Santo Antão is the northernmost and most mountainous island in the Cape Verde archipelago, and for many visitors it is the most beautiful. The island splits dramatically into two halves: the northeast is green and lush, with steep valleys filled with sugarcane, banana plantations, and dripping tropical vegetation, while the southwest is dry, barren, and volcanic.
The main towns are Porto Novo, where the ferry from São Vicente arrives, and Ribeira Grande (Povoação) on the northeast coast. The real draw is the landscape in between — the mountain roads wind through clouds, past terraced hillsides and deep ravines, with views that are genuinely staggering. On a clear day from Porto Novo you can see São Vicente across the channel.
Hiking is the main activity. The old cobbled paths (calçadas) connecting the mountain villages make for some of the best walking in West Africa. You can also visit distilleries producing grogue, the national sugarcane spirit.
