SECRETS OF THE SUMMITS
THE MOUNTAINS OF SANTO ANTÃO
Pico da Cruz • Cova Crater • Espongeiro • Lagoa
Starting from Porto Novo, head into the mountains and discover another side of Santo Antão: its mountain ridges, volcanic crater, forests and high plateaus.
The climb first takes you to Lombo de Figueira, the first mountain village along the route, located just below the Cova crater. From here, the road continues its ascent towards the island's highlands.
Before reaching Cova, your first detour takes you towards Pico da Cruz. A spectacular narrow road winds through the mountains, following the ridge that separates Porto Novo from the Paul Valley.
Here, the change of scenery is striking. As you gain altitude, completely different vegetation begins to appear: pine trees, eucalyptus and other mountain trees gradually surround the road. Entering the forest, the cooler air, tall trees and unexpected greenery almost make you feel as though you have left Cape Verde for a moment. This area is also home to a remarkable pine forest, described by UNESCO as the largest on the Sahelian coast.
Between forests and panoramic views, the road continues along the ridge to the small village of Pico da Cruz, at the end of this section of the journey.
The return follows the same road, but in these mountains, changing direction also means changing scenery. The mountains, valleys and views reveal themselves from a completely different angle, almost giving you the impression of travelling along a new road.
Back at Cova, don't just admire the crater from above: this time, descend inside the crater for a truly immersive experience in this volcanic landscape, now occupied by cultivated fields. After climbing back up, enjoy the famous viewpoint offering spectacular views over Cova.
The journey then continues towards Espongeiro, where you leave the Corda road and head deeper into the mountains. The route reaches the high plateaus of Santo Antão and continues to Lagoa, the last village in this section of the tour.
After Lagoa, return along the same road to Espongeiro. Once again, travelling in the opposite direction reveals new perspectives of the plateaus, valleys and mountains.
But the adventure is not over yet. From Espongeiro, continue a short distance along the Corda road to discover a discreet, almost hidden spot that could easily be missed by simply following the main road. A little further on, another viewpoint offers a magnificent panorama before turning back.
From Cova, via Lombo de Figueira, the long descent towards Porto Novo begins. And it is precisely on the way back that this road reveals one of its most beautiful surprises.
While these panoramic views remain largely behind you during the ascent, the descent gradually opens up views of the ocean and the island of São Vicente. From the highlands, São Vicente appears on the horizon and accompanies much of the descent towards Porto Novo.
Mountain ridge roads, forests, volcanic crater, high plateaus, villages, hidden places and ocean panoramas: a day discovering the secrets of Santo Antão's highlands.
And proof that here, just a few kilometres can be enough to completely change the scenery — and travelling the same road in the opposite direction can make you feel as though you are discovering it for the second time.
The Little Secret of the Highlands
On old maps, mountains were sometimes depicted as mysterious territories, where no one really knew what awaited them.
On Santo Antão, there's no need to invent legends: a hidden mountain road, an unexpected forest or a change of direction can reveal an entirely different world.
What if the true treasure of these mountains was precisely what you never expected to find?
— Captain Thalyna
ITINERARY
Porto Novo → Lombo de Figueira → Pico da Cruz → Cova → Espongeiro → Lagoa → Espongeiro → Corda Road & viewpoints → Porto Novo
SECRETS OF THE SUMMITS – INFORMATION
🚙 Private tour with driver-guide
🕒 Full-day excursion
👥 Vehicles for up to 4, 7 or 16 passengers,
subject to availability and authorised capacity
💶 €120 per vehicle
Booking deposit: €10, fully deducted from the tour price.
This deposit is payable after confirmation of the driver-guide's availability.
If the customer cancels, the €10 deposit is non-refundable. If we are unable to provide the tour, the deposit will be refunded in full.
The remaining balance of €110 is paid directly to the driver-guide on the day of the tour.
No additional booking fees.
For departure times, drop-off arrangements and other practical information, please visit our Tours & Adventures page.