The complete crossing of Santo Antao

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1:

  D1 Sao Vicente Island - Mindelo

  

  Arrival at the airport of São Vicente. Reception and transfer to Mindelo. Installation for the night in the city center. Free program. Depending on the time of arrival, you can visit the lively downtown area and its colorful markets (fish, vegetables) and reach the beach of Laginha. For the arrivals on Sundays please note that on this day the city is quiet, the animation is concentrated around the beach of Laginha and in the villages outside the city. Type of accommodation : pension

• day 2:

  Day 2 Heading to Santo Antao: Porto Novo - Tarrafal - (with local guide)

  

  After breakfast, transfer to the port and boat trip (1h) to Porto Novo, on the island of Santo Antão. Transfer through the magnificent landscapes of altitude of the plateau plateau, desert and wild. Descent on foot to Tarrafal, a real end of the world built on the edge of a large bay of black sand that highlights the light green of the sugar cane fields the light green of the sugar cane fields, planted behind the fishermen's houses. Small hike to discover the cultures of this lost valley, one of the most charming one of the most charming places of the archipelago.  Walking time : 3h Elevation gain : 200 m  Difference in altitude : 400 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 3:

  D3 Tarrafal- Monte Trigo : Coastal hiking (night without suitcase) - (with local guide)

  

  Coastal hike under the summit of the island, a volcano of almost 2000 meters of altitude that plunges into the ocean, until Monte Trigo, a fishing village cut off from the world, only plunges into the ocean, to Monte Trigo, a fishing village cut off from the world, only accessible accessible only on foot or by boat. Accommodation in a family pension on a terrace facing the sea. Boat trip with the fishermen. Attention, this boat trip can be cancelled without notice in case of bad sea or if your your fisherman judges that the security conditions are not required.  Walking time : 4h  Elevation gain : 350 m Difference in altitude - : 350 m  Type of accomodation : bivouac at the inhabitant's house

• day 4:

  D4 Ascent of the Norte plateau (with local guide)

  

  You begin the ascent of the volcanic and arid foothills of the summit, until the plateau of Norte, where you will stay with a local in Chã de Feijoal (you will find your your suitcase).  Walking hours : Between 6h30 and 7h of walking Elevation gain : 1520 m Difference in altitude - : 350 m Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 5:

  D5 Tope de Coroa - Ribeira das Patas - Cha de Morte

  

  From Norte, you continue the crossing of the plateau until the edge of the cliffs that plunge into Ribeira das Patas. The view goes from the far side, 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 oasis - lemon and sugar cane being the king crops of this part of the island. You go down by a wide paved path carved in the cliff. Night in Chã de Morte at the inhabitant's house. Walking hours : Between 6h and 7h of walking  Elevation gain : 850 m  Difference in altitude - : 1400 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 6:

  D6 Cha de Morte - Forquinha Pass - Night in Dominguinhas

  

  Winding through islands of vegetation and basaltic blades rising to the sky, the path leads you to the the path leads you to the Forquinha pass, a crossing point between two valleys from where you down to Alto Mira. From there, following the bottom of a gorge, you go into a isolated area. Walking hours : 5h30 Elevation gain : 500 m Difference in altitude - : 650 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 7:

  D7 Meio d Espanha

  

  Descent to the ocean that you then follow in balcony to join the remote valleys of the northwest, more arid and of the northwest, more arid and authentic. Thatched cottages, terraces of banana trees, sugar cane and and gorges punctuate our walk along the sea. You go back up to spend the night at Meio d'Espanha, in one of the most isolated villages of the island. Dinner and night in Meio de Espanha. Walking hours : 6h30  Elevation gain : 700 m Difference in altitude - : 700 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 8:

  D8 Cha d Igreja

  

  A paved path between sea and mountain leads us to the valley of Ribeira Alta from where a large from where a long winding climb allows us to pass the last foothills that separate these remote valleys from the communication routes. Descent and passage in edge of sea on a narrow cordon of pebbles stuck between cliff and ocean to join the pretty flowered village of Chã de Igreja where a church a church with its small friendly square. Dinner and night at Cha d'Igreja.  Walking hours : 6h30 Elevation gain : 700 m Difference in altitude - : 1200 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 9:

  D9 The valleys of Ribeira Grande

  

  Two passes to be crossed in this day to join from the seaside the heart of the valleys of Ribeira Grande. First of all the wall that separates you from Ribeira Grande, the Great Valley of the island as its name indicates, then a smaller pass to arrive at Chã de Pedras, a a high place of rum making where the sugar cane culture is king. Night at João Afonso of Ribeira Grande. Hours of walking : 6h Elevation gain : 1300 m Difference in altitude : 700 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 10:

  D10 Joao Afonso - Figueral - Pé D Fruta - Ribeira da Torre

  

  From here the path climbs and reaches the village of Corda, which gave its name to the rope road that crosses it. After following the line of this historical road for a while, a path plunges into Ribeira Da Torre of the island, in the middle of which is a huge basalt peak (in the middle of the hill). (in front of which you will spend the night, in the isolated and inaccessible village of Rabo Curto). by the road to Rabo Curto.  Walking time : 5h30 Elevation gain : 1050 m  Difference in altitude - : 700 m Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 11:

  D11 Cova Crater - Paul Valley - Lombo Comprido

  

  From Rabo Curto the paved path rises up the slope towards the wooded ridges that surround the island. Gently zigzagging, it eventually reaches the high forest of Canary pines and then the and then the volcanic crater of Cova. From the ridges you dive into Paul and its and its multitude of cultures of all types: coffee, cane, guavas, banana... You reach the bottom of the valley You reach the bottom of the valley, where you stay at the inhabitant's house in Lombo Comprido. Hours of walking : 6h30 Elevation gain : 1150 m Difference in altitude : 1300 m  Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 12:

  D12 Santa Isabel - Pico da Cruz

  

  Very nice ascent to reach the Pico da Cruz, highest point of the eastern part of the island, where where a small village nestles under the summit in the middle of the Canary pine forest. To get there the trail goes through the Santa Isabel area and its unique landscapes, on the island, of of cultivated highland foothills. Dinner and night in Pico da Cruz.  Walking hours : 6h Elevation gain : 1500 m  Difference in altitude - : 100 m Type of accomodation : at the inhabitant's house

• day 13:

  D13 Janela and Penede Valleys - Return to Mindelo (Boat)

  

  Descent in the valleys of Janela and Penede, the most eastern of the island, famous for the Bruxas, the Creole witch doctors. The sugar cane grows very close to the ocean where fishermen where fishermen in their colorful boats brave the elements while keeping in sight the lighthouse at the tip of the of the island... At the end of the day, you take the road that links Janela to Porto Novo. Boat to Mindelo. On your return to Mindelo, you will be dropped off at your accommodation with the locals, for a last night. last night.  Walking hours : Between 5h and 5h30 of walking Elevation gain : 1550 m Difference in altitude : 140 m  Type of accommodation : pension

• day 14:

  D14 End of the stay

  

  Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.