Fontainhas

Fontainhas is a handful of houses stacked on a narrow spur between two ravines above the sea on Santo Antão's northern coast, with terraces of cane and vegetables clinging to the slopes around them, and it appears in almost every photograph of the island because of how improbably it is placed. The old coastal path from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha passes through it, and walking that path is how most people arrive.

What you'll find

• The ridge village - houses stacked on a narrow spur between two ravines.
• The terraces - cane and vegetables worked on the surrounding slopes.
• The coastal path - the old route from Ponta do Sol along the cliffs.
• The setting - the village seen from the path approaching it.

When to go

November to June is the dry season for the coastal walk. Mornings give the best light on the village. The path is exposed and hot by midday.

Good to know

The coastal path has exposed sections above long drops and is not for anyone uneasy with heights. The village is tiny with almost no facilities. Residents live here and it is not a viewpoint.

Nearby

Ponta do Sol is east, and Cruzinha is west along the path.