Major city · Cape Verde
Santo Antão
Spend 3–4 days hiking valleys and swimming at Tarrafal beach; arrive via ferry from Mindelo and use collective taxis to get around.
Santo Antão offers rugged mountain roads, pine forests, and the island’s best hiking in the north plus a sheltered beach at Tarrafal. A 3‑4‑day stay covers the main valleys, a beach day and a taste of local culture.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- CVE
- Best months
- Nov–Jun
- Airport
- VXE
- Nights
- 3–4
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 7Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- African islands ↗Sleep on the island you fly home from the night before your long-haul departure; inter-island flights and ferries in this region are cancelled or rescheduled often enough to break a same-day connection.
- African islands ↗In the Indian Ocean islands book flexible rates for December to March: a cyclone warning can shut airports, ferries and roads for two or three days.
- Cape Verde ↗Complete the EASE pre-registration and pay the airport security fee (TSA) on the official platform at least 5 days before arrival; from July 2026 arriving without it doubles the fee at the border (check your passport's visa rules there too).
- Cape Verde ↗Confirm ferries and inter-island flights the day before; sea conditions and schedules change at short notice.
- Cape Verde ↗Swim only on beaches known to be safe: Atlantic swell and currents are strong on most coasts, and lifeguards are rare outside Santa Maria.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Santo Antão132 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Santo Antão, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), pegged at about 110.27 per euro; euros are sometimes accepted in tourist areas, usually at a rounded rate.Cape Verde-wide
- SIM or eSIMCV Movel and Unitel T+ sell SIMs at airports and shops with a passport; a few GB costs a few euros.Cape Verde-wide
- Tap waterMostly desalinated; bottled water recommended.Cape Verde-wide
- TippingRestaurant: 5–10% if service is good.Cape Verde-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Cape Verde-wide
- SafetyGenerally safe for tourists, but watch steep mountain roads, keep valuables secure, and be cautious with night travel on unlit routes.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets everywhere tourists go; bring paper on hikes.Cape Verde-wide
- Emergency numbers132 police · 130 ambulance · 131 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysShops close for lunch (about 12:30–15:00) outside resorts; Sunday is quiet; Carnival closes offices.Shops close for lunch (about 12:30 PM–3:00 PM) outside resorts; Sunday is quiet; Carnival closes offices.Cape Verde-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportVXE Cesária Évora Airport (São Vicente) (Fly to São Vicente, then taxi to Mindelo harbour (15–30 min) and ferry to Porto Novo (1 h).
- Getting aroundCollective taxis (aluguers) are the cheapest, 400–500 CVE per ride to main towns; private "frete" taxis cost ~10× more.
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- VXE Cesária Évora Airport (São Vicente) (Fly to São Vicente, then taxi to Mindelo harbour (15–30 min) and ferry to Porto Novo (1 h). No airport on Santo Antão.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Feb
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Mar
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Apr
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
May
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jun
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jul
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Aug
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Sep
not flagged
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Oct
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Dec
Best
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
Best: Nov–Jun. Month by month →
Warmest Aug (27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)), coolest Jan (17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C) low), wettest Aug (4 rain days), driest Mar (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Santo Antão: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Feb
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
2 rd
Mar
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Apr
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
May
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
1 rd
Jun
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1 rd
Jul
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
2 rd
Aug
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Sep
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
4 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
3 rd
Nov
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Dec
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Collective taxis (aluguers) are the cheapest, 400–500 CVE per ride to main towns; private "frete" taxis cost ~10× more. Car rental €55 / day is possible but not needed for most hikes.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Tarrafal de Monte Trigo beach
goDoor to door: ≈1 h
Collective taxi from Porto Novo, ~700 CVE
Swimmable beach, good snorkeling most of the year.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Casa Cavoquinho
Ribeira do Paúl; dinner 1650 CVE per person.
Casa Xoxo
Ribeira de Torre; basic clean rooms.
Pousada Green Place
Coculi; pool, valley views, grilled grouper.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 150 CVE–250 CVE excl. bed
- Mid
- 250 CVE–400 CVE excl. bed
Trip budget
Prices of common things
| Ferry Porto Novo ↔ Mindeloper person, one way | 800 CVE |
| Collective taxi (aluguers) 10 kmper person | 100 CVE |
| Private taxi (frete) Porto Novo → Paúlper vehicle | ≈4 000 CVE |
| Car rentalcheck agency rates | ≈€55 / day |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Ferry times can change; check the schedule on the operator site before travel.
- No Wi‑Fi at ferry terminals; plan offline maps.
- Mountain roads are steep and windy; drive cautiously.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 132
- Ambulance
- 130
- Fire
- 131
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Santo AntãoSanto Antão
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Para este endereço, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police132
- Ambulance130
- Fire131
Embassy
US consulate in Praia; other embassies in Praia or Lisbon.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ferry Mindelo → Porto Novo: ≈800 CVE per person, 1 h
- Collective taxi Porto Novo → Paúl: ≈400 CVE per person
- Private taxi Porto Novo → Paúl: ≈4 000 CVE per vehicle
Say or show
- Desculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (des-ku-le)
- Obrigado — Thank you (ob-ree-ga-do)
- Quanto custa? — How much is it? (kwan-toh koos-tah)
- Onde está a balsa? — Where is the ferry? (on-deh es-tah a bal-sa)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Santo Antão. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Jun · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 2 bands
- 1 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Santo Antão
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