Santo Antão Big Crossing

Day 1 

Arrive in Mindelo

Meet your guide in Mindelo. Depending on the time of arrival. Check in + Info 

Welcome drink and enjoying the beach of Laginha

Day 2

City Tour , Monte Verde and Baia das Gatas

Discovery Mindelo, cultural island, music and workshops and crossings, visit of paintings. ideal output to learn and understand how Cape Verdeans live here and know all the secrets of its history, visit different markets .Tasting local products and free time for shopping. Visiting the the highest Point of São Vicente  ( 774 m ) about sea level and a stop in baia das gatas beach for a swim. Lunch in a local restaurant.

Day 3

Pico da Cruz /Janela

Wake up early to take the boat to Santo Antão. From Porto Novo we wil drive you to the starting point of this beautiful hike.Crossing the village of Pico da Cruz an agriculture Village and then the green valley of janela  in the middle of yam fields, bananas groves, sugar cane, papaya  and then we  descend to Ribeira de Penedo to reach the village of janela where we will get the lunch. Lunch in a local restaurant.

6h walking/15km

Elevation: + 1400m / -1600m

Level 1

Day 4

Paúl’s Valley from de inside

A transfer will take you to the starting point of this magnificent hike, walking among potatoes, yams, sweet potatoes, papaia and other vegetables and fruits, as a starting point of the famous hike, over 600m, a magnificent hike. with many sugar cane terraces and of course the possibility to taste the local grogue and the punch. We share a typical meal and a typical restaurant.

4h walking/9km

Accumulated elevation +500m /-700m

Level 1

Day 5

Pinhao /Lombo Branco /Ribeira Grande

Short transfer to the small, colorful fishing village of Sinagoga with a small shipyard, then to Lombo Branco. We start the trek in the valley above Pinhao, crossing small villages through terraced crops. Arrival on foot in Ribeira Grande and visit of the city. At the end of the day, short transfer to Ponta Do Sol, a seaside village.

4 walking/8km

Elevation: + 450m / -700m

Level 1

Day 6

Ribeira da Torre /Rabo Curto /Xoxo

Ribeira da Torre, a deep volcanic valley surrounded by cliffs and dotted with pythons, where we spent the day discovering life and rural culture. Passing trough  Ribeira de Vinha with its magnificent waterfall of 150 meters high and village of  Lombo de Pico with its spectacular volcanic neck. The trail passes and the irrigation canals (levadas) they lead to the town of Rabo Curto, descent through fields of sugar cane and yams to the village  of Xoxo. Lunch in a local restaurant .

4 walking / 8km

Accumulated elevation +600m/-450m

Level 2

Day 7

Ponta do sol /Cruzinha

From the town of Ponta do Sol, located on the northeast coast of the island, where people live mainly from fishing. We will climb to Fontainhas where we will find several plantations to arrive later at Selada de Corvo, panoramic view of Ponta do Sol and Corvo, descending into the valley there is water sources all year round, then to Formiguinhas, a small town overlooking the sea. From Formiguinhas we will arrive in Aranhas, an abandoned town, then we will arrive at Mezcla de Ribeira Seca beach with white and black sand, where we can take a dip to cool off, There are also caves formed by lava, a good place to have a picnic, then we will pass by Motcho beach to reach the town of Cruzinha. Lunch in a local restaurant.

6h  walking/14 km

Accumulated elevation +1000m

Level 2

Day 8

Selada de Mocho /Boca De Ambas as Ribeiras

Today we go up the arid valley of Mocho and reach the small village of Selada de Mocho perched at about 600 m above sea level. We continue to the pass of Ladeira da Garça and then descend into the Ribeira Grande.Transfer to Boca de Coruja, a small village nestled in the hollow of an agricultural village or we can continue walking to the hotel. Lunch in a local restaurant.

4 walking/9 km

Accumulated elevation +700m/-600m

Level 2

Day 9

Caibros /Lagoa

We leave for two days and bring our things to spend the night in Lagoa. As we progress, we discover superb panoramas of the surrounding valleys. In the middle of the afternoon, we reach the village of Lagoa located on the plateau of lagoa, .we enjoy a dinner prepared by the local family.

5h walking/11km

Elevation: + 1000m / -200m

Level 2

Day 10

Lagoa – Ribeira Fria – Alto Mira
Departure 9 hours
From Lagoa, we reach the plateau village of Chã Branca and then the village of Ribeira Fria… Beautiful views of the city of Porto Novo. We then take a narrow and steep trail to reach the village of Ribeira Fria. Logão-Ribeira Fria-Porto Novo was one of the most used routes during grog smuggling on the island of Santo Antão. During the hike, we will also encounter numerous endemic plants and spectacular views until we reach the village of Ribeira Fria, where we will meet our driver to take us to our hotel in Alto Mira. Pick Nick
3h30 hike
accumulated elevation: +600m
Level 1

Day 11

Alto Mira /Topo de Coroa /Chã Feijoal

Departure for the ascent of the highest point of the island, the Topo de Coroa at an altitude of 1979 m. After a transfer to Cha De Feijual, we “attack” the slopes of Topo de Coroa. The path winds in the middle of impressive lunar landscapes and offers beautiful views of the volcanic cones and the sea. At the end of the afternoon, we reach the village of Norte where we spend a night .

5h walking/9km

Elevation: + 1100m

Level 2

Day 12

Chã Feijoal  Monte/ Trigo

We leave the plateau of Norte and leave for two days with our stuff for the night. We reach the fishing village of Monte Trigo. We go around the immense crater of Coroa and begin a long descent towards the coast. Arrival in Monte Trigo in the middle of the afternoon .

6 walking/15km

Elevation: + 200m / -1500m

Level 3

Day 13

Monte Trigo /Tarrafal

Today we are leaving for a superb coastal hike to reach Tarrafal, a small paradisiacal village still isolated from the rest of the island and protected from the trade winds by the Topo de Coroa. We discover its calm waters and its superb black sand beach. Lunch in a local restaurant.

4h walking/11km

Accumulated elevation: + 600m / -600m

Level 1

Day 14

Free Day-Relax  and enjoy the beach (NO STRESS CABO VERDE)

Day 15

Return to Porto novo /Mindelo

Day 16  Goodbye Cabo Verde

End of your stay, return to the country of origin

São Vicente Island Airport (Departure)

Transfer from your hotel to Airport Cesaria Évora

Our guide will pick you up and transfer you to the airport wishing you a nice flight home