The complete crossing of Santo Antao

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transfer to the airport according to your flight schedule.