Board the ferry from Mindelo to Santo Antão — Cape Verde's most spectacular island — and descend into the lush, mist-wrapped volcanic caldera of Cova de Paúl. Raw, dramatic, and unlike anywhere else on earth.
What to expect
The 35-minute ferry crossing from Porto Grande is itself a spectacle, with the jagged cliffs of Santo Antão rising from the Atlantic. A local guide meets you at Porto Novo and drives the vertiginous corniche road — one of the world's most theatrical drives — before you descend on foot into Cova de Paúl's crater garden, planted with banana, sugar cane, and papaya. Lunch is taken in a village house. You return to the ferry in time for a golden-hour crossing back to Mindelo.
Good to know
Full day — approximately 7 hours. Confirm the ferry schedule (approx. 35 min crossing) aligns with your port departure. Wear sturdy walking shoes; the crater descent is steep but rewarding. Pre-book the tour well in advance.