Discover Santo Antão: Day Trip by Car or Guided Trek
Description
Discover the beauty of Santo Antão with one of our flexible full-day excursions. Your local guide will take you on a full-day island tour, bringing the Island’s stories to life. You can choose from 4 different options to best suit your travel plans and activity level 2 Island Highlights by Car: * From São Vicente: Includes harbor transfers and roundtrip ferry tickets. * From Santo Antão (Porto Novo): Ideal if you’ve already booked ferry tickets or are staying on the island. 2 Trekking Options: * From São Vicente: Includes harbor transfers and roundtrip ferry tickets. * From Santo Antão (Porto Novo): Perfect for those already on the island or with ferry tickets booked.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Option including Ferry Tickets: Begin with an early morning pick up at your accommodation in Mindelo, transfer to the Harbor for your adventure by Ferry to our neighboring island of the mountains, Santo Antão. On your ferry travel across the canal (up to 1 hour on ferry), you may stand on deck; if you’re lucky you will witness dolphins, pilot whales, flying fish, sea birds, and more, you can also relax on the comfortable seating inside. Check out the lighthouse on the rock in the middle of the ocean, Ilhéu dos Pássaros (Bird’s Island)!
Option Excluding Ferry tickets: Arrive to Porto Novo, as you enter the Garemaritima terminal you will be met by your local guide who will take you to all the Island Highlights in one day by car! Begin your journey ascending through the mountains
Begin your journey ascending through the mountains along the old cobblestone road, you will pass by small communities with traditional thatched roof homes, donkeys carrying water, farmers working the land and the daily hardworking people of this incredible place
Stop at Pico d Cruz, above the clouds with its green pine forest and eucalyptus trees, feel the cool breeze, take in the picturesque view of Paúl from up top.
Atop of Cova you will have breathtaking views inside the crater; the mist from clouds allows this farming community to self-sustain.
Drive on to Delgadin, the narrow mountaintop crossing which separates two major valleys, Ribeira Grande & Ribeira da Torre; famous for photographs while on Santo Antão
Arrive to the colorful city of Povacao one of the main cities in Ribeira Grande with its colonial, also modern homes, and beautiful street art. We will make a stop for lunch in town.
Ribeira de Torre one of the greenest and most fertile valleys in Cabo Verde, where you will find bananas, mangos, sugar cane, and breadfruit trees. Also a large tank pool used by locals for swimming and fun.
Then on to the fishing village of Ponta do Sol, with its old port of Boca de Pistola (Mouth of the Pistol), where you can experience the arrival of the fisherman, and see the catch of the day!
Taste our local rum, Grogue is produced here, visit the distillery to see how it’s made.
On to the municipality of Paúl, with its grand Saint Anthony statue overlooking Villa das Pombas for its protection. Arriving to the village of Eito, we will visit our rum distillery, also known as Grogue, and have the opportunity to taste.
Traveling back to Porto Novo via Janela on the new stunning coastal road, pass through fascinating mountain tunnels, and see the lighthouse, Farol de Fontes Pereira de Melo.
Arrive to Porto Novo in time to board the afternoon ferry to São Vicente. Upon arrival to the Harbor, you will enjoy a transfer to your accommodation in Mindelo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
If you have elected an option of our excursion beginning in São Vicente, we will pick you up at your accommodation at least 40 minutes before departure (We will be in contact via message). If your selected option begins in Santo Antão, we will meet you at the time of your excursion in Porto Novo; we will be in contact by message.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Please inform us of any special dietary instructions.
- In the case of a group of less than 4pax, the local guide himself may be the driver
- For open group tours your guide may speak more than one language if required
- Driving through roads with high altitude
Reviews(91)
Reserve an ulrima hour, which went the best way thanks to the sympathy and availability of Green Line Tours Guide and driver in Santo Antão very professional
Muito obrigada pela sua avaliação! Fico muito feliz que tudo tenha corrido bem apesar da reserva de última hora -- é sempre um prazer encontrar uma solução para que os nossos clientes possam desfrutar do melhor de Santo Antão. Esperamos ter a oportunidade de recebê-la novamente em Cabo Verde! #GreenLineToursCV Team
The pick up from our hotel was early and our guide had great knowledge of the area. They were even able to accommodate a last minute change in the amount of people coming on the trip. Great experience!
