Santo Antao Area Guide

Santo Antao is the most beautiful island in Cape Verde, especially if you like mountains and gorges and stunning scenery. It is just an hour ferry from San Vicente, and no visitor can help being overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery  where the colours, shapes and vegetation as well as the local wildife (which includes vultures, kestrels, wagtails, blackcaps, sparrows and some reptiles) are all so striking.

Quite naturally, the vegetation varies dramatically between regions. The high zones are covered with trees like the eucalyptus, the cypress, and the pine-tree. The south, in total contrast, is arid with herbaceous vegetation. It is very different from the white sandy beach islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio.

Economically, the island is very rich in agriculture, the main produce being sugar cane, sweet potatoes or yams, manioc, bananas, coconuts, mango, papaya and almonds. Fishing is the main occupation of most of the inhabitants of the ports of TARRAFAL, PORTO NOVO and JANELA.

Pony trekking, walking and cycling along the streams are favourite pastimes, along with dancing in the evenings after a superb dinner at one of the fine local restaurants.

Infrastructure is basic in many areas, but investment into the island is growing, and the new airport should be opening soon to increase access from the other islands in Cape Verde.

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Santo Antao Area Guide

Santo Antao is the most beautiful island in Cape Verde, especially if you like mountains and gorges and stunning scenery. It is just an hour ferry from San Vicente, and no visitor can help being overwhelmed by the beautiful scenery  where the colours, shapes and vegetation as well as the local wildife (which includes vultures, kestrels, wagtails, blackcaps, sparrows and some reptiles) are all so striking.

Quite naturally, the vegetation varies dramatically between regions. The high zones are covered with trees like the eucalyptus, the cypress, and the pine-tree. The south, in total contrast, is arid with herbaceous vegetation. It is very different from the white sandy beach islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio.

Economically, the island is very rich in agriculture, the main produce being sugar cane, sweet potatoes or yams, manioc, bananas, coconuts, mango, papaya and almonds. Fishing is the main occupation of most of the inhabitants of the ports of TARRAFAL, PORTO NOVO and JANELA.

Pony trekking, walking and cycling along the streams are favourite pastimes, along with dancing in the evenings after a superb dinner at one of the fine local restaurants.

Infrastructure is basic in many areas, but investment into the island is growing, and the new airport should be opening soon to increase access from the other islands in Cape Verde.