Santo Antão trek to Cova Crater and Paúl Valley with local guide

Climb to a volcano crater and walk down into the island's most fertile valley

A 5-kilometer trek on Santo Antão that starts with hotel pickup and climbs the Old Mountain Road to the rim of Cova Crater volcano, then descends into Paúl Valley to pass through farming villages, visit a grogue distillery, and return along the coastal road. The route is popular because it shows the island's geography and daily life in one morning, with a professional local guide who speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Trek Cova Crater and Paul Valley

• Pick up by local guide in morning
• Travel along Old Mountain Road
• Arrive at Cova de Paul Volcano Crater
• Hike through Cova de Paul crater
• Visit local rum distillery
• Pass through Paul village and culture
• Lunch at traditional restaurant
• Return to Porto Novo via coastal road

The experience

The walk runs about three hours of actual hiking, though the full outing takes six hours with pickup, the distillery stop, and the drive back. You start in the morning from your hotel in Porto Novo and travel inland along the Old Mountain Road, climbing toward the crater rim. The air clears as you gain elevation, and the Paúl Valley opens below you: a patchwork of small plots and traditional farming that has sustained families for generations. From the top of Cova Crater, the scale of the valley becomes clear: you can see the villages, smell the vegetation, and hear the sounds of the communities working below.

The descent takes you into the valley itself, walking through the villages where farmers, families and animals all have a role in keeping the place alive. You'll stop at a traditional grogue distillery to see how the local rum is made, then pass through the village of Paúl itself, where the farming lifestyle is visible in every detail. Lunch at a traditional restaurant in the valley is on your own (typically 10 to 20 euros, cash only, bring euros or escudos), but it gives you time to sit with the place and the people. The return journey follows the new coastal road back to Porto Novo, passing through mountain tunnels and colorful villages. If you're dropped elsewhere, you'll miss this final stretch.

Your guide is a local who knows the island and its traditions, and the trek is designed for people with moderate fitness who are comfortable hiking on uneven terrain. The route is popular because it covers so much (geography, culture, agriculture, and the island's character) without requiring technical climbing or special equipment.

What’s included

• Professional local guide fluent in English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
• private transportation with hotel pickup and return to Porto Novo.
• entrance to the grogue distillery.
• liability insurance.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 08:00Last departure this season: 12 Nov

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Green Line Tours Cabo Verde

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from Porto Novo means you don't need a car or local knowledge to reach the trailhead. The guide handles the drive and the route, so you can focus on the walk and the valley itself.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the actual hiking on this trek?

The walk itself is about three hours, though the full day from pickup to drop-off is six hours. The pace depends on your fitness and how long you spend in the villages and at the distillery.

What is Cova Crater and what will I see from the top?

Cova Crater is an ancient volcano on Santo Antão. From the rim, you look down into the Paúl Valley: a lush green expanse of small farms and villages that has been home to families for generations. On a clear day, the views stretch across the entire valley floor.

Do I need to bring lunch or is it provided?

Lunch is at a traditional restaurant in Paúl village and is your own cost, typically 10 to 20 euros. Bring cash in euros or escudos, as cards may not be accepted in the valley.

Is this trek suitable for someone who has never hiked before?

The trek requires at least moderate fitness and comfort with hiking on uneven mountain terrain. It's not recommended for travelers unaccustomed to trekking, those with spinal injuries, or anyone afraid of heights, as parts of the route are steep and exposed.