From Orgaos to Orgaos via Pico Antonia, Monte Tchota and Rui Vaz

This varied hike leads to Pico Antonia, the highest point on Santiago, offering panoramic views of the island as well as its neighbour Fogo and its volcano, all while passing over ridges with breathtaking views of the Ribeira de Gouvada valley.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 19.38 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 10h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Very difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,642 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,642 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,293 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 237 m

Description of the walk

Departure from Casa Nayeli. On the Praia - Assomada - Tarrafal road, just after the intersection that leads to the village of Sao Jorge de Orgaos, cross the bridge over the Ribeira Gouvada and you will find Casa Nayeli.

Turn left a few dozen metres after Casa Nayeli. Follow the paved road that leads to Sao Jorge de Orgaos through the houses and join the path (waypoint 1) that climbs gently up the ridge between the two valleys and offers a view of Pico Antonia straight ahead.

Initially a wide path, it becomes a narrow trail after a good kilometre, passing a few small farms and their crops, then at the foot of Pico it joins the STC6 trail, marked in white/green (waypoint 2).

The climb becomes steeper and leads you to a rocky section about 50 metres high, where the trail winds its way up to 'Riba Achada' (waypoint 3).

Descend to the right onto the STC2 trail, which leads straight to the summit. Please note that the STC2 and STC14 overlap here for about 500 metres, so you will need to turn right at this point.

After this intersection, there are a few hundred metres of almost flat ground, and then you will find yourself facing the last 400 metres of fairly steep ascent to Pico Antonia.

Note that there are two peaks. To climb to the highest of the two, after the white Christian cross erected there, the path is very steep and considered very dangerous. (For your information, local guides refuse to climb it).

To continue, you will need to descend (it is a little slippery, with stones rolling underfoot) and return to crossing point 3.

Instead of going back down the cliff, turn right onto the STC2, which winds through the forest and climbs towards 'Monte Tchota' with its distinctive antennas. After a viewpoint over the valley, you will find a few buildings at the foot of the antennas, guarded by soldiers. Go around the buildings and turn left to join a paved road that descends for about a kilometre to waypoint 4, an intersection with a sign pointing to 'Rui Vaz par Miradouro' on the left. Take a path that runs along the edge of the ridge and offers breathtaking views of the valley down to the village of Rui Vaz.

Continue straight on until you reach the edge of the village, where you will find a sign indicating the path downhill back to Sao Jorge de Orgaos (waypoint 5).

Once you reach the village, at the bottom of the village, cross the river to the left and you will find the road you took at the start of the route, which will take you back to 'Casa Nayeli'.

It is easy to find transport from here to anywhere on the island.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 269 m - Casa Nayeli, Ribeira Gouvada hostel
  2. 1 : km 1.23 - alt. 288 m - Trail start
  3. 2 : km 4.37 - alt. 682 m - Junction with marked trail STC6.
  4. 3 : km 5.82 - alt. 966 m - Riba Achada junction trails STC14/2
  5. 4 : km 7.7 - alt. 1,291 m - First summit
  6. 5 : km 12.45 - alt. 929 m - Rui Vaz Trail via Miradouro
  7. 6 : km 15.35 - alt. 775 m - Trail down to Sao Jorge de Orgaos
  8. S/E : km 19.38 - alt. 269 m - Casa Nayeli, banks of the Ribeira Gouvada

Notes

Bring enough water and good shoes.

The summit of Pico Antonia can be windy and wet.

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The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.