The 15 Best Santo Antão Valley Hikes

1.Santo Antão Day Trip with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 101 reviews · from $147Our pick

Join a local guide such as Maira, Riva, or Lea for a full-day crossing of Santo Antão from Mindelo. Ride the ferry, visit Cova de Paúl, follow the Corda Road, stop in Ponta de Sol and Ribeira Grande, then reach green Vale de Paúl. Lunch is not included.

“Très belle journée. Notre guide Riva parle très bien français et nous a donné toutes les explications sur le cap vert et son île Je recommande , très belle île luxuriante”

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2.Santo Antão Highlights: Day Trip by Car with Ferry from SV

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 84 reviews · 11 hours · from $135

Spend 11 hours crossing from Mindelo to Santo Antão by ferry and van. Guides such as Madu and Danni lead the route through Cova de Paúl, Pico da Cruz, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol, Paúl, and Janela. You will stop for Cape Verdean food and visit a grogue distillery, with ferry tickets, transfers, and guiding included.

“Foi um dia maravilhoso! As paisagens são de cortar a respiração. Mas o melhor de tudo são mesmo as pessoas. Já tinha lido boas referências sobre o Madu, o nosso guia, mas superou todas as nossas expectativas. Tão simpático e atento às necessidades de cada um e à gestão do grupo. Mais do que um guia turístico, Madu revelou-se um extraordinário guia cultural, dando-nos a conhecer não só os ambientes mas a forma de vida das suas gentes. O orgulho colocado no seu património natural e humano e no percurso de desenvolvimento desta nação contagia e fez-nos crescer o respeito e a empatia com um povo que vive feliz com…”

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3.Day Trip by Car or Trek

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 72 reviews · from $104Top rated

Spend 7 to 11 hours seeing Santo Antão by car, with ferry transfers from Mindelo, a local guide, mountain viewpoints, villages, fertile valleys, lunch time, and a grogue tasting. Guides such as Madu and Danny are praised for their island knowledge and easy conversation. A trekking option may be arranged, but confirm the details before booking.

“L'expérience a été magique. Madu qui parle parfaitement Français a été un guide hors pair et nous a communiqué son amour pour son île natale. Des paysages sublimes, l'histoire de l'île, un repas excellent et à très bon prix...tout était parfait. De plus le conducteur a été très gentil. Nous recommandons fortement.”

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4.Full Day Island Tour & Visit to Cova de Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 54 reviews · 7 hours · from $106

Spend seven hours crossing Santo Antão by road, from the 1,000-meter Cova de Paúl crater to Fontainhas, Ponta de Sol, and the green Paúl Valley. You will stop for photos, meet fishermen, eat lunch at a local restaurant, and taste grogue. Guides may include Riva, Mitch Adams, Itza, Ivan, or Maira.

“Nous avons passé une excellente journée grâce à notre adorable guide Riva et à ses multiples compétences, tant sur l’histoire , la culture, l’agriculture , etc. de l’île . Merci”

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5.Hiking Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 31 reviews · 5 hours · from $100

You’ll hike from Cova Natural Park, about 1,100 meters above sea level, toward Ribeira Paul with a guide such as Maira, Lea, Edy, or Ravi. Expect crater views, steep zigzags, tropical farms, local stories, and a stop at a traditional distillery for grogue. The five-hour trip includes transport and hotel pickup.

“Fantastica! Il miglior paesaggio mai visto in vita mia! Edy (la nostra guida) è preparatissimo ed è stato gentilissimo per tutto il viaggio! Stra consigliato”

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6.Full-Day Island Tour in Santo Antão with Lunch Included

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 14 reviews · from $118

Spend 7 to 9 hours seeing Santo Antão with a local guide, visiting Cova Crater, Delgadinho, Ribeira Grande, Ponta do Sol, and Paul Valley. Coffee, tea, lunch, water, entry fees, and a short walk are included. Guide Natcha has earned special praise for patient explanations and a friendly approach. Pickup is offered, but private transport is not included.

“Paseo por valle Paul y cerveza en bar local . Guia experto y conocedor de la zona. Recorrido por lo mejor de la isla”

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7.Ponta do Sol & Fontainhas Guided Trip with Hike

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · 6 hours · from $91Best value

Travel from your hotel to Ponta do Sol, Fontainhas, Praia das Aranhas, and Cruzinha with a local guide. Expect dramatic cliffs, black sand, village life, and a strenuous route that may take about five hours on foot. Guides include Riva, Ruben, Gerson, Rivaldino, Américo, and Vidson.

“superbe randonnée, bouclée en 4h, mais avec une grosse condition physique. Rivaldino, notre guide, super pro. A faire, sans hésitation.”

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8.Trekking Cova de Paúl Volcano Crater – Ribeira de Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $99

Set out from Porto Novo at 9:00 am for a guided hike from Cova Natural Park, high above Santo Antão. You’ll peer into the huge Cova de Paúl crater, descend a steep stone path into Paúl Valley, pass farms and plantations, and may taste local grogue. Guide Edson has received special praise for matching the group’s pace.

