The full crossing of Santo Antão

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  J1 São Vicente Island - Mindelo

  

  Arrival at São Vicente airport. Welcome and transfer to Mindelo. Overnight stay in the city center. Free program. Depending on the time of arrival, you can visit the lively city center and its colorful markets (fish, vegetables), and go to Laginha beach. For arrivals on Sunday, note that the city is quiet on this day, with activity concentrated around Laginha beach and in the villages outside the city. Type of accommodation: guesthouse

• day 2

  D2 Heading to Santo Antão: Porto Novo - Tarrafal (with local guide)

  

  After breakfast, transfer to the port and boat crossing (1h) to Porto Novo, on the island of Santo Antão. Transfer through the magnificent high-altitude landscapes of the summit plateau, wild and desert-like. Descent on foot to Tarrafal, a true end of the world built on the edge of a large black sand bay highlighted by the light green of the sugar cane fields, planted right up behind the fishermen's houses. Short warm-up hike to discover the crops of this lost valley, one of the most endearing places in the archipelago. Walking hours: 3h Elevation gain: 200 m Elevation loss: 400 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 3

  J3 Tarrafal - Monte Trigo: coastal hike (night without suitcase) - with local guide.

  

  Coastal hike below the summit of the island, a volcano of almost 2000 meters in altitude that drops into the ocean, up to Monte Trigo, a fishing village cut off from the world, only accessible on foot or by boat. Accommodation in a family guesthouse on a terrace facing the sea. Boat trip with the fishermen. Please note, this boat trip may be cancelled without notice in case of rough seas or if your fisherman considers that safety conditions are not met. Walking hours: 4h Elevation gain: 350 m Elevation loss: 350 m Type of accommodation: bivouac with locals.

• day 4

  Day 4: Ascent of the Norte plateau (with local guide)

  

  You begin the ascent of the volcanic and arid foothills of the summit, up to the Norte plateau, where you stay with a local family in Chã de Feijoal (you will find your suitcase there). Walking hours: between 6h30 and 7h of walking Elevation gain: 1520 m Elevation loss: 350 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 5

  J5 Crown Summit - Ribeira das Patas - Cha de Morte

  

  From Norte, you continue crossing the plateau until you reach the edge of the cliffs that plunge into Ribeira das Patas. The view stretches far, on one side, to the arid volcanic summit, on the other, towards the bottom of the valley where the captured springs allow the multiplication of green oases – lemon and sugar cane being the main crops of this part of the island. You descend by a wide paved path carved into the cliff. Night at Chã de Morte with a local host. Walking hours: Between 6h and 7h of walking Elevation gain +: 850 m Elevation loss -: 1400 m Type of accommodation: with a local host

• day 6

  J6: Cha de Morte - Forquinha Pass - Night at Dominguinhas

  

  Winding through the islets of vegetation and the basalt blades rising towards the sky, the trail leads you to the Forquinha pass, a crossing point between two valleys from where you descend to Alto Mira. From there, following the bottom of a gorge, you head into an isolated area. Walking hours: 5h30 Elevation gain: 500 m Elevation loss: 650 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 7

  J7 Middle of Spain

  

  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 our walk along the sea. You then climb back up to spend the night at Meio d'Espanha, in one of the most isolated villages on the island. Dinner and overnight in Meio de Espanha. Walking time: 6h30 Elevation gain: 700 m Elevation loss: 700 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 8

  J8 Cha d'Igreja

  

  A paved path between sea and mountains leads us into the Ribeira Alta valley where a long switchback climb allows us to cross the last foothills that separate 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 Chã de Igreja where a church stands with its small friendly square. Dinner and overnight in Chã d’Igreja. Walking time: 6h30 Elevation gain: 700 m Elevation loss: 1200 m Type of accommodation: homestay.

• day 9

  J9 The valleys of Ribeira Grande

  

  Two passes to cross on this day to reach, from the seaside, the heart of the Ribeira Grande valleys of Ribeira Grande. First, the wall that separates you from Ribeira Grande, the great valley of the island as its name suggests, then a smaller pass to arrive at Chã de Pedras, a major center for rum production where sugar cane cultivation reigns supreme. Night at João Afonso of Ribeira Grande. Walking hours: 6h Elevation gain: 1300 m Elevation loss: 700 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 10

  J10 Joao Afonso - Figueral - Pé d'Fruta - Ribeira da Torre

  

  From there, the path climbs and reaches the village of Corda, which gave its name to the Corde road, which crosses it. After following the route of this historic road for a while, a path descends into the Ribeira Da Torre, one of the most spectacular on the island, in the middle of which stands a huge basalt peak (in front of which you spend the night, in the isolated village inaccessible by the Rabo Curto road). Walking hours: 5h30 Elevation gain: 1050 m Elevation loss: 700 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 11

  J11 Cova Crater - Paul Valley - Lombo Comprido

  

  From Rabo Curto, the paved path climbs up the slope towards the wooded ridges that crown the island. Zigzagging gently, it eventually reaches the high-altitude Canarian pine forest and then the volcanic crater of Cova. From the ridges, you descend into Paul and its multitude of crops of all kinds: coffee, sugar cane, guavas, bananas... You reach the bottom of the valley, where you stay with a local in Lombo Comprido. Walking time: 6h30 Elevation gain: 1150 m Elevation loss: 1300 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 12

  J12 Santa Isabel - Pico da Cruz

  

  Very beautiful ascent to reach Pico da Cruz, the highest point of the eastern part of the island, where a small village nestles under the summit, in the middle of the Canary pine forest. To get there, the trail crosses the Santa Isabel area and its unique landscapes on the island, made up of cultivated high-altitude foothills. Dinner and overnight at Pico da Cruz. Walking hours: 6h Elevation gain: 1500 m Elevation loss: 100 m Type of accommodation: homestay

• day 13

  D13: Valleys of Janela and Penede - Return to Mindelo (boat)

  

  Descent into the valleys of Janela and Penede, the easternmost of the island, renowned for the Bruxas, the Creole healer witches. Sugar cane grows very close to the ocean where fishermen in their colorful boats brave the elements while keeping the lighthouse at the tip of the island in sight... At the end of the day, you take the road that connects Janela to Porto Novo. Boat to Mindelo. Upon your return to Mindelo, you are dropped off at your homestay accommodation, for a final night. Walking hours: between 5h and 5h30 of walking Elevation gain +: 1550 m Elevation loss -: 140 m Type of accommodation: guesthouse

• day 14

  J14 End of stay

  

  Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.