Island of Sal

Tourism to the Cape Verde Islands started on Sal. It is named after the salt that was once extracted from it’s  salt pans and shipped around the world.

The island is 30 km (18 1/2 miles) long and 12 km (7 1/2 miles) at its widest point.

It is the most visited of all the Cape Verde Islands with good reason. Here you can surf, dive, windsurf and swim, as well as sunbathe, and take advantage of the 5 mile long white sandy shore of Santa Maria.

Santa Maria das Dores

Santa Maria is the main resort on Sal and is home to some of the best hotels in Cape Verde.

Santa Maria is about a 20 minute drive, south from the airport.

A visit to the wooden jetty on the beach around midday will meet the local fishermen landing their catch of tuna, wahoo, and garouba. The fish are taken straight off the jetty direct to the local restaurants and hotels.

Activities in Santa Maria are numerous - but given the expanse of beach it is no surprise that watersports are extremely popular including windsurfing, diving and kite surfing.

Boats are available for hire for fishing trips, but if you don’t have any sea legs, quad biking in the sand dunes might appeal?

Pedra de Lume

Pedra de Lume is the home of the salt pans and they are well worth a visit. The salt pans are formed in the base of a vast crater from an extinct volcano.

They are reached through a tunnel which was dug out by slaves and the salt pans are divided by stone walls and really are a fantastic site.

Espargos

The majority of residents on the island of Sal live in Espargos. You should take the time to visit because it is Sal’s only real town but it gives you a chance to glimpse daily life - Cape Verde style.

Espargos takes its name from a small wild asparagus plant that grows in the sandy soil.

Palmeira

Palmeira is the island’s port and as everything has to be imported it is often busy with ships.

Buracona

Buracona is on the north-west coast of the island where a natural pool has developed in the volcanic rock. Buracona means “big hole”.

The “Blue Eye”, which is a deep pool, provides a spectacular show of sunlight when the sun hit the right spot.

On leaving follow the  gravel tracks in land and keeping Monte Leste, the rocky highpoint on the left, stop before you reach Espargos and look back to see the Terra Boa mirage - an ocean in the sands.