“The scenery was amazing! Edson was a great guide: he seemed to sense our pace; he was very informative. We had a wonderful lunch at a cafe he recommended. My legs were sore for days….we did it downhill, but it is frequently steep, with loose gravel over paving stones. Still, very do-able and totally worth it! Highly recommended.”

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9.Cova–Paúl Valley Trek: Santo Antão Day Trip by Ferry

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · 11 hours · from $141

Leave Mindelo early for Santo Antão by ferry, then ride to Cova de Paúl for a mostly downhill hike into Paúl Valley. Guides such as Sonia, Madu, Danny, and Carlos share local stories, farming knowledge, and island history. Add a local lunch, grogue distillery visit, and scenic coastal return for a full 11-hour day.

“Unser Guide Madù war wirklich überaus freundlich und zuvorkommend. Er konnte mit seinem Wissen überzeugen und wirklich alle Fragen zu Kultur, Flora & Fauna beantworten. Er ist voll und ganz auf unsere Bedürfnisse eingegangen und hat die Tour somit zu einem herausragenden Erlebnis gemacht.”

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10.Full-day Island Tour & Visit to Cova de Paúl Volcano Crater

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $106

Spend 6 to 7 hours touring Santo Antão by private vehicle with a local guide. See Cova de Paul Crater, Delgadinho, Ponta do Sol, Fontainhas, and Paul Valley. Lunch costs extra, and grogue tasting is optional. Guides include Americo, Riva, and Gerson.

“Excursion très complète pour contempler les points emblématiques de l’île de santo antao . Notre Guide RIVA a été génial, et d’une gentillesse absolue. Natif de l’île, il nous a expliqué toute l’histoire de celle ci et fait découvrir des endroits à couper le souffle . Ses compéRead more”

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11.Hike Ponta do Sol – Fontainhas – Cruzinha

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $91

Walk from Ponta do Sol through Fontainhas, Corvo, Formiguinhas, and Aranhas to Cruzinha on a demanding 15-kilometer coastal route. Your private guide, including guide Américo when assigned, handles the wayfinding and local context. Allow about seven hours, with six hours on foot, a picnic stop, steep sections, and big ocean views.

“Hands down one of the most memorable outdoor experiences I've had. From the very start, our guide was welcoming, friendly and incredibly knowledgeable about the area, not just the trails, but also the local wildlife, history, and ecology. ThRead more”

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12.Paúl hike, the green garden

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 5 hours · from $116

You’ll hike 5 kilometers through Santo Antão’s Paul Valley, gaining 350 meters and descending 600 meters. Expect farms, waterfalls, fruit trees, rural villages, old straw-and-basalt homes, a distillery visit and Cape Verdean rum tasting. Guides speak English, Portuguese and French, and groups are limited to 10.

“Super randonnée, quelle paysage !!! 3h-3h30 de marche que nous n'avons pas vu passé. Merci Sue, notre guide pour sa bonne humeur !”

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13.Ribeira Grande: Hiking Day Trip to Ribeira de Torre

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 4 reviews · 6 hours · from $100

Travel from Ribeira Grande to Faja da Cima, then hike through terraces, villages, sugar cane, fruit trees, and mountain scenery toward Chu Chu. Your guide explains local plants, farming, and grogue production before a waterfall stop and optional swim in a natural pool. Hotel pickup, drop-off, and a multilingual guide are included.

“João was an excellent guide, the chat with local people, the scenary”

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14.Hike from the Cova Volcano Crater to Ribeira Paúl

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 6 hours · from $279

You’ll hike from Cova Natural Park, at about 1,100 metres, down the famous trail into Paúl Valley. Guides such as John and Norberto explain the plants, farms, and local life along the way. The six-hour outing includes hotel pickup, transport, a rum distillery visit, and drop-off, but not food or drinks.

“O passeio como um todo foi incrível. O guia John nos buscou na nossa hospedagem e nos levou até a Cova de carro, de onde partimos numa trilha a pé durante algumas horas. O percurso todo tinhas vistas espetaculares e o guia conhecia muito bem o caminho e a natureza. Recomendamos a todos!”

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15.Santiago, Fogo, São Vicente & Santo Antão Islands 11 Days

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $2,719

Explore four Cape Verde islands in 11 days with local guides, private transfers, domestic flights, ferries, ten nights of lodging, and daily hikes. You’ll visit UNESCO-listed Cidade Velha, climb Pico do Fogo, walk Santo Antão’s mountain trails, taste grogue, and see Praia das Aranhas, a turtle-nesting beach. The trip starts in Praia and ends in Mindelo.

“If you really want to get to know Cape Verde and understand how capeverdians live, BuCountry Tours would be your best companion, a company created by people who really love their country.”

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