Hike Through Coffee Plantations and Tropical Bounty: Discover Vale do Paul

This moderate hike combines nature, culture, and flavor, making it a perfect adventure for trekking enthusiasts and curious explorers alike.

The Journey Begins

Your adventure starts in the picturesque interior of Vale do Paul, where the trail welcomes you with gentle slopes, winding paths, and a vibrant tapestry of tropical plants. The hike spans 9 kilometers over approximately 3 hours, with a manageable elevation change of 150 meters up and 350 meters down, making it accessible for hikers with moderate fitness levels.

A Feast for the Senses

As you walk through this verdant valley, you’ll be surrounded by an abundance of life. The region is a treasure trove of tropical crops, offering hikers a rare glimpse into the island’s agricultural richness.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

• Coffee Plantations: Witness how coffee is cultivated and discover the role it plays in the local economy and culture. The earthy aroma of coffee plants fills the air as you pass through these well-tended fields.
• Sugar Cane Fields: Stroll through expansive plantations of sugar cane, an essential crop used for the production of Cape Verdean grogue (a traditional sugarcane spirit).
• Tropical Fruits: Delight in the sight of fruit-laden trees offering papayas, bananas, mangoes, oranges, guavas, apples, avocados, passion fruit, and more. This hike provides a unique opportunity to encounter over 45 different fruit varieties.
• Vegetable Gardens: Along the trail, you’ll encounter fields growing yam, cassava, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, pumpkins, and other staples of the island’s cuisine.

Cultural and Agricultural Richness

The Vale do Brejo, a key part of this trail, is revered as the agricultural heart of Santo Antão. Walking through this valley, you’ll witness local farmers tending to their crops and experience the deeply rooted connection between the people and the land. These moments of interaction provide a window into traditional farming practices and the Cape Verdean way of life.