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- Destinations
- Africa
- Cape Verde
- Santo Antao
Santo Antao
The island of Santo Antao is divided dramatically in two by a
mountain range with peaks rearing up to 4,921ft (1,500m), making it
attractive for trekking, particularly through the tropical
vegetation of the deep green valleys which encase the 16th-century
town of Povoacao. Hiking is the most popular activity for tourists
on Santo Antao, and the sparse development ensures a great
experience of nature.
A walk around the small town of Ponta do Sol is recommended to
enjoy the vista of some old colonial buildings, and the main site
of historic interest is a mysterious inscribed rock near Janela
dating from the 1400s, when the islands were believed to be
uninhabited and undiscovered.
In contrast to the mountainous interior, the island's coast is
rugged and bare, but sugar cane, bananas and coffee are grown by
the locals. Sugar cane is the raw material for the famed Cape Verde
rum, called 'grogue', which is produced here and enjoyed by
visitors and locals alike.
Visitors can reach Santo Antao by ferry from the port of Mindelo
on the more populated island of Sao Vicente, arriving at Santo
Antao's small port of Porto Novo.
Information & Facts
Language
The official language is Portuguese and a patois known as
Crioulo.
Money
The unit of currency is the Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE), broken
down into 100 centavos. As this is a local currency it cannot be
obtained before arrival and cannot be reconverted outside of Cape
Verde. There is a bureau de change at the airport, and local banks
will change travellers cheques and foreign currency, although there
is a high commission on travellers cheques. ATMs can be found at
the airport and in Sal, Praia and Sâo Vincent. Major credit cards,
particularly MasterCard and Visa are currently accepted in a few
main resort hotels and restaurants. Banks will give cash on credit
cards but commissions are high.
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