Santo Antão Highlights: Day Trip by Car w/ Ferry from São Vicente

4.9 (96 reviews) 7–11 hours Free cancellation

out of 5

96 reviews

4.9

Thatched roof homes in the valley of Paul — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Santo Antão Highlights: Day Trip by Car w/ Ferry from São Vicente, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

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.

Day Trips Hiking Tours Full-day Tours Bus Tours Private and Luxury Cultural Tours Historical Tours Walking Tours

At a glance

Duration: 7–11 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 15 people
People per booking: 1–12
Guide: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
Operated by: Green Line Tours Cabo Verde

Ages: Infants (0–2 years) · Children (3–11 years) · Adults (12–99 years)

What is included

Included

Included: Private transportation
Included: Pickup and drop-off at starting point
Included: OPTION: *Ferry Tickets (roundtrip) included from São Vicente, excluded beginning in Santo Antão
Included: Entrance: Grogue (Rum) distillery
Included: Local Professional guide (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese)

Not included

Not included: Lunch
Not included: Personal expenses
Not included: Alcoholic Beverages

Itinerary

Stop 1

30 min Admission included

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)!
Porto Novo

20 min

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
Porto Novo-Ribeira Grande Road

40 min

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 4

10 min

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.
Stop 5

10 min

Atop of Cova you will have breathtaking views inside the crater; the mist from clouds allows this farming community to self-sustain.
Stop 6

10 min

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
Ribeira Grande

one hour

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.
Stop 8

15 min

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.
Village Fontainhas

35 min

an unimaginable cascade of homes along the mountains, noted as one of the worlds most picturesque villages.
Ponta Do Sol

15 min

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!
Paul

20 min

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.
Janela

Passing by

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.
Stop 13

30 min Admission included

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.
Stop 14

15 min Admission included

Taste our local rum, Grogue is produced here, visit the distillery to see how it’s made.

Meeting point and pickup

You can be picked up from your accommodation or go straight to the meeting point.

Meeting point

Inside the Garemaritima in Porto Novo we will be waiting on the ground level by the cafe & car rental area, we will have a sign with your name on it.
We will be waiting for you 30 minutes before the ferry departs - We will have our Green Line Tours T-Shirts on for easy identification

End point

Inside the Garemaritima in Porto Novo we will be waiting on the ground level by the cafe & car rental area, we will have a sign with your name on it.
We will be waiting for you 30 minutes before the ferry departs - We will have our Green Line Tours T-Shirts on for easy identification

Pickup points

Flag Hotel Mindelo
Tienne Del Mar
Four Points by Sheraton Sao Vicente Resort
Pombas Brancas Resort
Tiduca Hotel
Casa Cafe Mindelo
Hotel Blue Bell
Residencial Ponta do Sol
Blue Marlin Hotel
Residencial Luatur
Hotel Santantao Art Resort

and 47 more pickup points

If your excursion starts in São Vicente, we will pick you up at your accommodation at least 40 minutes before departure. We will contact you by message to confirm the details.

If your excursion starts in Santo Antão, we will meet you in Porto Novo at the time of your excursion. We will also contact you by message beforehand.

Using your ticket

Hotel pickups commence approximately 30 - 60 minutes prior to this time

Cancellation

Free cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

If you cancel	You get back
At least one day before	100%
Less than a day before	0%

Good to know

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