Cova de Paul
A farmed volcanic crater high on Santo Antao, the starting point for the walk down the Paul valley.
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Cova is an old crater about a kilometre across near the top of Santo Antão, its floor flat and farmed in small plots of maize, beans and sugar cane, with the rim rising all around and cloud usually pouring over one side of it. The cobbled road across the island passes the rim, and the classic walk on Santo Antão starts here: down through the crater wall and the whole length of the Paul valley to the sea.
What you actually see
- The crater floor - a flat bowl farmed in small plots inside the volcanic rim.
- The rim road - the cobbled route across the island passing above the crater.
- The Paul walk start - the descent into the valley beginning at the rim.
- The cloud spill - trade wind cloud pouring over the crater edge.
When to go
November to June is the dry season. Cloud sits on the rim most afternoons. The walk down is best started early.
Honest expectations
Cloud closes the crater view frequently. The rim is cold and windy compared with the coast. The cobbled road is slow and travel sickness on it is common.
Nearby
Vale do Paul is below, and Ribeira Grande is northeast.
What to pack for Cova de Paul
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.