Sal

Why visit Sal

Sal (Portuguese for “salt”) is the island most people picture when they think of a Cape Verde holiday: flat, dry, reliably sunny and ringed by white-sand beaches. It has the country’s busiest international airport and the widest choice of resorts, so it is the easiest island to book and the simplest to reach. What it isn’t is green or mountainous — this is a desert island built around the beach at Santa Maria.

Top things to do

• Santa Maria beach — the long white strand at the island’s southern tip, with calm swimming areas, beach bars and watersports on tap.
• Kitesurfing and windsurfing — Sal is one of the Atlantic’s best spots, especially from January to March. Kite Beach draws pros and beginners alike.
• Pedra de Lume salt crater — float in the salt lake inside an old volcanic crater, the source of the island’s name and salt trade.
• Buracona and the “Blue Eye” — a natural rock pool that glows blue when the midday sun hits it.
• Turtle and marine trips — in season (roughly June–October) you can join responsible turtle experiences; boat trips run year-round.

Where to stay

• Santa Maria — the main resort town: all-inclusive hotels along the beach, plus restaurants, bars and shops within walking distance. Best for first-timers.
• Espargos — the island’s real town near the airport, cheaper and more local, but away from the beach.

Getting there and around

Sal’s Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) near Espargos receives direct flights from several European cities. The island is small and flat, so getting around is easy: metered taxis, shared aluguer minibuses, or hire a car for a day to reach Pedra de Lume and Buracona.

Who should skip Sal

If you came for lush scenery, serious hiking or deep cultural immersion, Sal will disappoint — head for Santo Antão or São Vicente instead. Deciding between the two big beach islands? See Sal or Boa Vista?.