Cape Verde consists of several different islands, and not all of them are inhabited, however all of them offer breathtaking scenery. The island of Santo Antao is particularly good for sightseers, as it is the most northern island in the archipelago and is also one of the most rugged. It makes a great break for a couple of days from the livelier island of Sao Vicente, and while the ferry takes just under an hour from Mindelo, it could be a world away.
It is a collection of volcanic mountains which is ideal for keen hiker's as the peaks rise to more than 1,500 m in several places, and the very highest peak, Top de Coroa is an impressive 1,979 m high. The terrain here is perhaps some of the most beautiful in the world, as there are lush tropical green valleys and sheer mountainsides. One of the valleys is called Janela, and there are inscriptions on the ancient rock dating back to the 1400s which strongly suggest that the island was inhabited by a civilisation before the Portuguese arrived.
If you choose to visit this island you'll also enjoy a spectacular car journey over the spine of the island to the town of Ribeira Grande. The road is 26 km long and was built from volcanic stones lifted from the mountains and laid by hand. The mountains dominate the landscape either side of the road, and the road is lined with eucalyptus and pine forests.
Santo Antao is the second largest of the Cape Verdean islands, and has the third largest population with just over 47,000 people living here permanently. It may not have the exclusive resorts which attract so many people to these islands, but it does make a nice escape for a couple of days at least.
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