The crossing of Santo Antão by trekking

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Sao Vicente Island - Mindelo

  

  Arrival at São Vicente airport. Welcome and transfer to Mindelo. Accommodation with a local or at a hotel in the city center. Depending on the time of arrival, you can visit the city. Its markets, its museum, its many bars and restaurants, as well as Laginha beach, make it a very lively city (except on Sundays, when everything is closed and the activity is concentrated on the beach). Meals not included. Type of accommodation: residencial/small hotel.

• day 2

  ASCENT OF TOPE DE COROA - NORTHERN EDGE

  

  Boat (1h crossing) to Santo Antão and transfer west to Bolonha. The ascent of Top Coroa, the highest peak on the island of Santo Antão (1979 meters), allows you to discover a mineral landscape made up of ancient volcanoes and arid valleys populated by herds of goats. From the summit, after enjoying the 360° panorama, you cross the plateau and descend the Bordeira de Norte cliff via one of the most beautiful paved paths in the archipelago to sleep at Cha de Morte with a local host. Walking time: 5 h Elevation gain: + 500 m / - 1400 m

• day 3

  FORQUINHA HIKE TO DOMINGUINHAS

  

  Hike to the Forquinha pass and descent into the Alto Mira valley. A day of walking among cultivated terraces. Through hamlets and irrigated crops, we descend into the Alto Mira gorge to reach the pretty village of Dominguinhas. Night beyond the end of the road, in a first isolated village, staying with locals. Walking time: 5 h 30. Elevation gain: +720 m / -930 m.

• day 4

  DOMINGUINHAS HIKE IN FIGUEIRAS

  

  Descent down to the ocean, which you then follow along a balcony path to reach the remote valleys of the northwest, more arid and authentic. The thatched cottages, banana terraces, sugar cane fields, and gorges punctuate your walk along the sea. You climb back up to spend the night at Meio d'Espanha, staying with locals. Walking time: 6 h 30. Elevation gain: +790 m / -790 m

• day 5

  FIGUEIRAS - CHA DE IGREJA

  

  Hike on a paved path that leads you into the Ribeira Alta valley, from where a long switchback climb allows you to cross the last foothills separating these remote valleys from the main communication routes. Descent and passage along the seashore on a narrow strip of pebbles, wedged between cliff and ocean, to reach the charming flowered village of Cha de Igreja. Overnight in a residence. Walking time: 6h. Elevation gain: +1060 m / -1300 m.

• day 6

  CHA DE IGREJA-RIBEIRÃO

  

  Hike to Ribeirao, the wall that separates you from Ribeira Grande, the large valley of the island as its name suggests, then a smaller pass to reach Ribeirao, a major center of sugar cane cultivation. Night with a local. Walking time: 6h Elevation gain: +1200m / -1020m.

• day 7

  HIKE RIBEIRÃO TO THE VILLAGE OF AGUADA

  

  From the greenest and most irrigated valleys of the island, discover a sunken volcanic cirque, enclosed by high cliffs, within which a torrent flows through a deep canyon. Discover many isolated villages, irrigation canals, and hanging fields of all kinds of crops. Walking time: 5h. Elevation gain: +1000m / -300m.

• day 8

  AGUADA - VILLAGE OF LAGOINHA

  

  After Aguada, we cross the irrigated crop area before climbing up the cliff overlooking the village. We reach the high plateau, bordered by a forest of Canary Island pines. In the middle of this semi-desert plateau, the inhabitants of the small village of Lagoinha welcome us for the night on the terrace at a local's home. Walking time: 4h30, Elevation gain +740m -100m

• day 9

  LAGOINHA - PICO DA CRUZ

  

  We cross the high plateau planted with pines towards the Cova crater. There, following the ridge trail between pines and mimosas, we reach the perched village of Pico da Cruz, below the summit of the same name, the highest point in the eastern part of the island. Overnight with a local. Picnic and dinner included. Walking time: 4h30, elevation gain +450m, -450m.

• day 10

  Pico da Cruz - Paul

  

  Descent into the valleys of Paul, the easternmost on the island. Sugar cane grows very close to the ocean. At the end of the day, we reach the hotel where we settle in for the night. Walking time: 5h to 5h30 Elevation gain: 140 m // Elevation loss: 1600 m

• day 11

  PAUL VALLEY - RETURN TO MINDELO

  

  After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Penedo. The small paths connecting the hamlets take us along the balcony of the Janela valley, which is highly cultivated, where, depending on the season, coffee, guavas, and vegetables are harvested. In the afternoon, transfer (1h) back to Porto Novo, then boat to Mindelo at 4pm or 5pm. Our driver will be waiting for us at the port of Mindelo, then will drop us off at the hotel. Walking time: 4h30, Elevation gain: 450 m // Elevation loss: 700 m

• day 12

  CALHAO VOLCANO DAY

  

  After breakfast, departure in a private vehicle to discover the island of Sao Vicente through the central oasis. A short walk from Praia Grande beach to the village of Calhau, then a visit to the top of the island, Monte Verde, and to the village of Salamansa. Walking hours: 2h30 / Elevation gain: 100 m / Elevation loss: 100 m / Accommodation: in hotel

• day 13

  Free day

  

  Free day to discover the city of Mindel, its colorful markets and its small beach. Night at the hotel.

• day 14

  End of stay

  

  End of stay in Mindelo and transfer to the airport.