Thank you for this great review! We are pleased we could accommodate your last-minute change - flexibility is important to us and we always do our best to make it work. Santo Antão is a special place and we are glad the day delivered. We hope to welcome you back to the islands soon! #GreenLineToursCV Team
Our tour of Santo Antão was truly unforgettable—an easy 5-star experience that exceeded every expectation. From the very beginning, the day felt like an adventure. The journey itself, arriving from São Vicente, set the tone with stunning ocean views before we even reached the island. Once on Santo Antão, the scenery completely transformed—lush green valleys, towering mountains, and winding roads that revealed breathtaking views around every corner. We explored the famous Paul Valley, which was absolutely magical. The contrast of vibrant greenery against the rugged volcanic landscape was something I’ve never seen before. Walking through small villages and seeing local life up close made the experience feel authentic and deeply personal. Our guide was phenomenal—knowledgeable, engaging, and clearly proud of their island. They shared stories, history, and hidden gems that we never would have found on our own. Every stop felt thoughtfully chosen, and we never felt rushed. There was plenty of time to soak in the views, take photos, and truly appreciate the beauty around us. What stood out most was how untouched and peaceful Santo Antão feels. It’s raw, dramatic, and breathtaking in a way that’s hard to describe—you just have to experience it. If you’re visiting Cape Verde, this tour is an absolute must. It’s the perfect blend of adventure, culture, and natural beauty—and without a doubt one of the highlights of our entire trip. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much! We are thrilled Santo Antão left such a strong impression on you. Experiences like yours are exactly what we strive for. We hope to welcome you back in Cabo Verde! #GreenLineToursCV Team
We have been lucky and it has made us very good weather, which, together with the professionalism of our guide Madú and the good planning by the organizers, has allowed us to enjoy a great day on the island of Santo Antão.
¡Muchas gracias, David, por sus amables palabras! Nos alegra mucho saber que el tiempo acompañó y que pudieron disfrutar de un día estupendo en Santo Antão. En Green Line Tours cuidamos cada detalle de nuestras excursiones para que nuestros clientes vivan experiencias auténticas e inolvidables. Esperamos poder recibirles de nuevo pronto. Gracias de nuevo por confiar en nosotros. #GreenLineToursCV Team
It was such a great experience! The whole team was amazing and very thoughtful and caring, from the pick up to the drop off you were made to feel included and small facts were shared throughout. Madu was fantastic and very insightful, a true S Antão native which made the experience much better.
Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a great experience with us from start to finish. It means the world to us that you felt included and well looked after throughout the day. That is exactly the experience we strive to create for every single guest. We will be sure to pass on your kind words to Madu and the rest of the team. As a true Santo Antão native, Madu brings a depth of knowledge and passion for the island that is truly special, and we are so glad that came through during your tour! We hope to welcome you back to Cabo Verde again soon. Warm regards, Green Line Tours Cabo Verde
Very smart guy who show is the Island
it feels like a sin to visit the hiking paradise of santo antao for a day trip in a car, but if you're like me - not very sporty but interested in island life and plants, or if you're short on time - this trip is really worth it to get a first impression. the company and their staff are of course highly professional and organized, but they are also sincerely passionate about their island(s) and about offering an enjoyable trip to everyone. from good and clear pre-trip communication to early morning pick-up and organising ferry tickets for everyone to the outing on santo antao itself, they delivered! example: the 6.15 am pick-up to catch the early ferry was already waiting in front of my guesthouse when i stepped out because they knew - without me mentioning anything - that the area i was in was a bit dicey at night and they wanted to make very sure i did not have to wait in the street all alone. how thoughtful is that! they also offer hiking tours on santo antao and sao vicente/mindelo tours, go check out their website!
What a thoughtful and heartfelt review — thank you so much! We are truly touched that you noticed the little things, like the early arrival at your guesthouse. That kind of care for our guests means everything to us. We are so glad the day trip gave you a wonderful first taste of Santo Antão and we hope to welcome you back for more adventures on the islands! Thank you, #GreenLineToursCV Team
Today we took the day trip from Sao Vicente to Santo Antão. It's all very well organized. Paulo received us at the ferry in Mindelo and handed us our tickets. In Porto Novo the island guide Madú has already been waiting for us. He had really bright eyes and we immediately felt that he enjoyed his work. He brought us closer to the island and he is very knowledgeable. He had an answer to every question and so we could learn a lot today. We drove the basalt stone road north through the mountains and then back the coastal road to the east. Unfortunately, it was very noisy in the van, but that's really the only flaw. The driver was very calm and safe. The tour description fits exactly and it is not promised too much.
Great experience with Green Line tours! Pick up at the bottom of our hotel for transfer to the ferry terminal. As soon as we arrived on the island of Santo Antao, we were greeted by Madu, our guide for the day. He is a true lover of his island, he wanted to make us discover the landscapes, the history and the authenticity of his island. His French is impeccable 👌 I highly recommend this experience, soothing, rewarding and accompanied by adorable people!
Thanks to our guide Raquel, she did a great job! It was an amazing day. Beautiful sights & calming. To eat fresh local food. It's something I would recommend for those who enjoy heights and walking.
We’re so pleased to hear you had an amazing day, enjoying the beautiful sights, local food, and the experience with Raquel. She will be very happy to know her work made your day special. Thank you for recommending us — we truly appreciate it! Best regards, Green Line Tours CV Team
