Ponta do Sol (Santo Antão)

Cape Verde, Cape Verde

One of Santo Antão's most charming towns and the starting point for several of its most famous hiking routes.

Places in Ponta do Sol (Santo Antão)

Ponta do Sol seafood restaurants Fresh seafood restaurants along the colourful waterfront, with traditional catchupa stew.
Ponta do Sol waterfront cafes Cafés overlooking the ocean, relaxing spots along the colourful waterfront.

Best time to visit: November to June (dry season) offers the best weather for both Sal's beaches and Santo Antão's hiking trails.
Getting around: Sal's Santa Maria town is walkable from many beachfront hotels for evening restaurants, bars, and dive centres, while Santo Antão requires a ferry or short flight and is best explored via Ponta do Sol's hiking trailheads.
Currency: Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE)
Language: Portuguese (official); Cape Verdean Creole is spoken daily.
Timezone: CVT (UTC-1)
Current trends: Cape Verde's tourism identity continues to split cleanly between Sal's all-inclusive beach-resort model, anchored by Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria's five restaurants and water park, and Santo Antão's rugged hiking-and-hospitality scene centred on Ponta do Sol, giving the archipelago two distinct travel experiences within the same island nation.

Santa Maria (Sal) — A 7km long beach up to 200m wide, with a landmark weigh-house at the old harbour quay surrounded by pastel-coloured houses.
Santo Antão interior valleys — Breathtaking valleys, deep gorges, and lush greenery, a paradise for nature lovers and hikers.