Sal Cape Verde - Discover Cape Verde

About Sal, Cape Verde

Sal Cape Verde (Sal is ‘salt’ in Portuguese) probably has the most developed tourism offer of all the Cape Verde islands. It is one of the 10 islands that make up the archipelago. Sal (Ilha do Sal) is the main tourist island in Cape Verde and the most popular of the islands with tourists. The island caters for all kinds of holidaymakers and visitors of all age groups love the island. Whilst beaches and water sports are a great attraction, there is also the culture, the history and the enjoyment of the many cafes, bars and restaurants. Eating out is relatively cheap compared with much of Europe. Fish is widely available to buy and on menus and the local dish of cachupa (a stew with fish or meat) is popular. All of that with superb weather. Most of the holiday accommodation in Santa Maria is within a 20 minute walk of all the shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. If you want a quiet, gentle holiday, that is possible. However, if you want a lively holiday with lots of activities during the day and a full-on nightlife experience, you will find that too. There is something for everyone on this island and it is perfect for some winter sun.

Beaches

Sal is an island for beach lovers and is considered to be amongst the world’s top five windsurfing locations. The Santa Maria beach offers eight kilometres of white sand and extends round to the west of the island to Ponta Preta beach, where you can watch the sunset. There are turquoise clear waters that offer great conditions for a classic beach holiday. The warm clear waters and the gently sloping beach are a great attraction. Water sports galore are on offer. Kite Beach on the east of the island, and close to Santa Maria, has become an important location for kite surfers, hence its name. Ponta Preta beach is also popular for kite surfers and hosts competitions. It is possible to hire water sports equipment in a number of places. Equipment hire includes surf boards, wind surfers, jet skis and kite surfing equipment. Praia de Igrejinha, just east of the town is peaceful beach, good for swimming and snorkelling, although suitable shoes are recommended because it is rocky. There is interesting marine life to find and the shallow natural pool, or lagoon, is suitable for children.

Entertainment

Santa Maria provides nightlife with everything from smart bars to noisy night clubs. Music is a big feature of cape verdean life. Many bars have live music in the evenings and the locals will soon be dancing and of course it is quite acceptable for visitors to join in. In fact it is expected, as fun is the key word. After all, the motto of Cape Verde is ‘Cape Verde, no stress’. The music of Cape Verde is infectious, and comprises the melodies of morna and the more animated rhythms of funaná. The young Cape Verdeans seem to have boundless energy and will often dance for hours. In Santa Maria you will also find the biggest selection of cafes, restaurants, banks and shops, together with most of the tourist accommodation. Cape Verdeans love festivals. Two of those on the island of Sal take place in August and September. In August it is Nossa Senhora De Piedade (Our Lady of Pity), which includes a mass, parades, swimming competitions and a beach music festival. In September there is the Santa Maria Music Festival.

Places to visit

Among the places to visit on Sal is Buracona, commonly known as the Blue Eye. This is a natural rock pool formed within the lava rocks. When the light hits the water at the correct angle, the water turns a turquoise colour. Another place to visit is Pedra de Lume, here there are salt evaporation pools within a sunken volcano crater. These were used for the production of salt from the 18th Century. Although no longer in use, the remnants of the former industry are still visible. You can also float in the very salty water, something similar to the Dead Sea. Closer to town are the old salt pans which are an interesting place to visit. They are just behind the town. The production of salt is where the name of the island comes from. Shark bay where there are harmless lemon sharks is also popular.

Geography

Sal is one of the northern islands of Cape Verde, within the Barlavento (windward) island group. This makes it the closest island to Europe, consequently there are direct flights of approximately 6 hours from many cities in Europe. The administrative centre of the island is Espargos, located in the middle of the island, close to the airport. In the main resort of Santa Maria, you will find everything from trendy surf shops to colourful cafés and restaurants. Don’t be put off as you land at the Amílcar Cabral International airport. Although a very dry and rather barren island, it has one of the best beaches in Cape Verde with long stretches of soft white sand. Until recently Sal could only be reached by plane (domestic and international). Now there are ferry connections between the port of Palmeira on the island and Boa Vista and São Nicolau.

Travel to Sal, Cape Verde

Flights, ferries & more info:

There are a number of flights each week to the four international airports in Cape Verde. These airports are on the islands of Boa Vista, Sal, Santiago and São Vicente. You can fly to any of them and then use the local flights or ferries to connect with other islands. The airport on Sal is the busiest of the four. If you are staying on Sal Island then it is better to fly direct, unless you wish to go island hopping.

