“High on a mountain top where the rest of the world's like a little bitty spot”, Loretta Lynn sang in “High On a Mountain Top”. 

Pico da Cruz Peak on the second-largest island of the small country of Cape Verde perfectly illustrates her words. Santo Antão is the most picturesque mountain on the Cape Verde Islands, and its highest point is considered to be one of the tourist attractions. It is very popular among ecotourists and mountain recreation enthusiasts.

The top of Pico da Cruz, which name in Portuguese means “a top of the cross”, has a height of 1814 meters and attracts thousands of artists, photographers, and travelers from around the world. Every year, those who are tired of concrete jungle and miss the natural landscapes, fresh mountain air, eucalypt and pine groves, the sound of waves, and salty winds of the Atlantic Ocean come to the island. Santo Antão is known as the island of mountains and wind, but everyone who wins its tops calls it by their own names. For some people, it is a place of volcanoes and black rocks, for others – a place of sandy beaches and the warm ocean, but someone will remember its endless flower valleys in the mountain gorges.

You can go up the green hills to the top of Pico da Cruz either by walking or by mountain bicycles. Just do not forget to stop and enjoy the wind and the incredible views of exotic landscapes of the island. There are several ways to get to the top of the mountain: well-researched routes and pristine paths, but in any case, do not underestimate all the difficulties of climbing to its peak. Spikes of rocky mountains and gusty cold wind can become an obstacle even for experienced tourists. However, if you didn’t forget to take warm clothes and were lucky to choose an experienced guide, your travel photo album would be full of new colorful photos, and your adventures will always be remembered.