In the heart of a fishing village

On the island of Santo Antao, the most beautiful of the Cape Verde islands, far from the large international resorts and tourist developments, the house is particularly well located since it is at the start or end (depending on the direction of the hike) of the magnificent and unmissable coastal path that goes from Ponta do Sol to Cruzinha, a small fishing village of 250 inhabitants. I advise leaving Cruzinha with the morning aluguers to Ponta do Sol, and walking to the house. The space Partly renovated in the local style, partly of more recent construction, the house with simple comfort is located in the heart of the village with sea views from the terrace and the upstairs bedrooms. Just behind the house, the kindergarten and in the distance, the mountains that raise their sharp peaks towards the sky. In the morning, through the bedroom door that remained open to the open sea, we hear the songs of the roosters and the laughter of the schoolchildren. It's a real pleasure to have breakfast in the dining room open to the patio before going for a swim at the port or on the deserted beach when the sea is calm. On the way back, the living room offers us a beneficial freshness. We settle in comfortably to read unless we prefer the deckchairs on the terrace from where we watch the fishermen return. To fully understand the spirit, I would like to transcribe here the comment of Lucie who came from Canada in 2019. She says: " Odile's house is perfect for someone who wants to discover Cape Verde. It is far from the party nerve center that is Praia. It is located in a small village and getting there may seem like an insurmountable challenge for someone (like us) who knows nothing about the country, or even Africa. But it will certainly be the adventure of a lifetime! And you will be rewarded with a dream stay in a village with people who are more welcoming than the others. The amenities are excellent (we must forget North American or European standards, it would be a serious injustice) and comfort is assured. There were 5 of us and we had plenty of space to either be together or be alone. The outdoor kitchen is awesome. The sea breeze refreshes the place. The kitchen is well equipped enough to make simple meals (the grocery stores in the villages have basic food, plan to bring some from the larger cities)." I insist on this because some guests are sometimes disappointed not to find "Western" comfort. I would like to point out that it is a choice on our part not to bring products (furniture, dishes...) from Europe but to buy from local shops, even if the objects may sometimes seem a little rustic. Guest access Our house has kept the typical layout of the small farms of the last century, augmented by a recent body of buildings. The living room was formerly the room where the whole family was sheltered. The mezzanine was used to sleep the children or to store the corn and bean crops. Sometimes both. The small room on the ground floor and the current bathroom were originally stables. They were connected to the living room by a quintal (a kind of uncovered corridor). At the exit of the quintal, which is now covered, there is a large stone that was originally used as a grain mill. Opposite, the open dining room and the kitchenette (the ground floor was completely renovated in early 2025) and on the left the external staircase leading to the terrace that overlooks the recent part of the house: a master suite consisting of a bedroom with double bed, shower, sink, toilet and a bedroom with two single beds. We are in Africa and the water is never cold, however we have installed water heaters in each of the showers. On the roof terrace, a bedroom of 11 m2 opens onto a large balcony above the ocean. Other things to note We don't rent for less than three days. Please don't hesitate to contact Gabi and Véronique if you have any questions about your stay or travel. They are our eyes and ears with you. For your information, the aluguers (collectivos) leave every morning around 6:30 a.m. from Cruzinha to reach Ribeira-Grande and then all the destinations of the island. They run every day except Sunday. To reach Cruzinha from the Porto-Novo ferry station, be aware that there are no (or rarely) collectivos in the afternoon. There is no Internet at the house. To stay connected during your stay, you can buy a cvmovel sim card (alou) at the airport, in the cvmovel agencies of the cities or in Cruzinha from Laurindo who runs a small grocery store behind the house right next to the Jardim Infantil. 1000 Cve (€9) for 7000 Mb valid for one month for example; the connection is very good. I would like to point out that we are in Africa and, as everywhere in Africa, you can come across a cockroach. These critters can be a little disgusting, but are totally harmless. We made the choice not to destroy them with insecticide, believing that the latter was much more harmful than the former.