SAO ANTAO The landscape of Santo Antao is the most spectacular of all of the Cape Verde Islands, the second largest island: with its 43 km lenght and 23 km wide. The main pick Tope de Coroa reaches 1979 mt of hight. This island is the best place for people loving nature: there are 30 types of endemic plants. Thanks to its territory carachterized by mountains with very high picks, it is the perfect place for trekking and mountain biking.         The territory is departed into two very different areas: the west side caractherized by desert, rock and is almost uninhabitated, the north-east side is a charming reach area, with its craters, golden cultivated fields, with banana, papaya, green valleys and deep canyons. The first contact on the island is with the small port town of Porto Novo. Vila de Ribeira Grande, usually known as Povoacao was founded in the 16th century. The town serves as a base for visitors to the island to go out walking and trekking to explore the two deep green valleys which flank Povoacao.         Located close to Janela is a large rock of historical interest: the inscriptions on this rock are significant, dating back to the 1400’s, and question whether the Portuguese actually discovered the Cape Verde Islands. Vila de Ribeira Brava, the capital town of the island, is located in a deep valley with an empty river bed flanked by two mountain ranges. The harbour town of Tarrafal is located next to the black sanded beach. The bay of Tarrafal is rich in high quality fish, sustenance for the islanders. From the village of Tarrafal local men will take you fishing. Dolphins can sometimes trail the vessels, especially in October.