Santo Antão is a hiker’s paradise, with some of the best walking trails in Cabo Verde and a huge range of routes. If you don’t like hills, steep climbs and long descents, it probably isn’t for you. But if you enjoy walking, this is one of the islands you should not miss.

There is no airport on Santo Antão. In 1999, TACV Flight 5002 crashed into a mountain after abandoning its approach in poor visibility, rain and fog. All 18 people on board were killed. The airport later closed and has never reopened.

Today, getting to Santo Antão means taking the ferry between Mindelo on São Vicente and Porto Novo on Santo Antão. In Mindelo, ferries use the Gare Marítima in Porto Grande harbour.

Two companies operate the route: CV Interilhas and Nôs Ferry.

As of September 2026, CV Interilhas leaves Mindelo at 7:00am and 2:00pm, returning from Porto Novo at 9:00am and 4:00pm.

Nôs Ferry leaves Mindelo at 8:00am and 3:00pm, returning from Porto Novo at 10:00am and 5:00pm.

Schedules can change, particularly on Sundays, so always check the operators’ websites before travelling.

The crossing takes around an hour and tickets cost about 1,500 CVE for foreign visitors. Aim to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. The ferries generally leave on time and they will not wait for late passengers.

If you buy your ticket at the port, you will receive a printed ticket to show when boarding. Buy online and you will receive a QR code that can be shown on your phone (no need to go and print anything out in this case).

Both ferries carry cars and trucks. There is indoor and outdoor seating, with no allocated seats, so sit wherever you like. There are café and bar facilities on board selling coffee, drinks and light snacks. You can also get food and drinks at the ferry terminals before departure.

Of all the inter-island transport in Cabo Verde, this is one of the most reliable routes. If you want to include more than one island in your trip without building your whole itinerary around unreliable connections, São Vicente and Santo Antão work extremely well together.

If you are interested in joining us on a trip that includes Santo Antão, check out our Cape Verde tour. We visit four islands over the course of 11 days, opting to explore Cabo Verde away from the resorts and package holidays.