Explore Cape Verde

Car rental in Porto Novo, Santo Antão

Porto Novo is the gateway to Santo Antao. The town spreads around the harbour where the ferry from Mindelo docks (about 50 minutes' crossing, several daily sailings). The rental car is collected here, usually with delivery timed to the ferry arrival. The town itself has a central square, a few restaurants and bakeries, but most visitors do not stay overnight — they head straight on to the Paul valley or to Ribeira Grande. Two roads lead north from Porto Novo to the greener side of the island: the old cobbled road that climbs to Cova de Paul (a volcanic crater at 1,170 m, with spectacular views but very tight curves) and the new tarmac coast road on the south side, faster and safer. For the Cova route and rural tracks an SUV is recommended; for the new road a standard car is fine.