which powers the (British made, but who knows when) rolling device which crushes the sugar cane to extract the sugar. See the stills and taste the raw Grogue or with honey added as “Ponche”. Take a look at the gracious village of Ponta do Sol where from a very small harbour the main local industry of fishing is practiced. Whilst near Ponta do Sol, take a bit longer to visit Fontainhas, a very simple but pretty village which is spectacularly perched on a rocky outcrop overlooking the sea. Our recommended Restaurants in Porto Novo Restaurant Flor do Dia – good food including lobster – everything takes at least half an hour to prepare. Bar Restaurante Sereia – good views over the water (where better to await the Ferry? Our recommended Restaurants in Porta do Sol Hotel Restaurante Bluebell Our recommended Restaurants in Ribeira Grande Verissimo Cruz Night life Simple local bars in Porto do Sol an,Porto Novo and Ribeira Grande provide “Tocinatas” (music performed by local bands on an irregular basis.