Santo Antao, Cape Verde

This is a rare opportunity to realise your dream development on one of Cabo Verde's truly unspoiled, green and tranquil islands: Santo Antão. With breathtaking views of the wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, this plot in the seaside town of Ponta do Sol is being sold at a very competitive price, with permission to build 3.5 storeys.

Whether you want to build a luxury villa, a residence of 6-8 apartments or a boutique hotel, all is possible here. Ponta do Sol boasts 12 properties offering holiday accommodation in a town of just 2-2,500 residents, including 4 hotels. Many new builds are going up due to Santo Antão's adventure and ecotourism boom. Ponta do Sol is popular as it has a beach, lots of sun as well as easy access to the deep valleys inland.

The terrain slopes from a finished cobbled road down to a currently well-worn dirt track, with electricity wired to within 50m of the property. With the dramatic escarpments of the island's mountains as a backdrop and a view of the whole town below, this plot offers a 180° view of the ocean that should be forever, all due to the slope.

As can be seen from neighbouring properties, with the vertical distance between this and the plot below and permission for 3.5 storeys, you should always be able to see over the top of whatever goes up on the lower slopes. This is the last line of development of the town before it gives way to the towering peaks, which give excellent protection from most of the winds.

Neighbouring properties show what can be done here. The island has access to high- quality contractors and materials, along with low labour costs.

Location:
-Northernmost town on Santo Antão
-20km from the capital and ferry port of Porto Novo
-4km from Ribeiro Grande: the county town and gateway to the spectacular valley of Ribeiro ---- Grande de Torres
-25 minutes by car from the heart of the Paul Valley
-Accessed by the 2009 built coastal road, in excellent condition

Santo Antão is the second largest and westernmost Cabo Verde island, and arguably the most beautiful. Accessed via ferry from Sao Vicente, its forbidding exterior of dramatic cliffs hides hidden valleys full of lush green vegetation, rivers and peaks soaring from sea level to 1,979 metres.

While the beach islands of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio are sandy and dry, Santo Antão is rich in flora and fauna, and has ample fresh water in the mountains. Small wonder it is so popular with those who want a holiday of hiking, mountaineering and fresh air, being able to swim in stream-fed pools on the hillsides, or in the natural swimming pools of Sinagoga, just 8.5km from this plot.