Pico da Cruz

Pico da Cruz stands at around fifteen hundred metres on the high plateau of Santo Antão, in an area planted with pine and cypress during the twentieth century to hold the soil and catch moisture from the cloud. The viewpoints along the plateau edge look down into the Paul and Janela valleys, thousands of feet below and often filled with cloud, and walking routes descend from here into both.

What you actually see

• The plateau viewpoints - drops into the Paul and Janela valleys below.
• The pine plantations - the trees planted to hold soil and catch cloud moisture.
• The cloud sea - the trade wind cloud filling the valleys below the rim.
• The descent routes - walking paths dropping into the valleys.

When to go

November to June is the dry season. Cloud on the plateau is frequent and closes the views. It is cold up here compared with the coast.

Honest expectations

Cloud sits on the plateau much of the time and the views are often absent entirely. The roads up are rough. There are no facilities.

Nearby

Cova de Paul is southeast, and Ribeira Grande is north.