Pico da Cruz – Ribeira de Penede

Border crossing: altitude and weather divide Due to its altitude and geographical orientation, trade wind clouds accumulate on the north-eastern mountain range of the island of Santo Antão. On the south-facing, dust-dry eroded slopes, there is sunshine on 350 days. On the northern mountain slopes there is a cloud forest with conifers, lichen on the trees and ferns - a natural spectacle of a special kind. We hike downhill along this borderline between stark contrasts, alternating between damp and dry, cool and hot. Emotions run high as we hike along an exposed ridge in places. On closer inspection, you can already see the descent route: a caminho that descends in hairpin bends into the Ribeira da Penede. Depending on the weather, we break through the cloud cover. Then it"s a spectacular, almost low-flying descent down a perfectly preserved caminho. One of the most extraordinary routes on Santo Antão!