“Windward Islands” Hiking Roundtrip with Santo Antão

Hiking & Culture in Cape Verde Barlavento

• São Vicente: Cultural mix of three continents – Lively harbor town of Mindelo and Morna music
• Santo Antão: Original Cape Verde – be guest of the locals – hiking through breathtaking landscapes
• Sal: Enjoy the splendid sandy beach of Santa Maria.

Travel program “Windward Islands – Hiking in Cape Verde Barlavento”

Day 1 Arrival at Sal Airport and transfer to your hotel in Santa Maria, a few minutes to the beach.

Day 2 Leisure time at the beautiful sandy beach of Santa Maria. Later on, flight to São Vicente, the island of music and culture. Overnight in Mindelo town center.

Day 3 City Tour in Mindelo with your personal guide (3 hrs.). Colonial style houses, visit of the fish market, african market and some hidden bar. Your guide can give you some interesting tips for the afternoon and the evening.

Day 4 Relaxed island tour to the highest elevation of the island, then visit some spots and villages on the east coast. Have a swim in a sheltered bay.  Local bars and typical restaurants on the way.

Day 5 Ferry to Santo Antao (1 hr. crossing). Your local guide will fetch you from the harbour. As the car climbs up the old mountain road, the landscape changes from desert into green.
Option a.) Small hike to a viewpoint (1,5 h, + 150 hm) and spectacular views from the panoramic road. In a small village bar, the landlady will serve you a typical Cape Verdean lunch.
Option b.) Guided walk through the Cova Crater and down into the tropical green Valley of Paul. (Walking time 3 ½ – 4 hours, +130m, -650m).
Transfer to your small hotel in Paul valley where your luggage will already be waiting for you. 
Dinner is served on the terrace of your hotel  (dinner included).

Day 6 Picturesque hike on trails and paths through the green valley of Paul. You will walk between sugar cane, coffe fields, papaya, mango trees and thatched little stone houses. On today’s hike, you will get a lot of insights into the daily life of the local farmers and population. (Walking time 4 h, +/- 450 m). Short transfer and dinner in your accommodation in Paul Valley included.

Day 7 Impressing hike on a donkeypath – above the cliffs of the north coast – until the fishing village of Cruzinha. The return trip to Ponta do Sol is very scenic. (Walking time 5 hours + 600 m / – 700 m). Transfers and baggage transfers to Ponta do Sol.

Day 8 Free day in Ponta do Sol The small harbor gets very much alive when the fishermen bring in their catch in the morning. Maybe fancy a relaxing massage in the afternoon? Your guide can arrange for it. Night in Ponta do Sol.

Day 9 Starting from a small village in a side valley of the Ribeira Grande, we hike up and down a saddle with great panoramic views. (3.5 hours +/- 350 m), may optionally be extended to 4,5 h, +/-450 hm.

Day 10 Climbing up from Coculi to Corda (4 hours + 750 m). Your driver will subsequently bring you to Porto Novo. Hotel 4****, dinner included.

Day 11 Times ago, water was abundant in the nowadays dry south of Santo Antão – as the dry river-system of Ribeira das Patas witnesses. From there, a trail leads up to the hidden valley of Altomira. (3.5 hours + 250 m, – 550 m or vice versa). The ferry will bring you back to Mindelo in the late afternoon. B&B in hotel in town center.

Day 12 Flight back to Sal island and 3 x overnight/breakfast in a nice little hotel with small swimming pool in Santa Maria. If you prefer, we can also book a 4-star-hotel for you (extra charge).

Day 13 & 14 Leisure time on the long, sandy beach of Santa Maria. The turqoise water invites you for a swim. You can also do long walks or horseriding on the beach. Or just lay down and relax. Optionally, excursions to the salt pans in the crater of Pedra Lume and to shark bay are offered.
There are some nice music bars for your evening program in Santa Maria.

Day 15 Transfer to Sal airport for your flight back home.

Services included in  „Windward Islands“ hiking roundtrip Barlavento :

Services included in the Tour Package

Flight tickets: Sal – São Vicente and São Vicente – Sal

Ferry: São Vicente – Santo Antão – São Vicente

Total 14 nights/breakfast in a double room with private shower / WC:

2 x bed / breakfast in city hotel Mindelo
2 x Half board Private accomodation in Paul
3 x bed / breakfast Private accommodation Ponta do Sol
2 x accommodation, including 1x breakfast and 1x half-board at the 4-star Hotel Porto Novo
5 x bed / breakfast in family hotel with pool in the seaside town Santa Maria on Sal.

Further meals:
1 x lunch in Paul Valley
1 x dinner with live music in Ponta do Sol
(Table water included, other drinks extra)

Further on:
• Island tour of São Vicente
• Mindelo private guided tour
• 6 guided hikes
• Tourist tax except in Sal. There you pay 2, – Euro / person & day
• English speaking guide for all hikes and activities, ask for further languages
• All transfers and baggage transfers resulting from the program