Ponta do Sol
A small town at the northern tip of Santo Antao, with a disused airstrip and a cobbled colonial centre.
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Ponta do Sol sits at the northern point of Santo Antão, a compact town of cobbled streets and painted colonial buildings around a square, with the sea breaking hard on the rocks below and a disused airstrip laid out on the flat ground beside it, closed because the wind made landings too dangerous. It is the end of the road on this coast and the start of the coastal footpath east towards Fontainhas.
What you actually see
- The cobbled centre - painted colonial buildings around the main square.
- The disused airstrip - the runway closed because of the wind.
- The rocky shore - the sea breaking below the town.
- The coastal path - the walking route east towards Fontainhas.
When to go
November to June is the dry season. The town is cooler and windier than the valleys inland. Ferries to Santo Antão can be rough.
Honest expectations
There is no beach and swimming is dangerous on this coast. Getting to Santo Antão means a ferry from Mindelo that is often rough. Facilities are modest.
Nearby
Fontainhas is east, and Ribeira Grande is south.
What to pack for Ponta do Sol
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.