Ponta do Sol

Located on a peninsula on Santo Antao is the attractive town of Ponta do Sol (approximately 2100 inhabitants). As the name of the town suggests, the sun shines more than average here than elsewhere on the island. Ponta do Sol is located in the far north of Santo Antao and away from the mountains. So more space for the sun. 

Ponta do Sol is one of the oldest settlements in the southern Cape Verde islands. The center of the town has a beautiful square with an impressively renovated town hall (1882) painted yellow. In the main square is a beautiful church with a free-standing bell tower, there are several beautifully colored houses and there are also a few good restaurants in the area. The streets around the small center are paved. You can stroll around in the old streets. In addition to beautiful old buildings, you would also see the football stadium and the cemetery. At the side of the sea there is a flat area. This was an old (unfinished) aircraft runway.

If you walk down the cobbled streets from the central main square you will come to a small fishing port. Since the establishment of the port at Porto Novo, the port of Ponta do Sol has only been used by local fishermen. Every day the fishermen go out to sea with colorful boats. When they return, everyone helps to get the boats out of the water and to weigh and clean the catch of the day.

Partly due to the charm and central location of Ponta do Sol, it is also increasingly popular for tourists and residents who have a second home (emigrants). In the hills around Ponto do Sol you therefore see many (concrete) buildings that are still under construction. In high season that runs from September to April, the hotels can easily be fully booked. Its the same with  restaurants. Reservations are recommended. Many hiking tourists also visit Ponto do Sol during a walk to Fontainhas, Formiguinhas and Cha de Irgreja.