Crossing Santo Antao by Trekking

Arrival at São Vicente airport. Reception and transfer to Mindelo. Accommodation at the inhabitant / hotel, in the city center. Depending on the time of arrival, you can visit the city. Its markets, museum, numerous bars and restaurants, Laginha beach make it a very lively town (except on Sundays when everything is closed, the animation is concentrated on the beach). Free meals.
Type of accommodation: Residencial / small hotel.

Boat (1 hour crossing) to Santo Antão and Transfer west to Bolonha. The ascent of Top Coroa, the highest peak of the island of Santo Antão, 1979 meters, to discover a mineral landscape made up of ancient volcanoes and arid valleys populated by herds of goats. From the top, after enjoying the 360 ​​° panorama, crossing the plateau and descending the cliff of Bordeira de Norte by one of the most beautiful cobbled structures of the archipelago to sleep in Cha de Mort with the locals.
Walking time: 5 h Elevation gain: + 500 m / - 1400m

Hike the Forquinha pass and descent into the Alto Mira valley. Day of walking in the middle of cultivated terraces. Through the 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, homestay.
Walking time: 5 h 30. Elevation: + 720m / - 930m.

Descent to the ocean, which you then walk along on a balcony to reach the remote valleys of the north-west, more arid and authentic. Thatched cottages, banana and sugar cane terraces and gorges punctuate your walk along the sea. You go back up to spend the night in Meio d'Espanha, homestay.
Walking time: 6.30 hrs. Elevation: + 790 m / - 790 m

Hike on a paved path that leads you into the Ribeira Alta valley from where a great winding climb allows you to pass the last foothills that separate these remote valleys from the communication routes. Descent and passage by the sea on a narrow strip of pebbles wedged between cliff and ocean to reach the pretty flowered village of Cha de Igreja. Residential night.
 Walking time: 6h. Elevation: + 1060 m / - 1300 m.

Hike to Ribeirao, the wall that separates you from Ribeira Grande, the Great Valley of the island as its name suggests, then a smaller pass to arrive in Ribeirao, the Mecca of sugar cane cultivation. Night at the inhabitant.
Walking time: 6h Elevation gain: + 1200m / - 1020m.

The greenest and most irrigated valleys of the island, discovering a steep-sided volcanic cirque, enclosed by high cliffs within which a torrent flows in a deep canyon. Discovery of many isolated villages, irrigation canals, hanging fields of all kinds of crops.
Walking time: 5h. Elevation: + 1000m / - 300m.

After Aguada, we cross the irrigated crop area before climbing up to the cliff overlooking the village. We reach the high plateau bordered by a Canarian pine forest. In the middle of this semi-desert plateau, the inhabitants of the small village of Lagoinha receive us for the night on the terrace of the inhabitant.
Walking time: 4h30, Elevation + 740m -100m

We cross the high plateau planted with pine trees towards the crater of Cova. There, following the trail of the ridges between pines and mimosas, we reach the perched village of Pico da Cruz under the summit of the same name, the highest point in the eastern part of the island. Night at the inhabitant. Picnic and dinner included.
Walking time: 4h30, Elevation + 450m, -450m

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

After breakfast, transfer from the hotel to Penedo. The small paths that go from hamlet to hamlet take us on a balcony across the Janela valley, very cultivated, where, depending on the season, we harvest coffee, guavas and vegetables. In the afternoon, transfer (1 hour) back to Porto Novo, then boat to Mindelo at 4 or 5 p.m., our driver will meet us at the port of mindelo and then drop us off at the hotel.
Walking time: 4h30, Elevation +: 450 m // Elevation -: 700 m

After breakfast, departure in a private vehicle to explore the island of Sao Vicente through the central oasis. Short walk from Praia Grande beach to the village of Calhau and after a visit to the top of the island, Monte Verde and the village of Salamansa.
Hours of walking: 2h30 / Elevation +: 100 m / Elevation -: 100 m / Accommodation: in hotel

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

End of stay in Mindelo and transfer to the airport.