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

Highlights

Inclusions

Itinerary

1. 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)!

   30 minAdmission included

2. 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

   20 min

3. 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

   40 min

4. 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.

   10 min

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

   10 min

6. 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

   10 min

7. 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.

   1 h

8. 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.

   15 min

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

   35 min

10. 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!

    15 min

11. 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.

    20 min

12. 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.

    Passes by

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.

Reviews

Ratings come from 96 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.

Showing reviews written in English.

• 5Green Line Tours excellence

  We just returned from Sao Vicente, having booked a trip with Paolo and his team for a full day trip to Santo Antao and then the following day a half day trip to tour Mindelo and Sao Vicente with a sea turtle swim in the afternoon. These tours were the highlight of our trip to Cape Verde. Paolo spent many years in Boston and speaks many languages fluently. He is very hands-on and actively involved in this operation. And this is a completely local group. He knows everyone and has hired some extremely competent, knowledgeable and multi lingual guides. Madu and Jose were excellent. But he himself picked us up at the hotel and delivered us to the ferry, then was there at the end of the tour to take us back. Also they were very nimble and accommodating when we changed our plans the day before and decided to see the turtles. He simply made it happen (the details of that tour are on their Instagram page. We were in the water about 30 min with at least 5 green sea turtles at all times, swimming so close they smile at you). Like many Cape Verdean people we met, these guys are very proud of their island and their country and they truly WANT their clients to have a great experience. They do a remarkable job making sure that happens and I cannot recommend them highly enough, for whichever tour you decide (hint: Santo Antao is unbelievable. If you can possibly get there you should).

  gostate93October 2026via Tripadvisor

• 4Not good at titles

  A truly lovely day out exploring Santo Antão! Our guide did a fantastic job showing us the natural beauty of his island home, and our driver was very good at safely navigating the tricky, winding roads. A major highlight was sampling all the local food and tasting the fresh local fruit. Greenline tours is excellent at arraning this seamless ferry and tour from São Vicente!

  Connector430864September 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Well executed!

  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!

  C147KGjacobrMay 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Gorgeous island

  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. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  dochobbs12April 2026via Tripadvisor

• 5Great tour with an amazing guide

  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.

  Travel42187737334March 2026via Tripadvisor

• 4highly recommendin green line tours cv!

  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!

  karinh2995January 2026via Tripadvisor

Know before you go

How it compares in São Vicente

• Its from-price is 69% above the median of the 36 experiences we list in São Vicente.
• It is longer than most of them.
• By number of reviews it ranks 2 of 36.
• The operator lists free cancellation on it.

About São Vicente

São Vicente is a dry, windswept island in northern Cape Verde, home to the port of Mindelo, its colonial streets, carnival and morna music.

São Vicente is a small volcanic island in the northern, Barlavento group of Cape Verde, off the west coast of Africa. Its chief town, Mindelo, wraps around a deep natural harbour, Porto Grande, once a coaling station for steamships. Pastel colonial houses, a fish market and a small replica of Lisbon's Belém Tower stand along the waterfront, and Monte Verde, the island's high point, rises behind.

See all 36 experiences in São Vicente