There are no resorts on Santo Antão. Accommodation means guesthouses, small hotels and a handful of eco-lodges, and where you stay matters more than on most islands: the roads are slow and winding, most walks are one-way, and the green valleys are on the opposite side of the island from the ferry port. Choose your base by the walks you want to do.
Santo Antão bases compared
| Base | Best for | Walks from the door | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponta do Sol | First visit, restaurants, comfort | Coastal path to Fontainhas and Cruzinha | Transfers to the Paul Valley and Cova |
| Paul Valley | Hikers, nature, quiet | Cova crater loop and the valley descent | Few restaurants; steep access paths |
| Ribeira Grande | Practicality, budget, transport | Three Valleys loop from Coculi | Less scenic, busier town |
| Porto Novo | Early or late ferries | None of the classic routes | Dry south side, far from the valleys |
Ponta do Sol: the prettiest base
Ponta do Sol at the northern tip is where most first-time visitors should sleep. It is a small, bright town on a lava headland, with pastel houses, a seafront where people gather in the evening and the island's widest choice of guesthouses and restaurants. After a long walk, that matters: you can pick where to eat rather than taking what your guesthouse cooks.
Places to stay in Ponta do Sol
An interactive map of guesthouses and apartments in town, with live prices from booking sites.
Map by our partner Stay22. Booking through it may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
The coastal path to Fontainhas and Cruzinha starts at the edge of town, and Ribeira Grande, with its shops and aluguer connections, is a short ride away. The downside is distance to the Paul Valley and the Cova crater, which means a transfer for the island's best-known hike.
Choose it if: this is your first time on the island, you want a mix of walking and relaxing, or you like having restaurants within walking distance. More in our Ponta do Sol guide.
The Paul Valley: for hikers and nature
Staying in the Paul Valley puts you among the sugar cane, mango trees and grogue distilleries, and lets you start walking straight from the door. There are two quite different options.
Vila das Pombas, at the mouth of the valley on the coast, has a few small shops and places to eat and is easy to reach by aluguer. The hamlets higher up the valley are quieter and more scenic, and the Cova crater and Paul Valley loop starts there. Some guesthouses in the upper valley are reached on foot up steep paths, so ask about access if you have heavy luggage.
Places to stay in the Paul Valley
An interactive map of guesthouses in Vila das Pombas and up the valley, with live prices from booking sites.
Map by our partner Stay22. Booking through it may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
Accommodation is simple and often family-run. Dinner is usually cooked at home and shared, and it is frequently the best food of the trip. In the evenings there is very little else to do, which is exactly why people come.
Choose it if: walking is the main reason you are here, or you want quiet above everything else. See also the Paul Valley guide.
Ribeira Grande: the practical choice
Ribeira Grande is the island's main northern town: central, well connected by aluguer and with shops and ATMs. It is less attractive than Ponta do Sol and busier, but it works well for travellers on a budget or anyone who wants to reach several parts of the island by public transport. The easy Three Valleys loop from Coculi starts a short ride up the valley.
Choose it if: you are travelling on public transport, want to keep costs down, or value convenience over views. More in our Ribeira Grande guide.
Porto Novo: only for the ferry
Porto Novo is the ferry port on the dry south side. It has guesthouses and restaurants and is useful if you arrive on a late boat or leave on the first one, but it is far from the valleys and from every classic walk. One night at most. See our Porto Novo guide.
The west: Tarrafal de Monte Trigo
For complete remoteness, Tarrafal de Monte Trigo on the west coast is a small village with a black-sand beach at the end of a long mountain road. It suits travellers who want to stop for several days rather than hike every day; getting there and back takes a good part of a day in itself.
How to split your stay
- 3 nights: all three in Ponta do Sol, with one transfer day for the Cova crater and Paul Valley.
- 5 nights: three in Ponta do Sol, then two in the Paul Valley. This avoids backtracking and lets you walk the Cova loop from the door.
- 7 nights: three in Ponta do Sol, three in the Paul Valley, and one in Porto Novo or Ribeira Grande to suit your ferry.
For a day-by-day plan, see how many days on Santo Antão.
Guided hikes and day tours on Santo Antão
Prices, times and availability are shown on GetYourGuide. Many tours offer free cancellation.
Guided hikes on Santo Antão
- Day hikes with local guides
- Two-day tours including the ferry
- Pick-up available
Santo Antão full day: crater and valley
- Drive up to the Cova crater
- Hike down the Paul Valley, or take the old road
- Guided, with ferry from São Vicente
Santo Antão day trip with lunch
- Ferry from Mindelo, then 4x4 or minibus
- Cova crater and the Paul Valley
- Short hike and a Cape Verdean lunch
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What accommodation on Santo Antão is like
- Small and personal. Many places have only a handful of rooms, run by the owners.
- Dinner is often included or offered. Especially in the valleys, where there may be nowhere else to eat nearby.
- Simple comfort. Hot water and wi-fi can be intermittent, and mountain villages have occasional power cuts.
- Cash. Check how you can pay before you arrive; many places do not take cards, and ATMs are limited.
- Transport help. Most hosts can arrange a driver from the ferry or for one-way walks. Ask when you book.
Planning the rest of Cape Verde? See where to stay in Cape Verde, island by island.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay on Santo Antão?
Ponta do Sol for scenery, restaurants and comfort; the Paul Valley for hiking and nature; Ribeira Grande for practicality; Porto Novo only for an early ferry.
Are there hotels on Santo Antão?
There are small hotels, guesthouses and a few eco-lodges, but no resorts. Standards are simple but often homely, with excellent home cooking.
Should I stay in Ponta do Sol or the Paul Valley?
If you can, do both: two or three nights in Ponta do Sol for the coastal path and a choice of restaurants, then two nights in the Paul Valley to walk from the door. If you only have one base, choose Ponta do Sol for convenience or the Paul Valley for scenery.
Is it worth staying in Porto Novo?
Only if you are catching an early ferry or arrive late. The town is on the dry south side, far from the valleys and trailheads.
Do you need to book accommodation on Santo Antão in advance?
In the busier winter months, yes, especially in Ponta do Sol and for the best-known valley guesthouses, which have only a few rooms. Outside that period you have more flexibility, but booking the first night is still sensible because you arrive on a fixed ferry.