Ilha de Santo Antão Travel Guide

 assilein Says:  The walk to the "mountain village" of Fontainhas is a must! The road is easy to find and the views back to Ponta do Sol or to the mounains are spectacular!This walk is also for not very exercised people, but bear in mind that in midday it´s very hot and at the road there is... 

 sachara Says:  There are small buses for transport all over the island.At arrival at the port of Porto Novo there are a lot. The buses will leave, when they have enough passengers.From the port of Porto Novo to the capital Ribeira Grande at the other side of the island costs 300 escudos... 

 sachara Says:  The typical liquor of Cape Verde is the grogue made of sugar cane.You can drink this everywhere in the archipelago. The grogue is made in Santo AntaoIn the Ribeira Grande in the north-west of Santo Antao we found a distellary where they produce this liquor. 

 sachara Says:  Also in these remote places the aluguer will come and pick up people.So we saw this aluguer in this far away valley at its dead end, picking up the wedding guests to bring them back to Ribeira Grande. 

 sachara Says:  Everywhere where we walked we met a lot of kids, always anxious to say hello and to talk with us.At this place in the Ribiera de Torre was a wedding with a lot of cheerfull music, resounding in the valley. 

 sachara Says:  There are small waterfalls and enough water for crops in this valley, Ribeira de Torre.Some parts of the road are unpaved and wet.There are a lot of banana-trees along the road. 

 sachara Says:  The road in the Ribeira de Torre is narrow, but for a big part accesible by car.But walking is nicer and easy.There are some small villages and agriculture on terraces. So when you walk you can have a good look at it. 

 sachara Says:  Ribeira de Torre is a narrow green valley directly south of Ribeira Grande.From the mountain road you can walk down from Cha de Mato to the valley, but there is also a narrow road from Ribeira Grande going up, rather flat, easy to walk.The road is not paved everywhere, but... 

 sachara Says:  You can also reach Cha de Pedra by car from Ribeira Grande.When the road is to narrow for the car, you can walk up by feet.It's nice to walk and meet people and kids to talk with.These two girls came to sit down beside us, when we took a little rest in the shade of a tree. 

 sachara Says:  South west of Ribeira Grande is a this picturesque valley Cha de Pedra.Most of the valleys you can reach from the road Porto Novo - Ribeira Grande high through the mountains. Ask the aluguer to drop you off and than you walk down. For this valley you have to drop off at... 

 sachara Says:  At the small square in front of the churchunder a big tree is the meeting point of the village. The two times we passed this place we always saw people sitting and chatting under the tree. 

 sachara Says:  When we visit the village Paul at the north coast, the bell-ringer of the church did just his job standing in the middle of the street outside the church.It's the road through from Ribeira to Janela. 

 sachara Says:  Passagem in the valley of Paul:the people of Santo Antao tells you that you have to go there. There's a leisure garden with a swimmingpool. The villagers from the neigbourhood visit this place in the weekends.The valley itself is lovely and the road narrow.At the terraces... 

 sachara Says:  We did charter the small bus of the hotel to make a trip along the coast east of Ribeira Grande and to visit some valleys.We visit Paul/Vila de Pombas, Janela and Passagem.We started with a beautiful ride on the coastal road. 

 sachara Says:  Ilha do Santo Antao is a mountaineous island and a very good and picturesque area for walking/hiking.There are many trails, especally in the northern part of the island.So bring your walking shoes.