Flights

CVsky
Domestic
TAP
International
TUI UK
International
TUI Deutschland
International
TUI Nederland
International
TUI Belgique
International
TUI Sverige
International
TUI Suomi
International
Luxair
International
Neos Air
International
Sunclass Airlines
International
Smartwings
International
Edelweiss
International
TUI Denmark
International
Binter
International
Vueling
International
Air Senegal
International
Cape Verde Airlines
International
EasyJet
International
Royal Air Maroc
International
Transavia
International

Ferries

Ferry
Inter-Island
PORT
Palmeria

Info

Airport
Amílcar Cabral
Visas
Required to enter
Tax
Tourist tax
News
Latest travel news

City flight connections

Click on the name of the city to show the Airlines and flight days. These should always be checked with the airlines, as schedules do change. Also, some routes only operate during the winter months and some don’t operate every week, or on varied days.

Last updated 27 May 2026

Düsseldorf

TUI – Wednesday and Sunday (days may vary). Extra days in the winter

Lisbon/Lisboa

TAP – Monday, Friday and Sunday – Days seem to vary. Normally daily in winter.

Cabo Verde Airlines – Saturday only in summer. Saturday and Sunday in winter

Easyjet – Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Hanover

TUI – Monday and Saturdays (Tuesday and Friday in the winter)

Luxembourg

Luxair – Changeable days in winter, reduces to just Tuesday in the summer

Bristol

TUI – Saturday in summer, plus Tuesday in winter

Easyjet – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday

Helsinki

Sunclass – Tuesday (may not fly all year round and days vary)

TUI – Days vary (only two or three times a month and not all year)

Gran Canaria

Binter – Tuesday and Friday

Rome - Fiumicino

Neosair – Thursday

Newcastle

TUI – Monday

Dakar Blaise Diagne

Senegal Airlines – Sunday and Wednesday

Porto

EasyJet – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday

TAP – Thursday and Sunday in winter; Wednesday and Saturday in summer. (starting 25 October 2026)

Bergen

Sunclass – Sunday (not every week)

Nantes

Transavia – Monday and Friday in winter

Munich / München

TUI – Friday plus Monday in winter

Amsterdam

TUI – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday (Daily in the winter)

Manchester

TUI – Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday (plus Saturday in winter)

Easyjet – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Stockholm

Sunclass – Varied days

TUI – Varied days

Paris - Orly

Transavia – Thursday, Saturday and Sunday in winter (Days vary some weeks). Some Tuesdays and Saturdays in Summer

Easyjet – varied days starting October 2024 (can book direct but change planes in Porto)

Milan - Malpensa

NeosAir – Wednesday

EasyJet – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday in summer. Wednesday and Saturday only in winter

Billund

Sunclass – Monday (Winter)

Glasgow

TUI – Friday

East Midlands (UK)

TUI – Saturday

Bergamo

Cabo Verde Airlines – Saturday

Neosair – Wednesday and sometimes Saturday

Barcelona

Vueling – Wednesday and Saturday (Summer only)

Frankfurt

TUI – Tuesday and Sunday in winter (Monday only in summer)

Stuttgart

TUI – Thursday

Brussels

TUI – Sunday, Wednesday, and Saturday in Summer. (plus Tuesday and Friday in winter)

Prague

Smartwings – Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

London Gatwick

TUI – Monday and Thursday (and Sunday in winter)

Easyjet (direct) – Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Birmingham

TUI – Tuesday and Friday

Zurich

Edelweiss Airlines – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday (winter only)

Gothenburg

TUI – Varies (winter only)

Sunclass – Friday (winter only)

Verona

NeosAir – Thursday

Eindhoven

TUI – Monday and Thursday

Marrakech

Easyjet – Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday (You can book right through, but change planes Porto)

Marseille

Transavia – Saturday

Oslo

TUI – occasional during winter

Casablanca

Royal Air Maroc – Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

Bordeaux

Transavia – Monday (winter only)

Local travel

Travel on Sal is possible using taxis, aluguers (minibuses) or car hire. Taxis are less expensive than in most of Europe. We recommend agreeing the pice before the journey. An aluguer is a minibus that operates on set routes, such as Santa Maria to Espargos. They are inexpensive and mostly used by local people, but are available to all. They normally only run when the bus is full and not to a timetable. If you want a guided tour, then see the activities below.

If you prefer to travel when and where you want, then car hire is a great option. Our partner Cabo Verde Rental Cars can assist you in finding a suitable vehicle.

Activities on Sal

Activity – Surfing

Surf Hub, Sal Cape Verde

Surf Hub are based in Santa Maria and offer a variety of watersports activities. These include surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, wing foil and standup paddle boarding. With hard work and passion for the water, Surf Hub Cape Verde, has created a teaching centre which combines UK organisational and safety skills with a Cape Verdean no stress attitude and local knowledge. They strive to provide a personal and friendly service through lessons which are focused on your individual needs and experience. Whatever your level their aim is to enhance your skills in a safe and enjoyable environment.

Activity – Horse Excursions

Santa Marilha Horse Excursions, Sal Cape Verde

Experienced riders and beginners alike will find their match on this Sal Island horseback riding tour. Choose between a 1-, 1.5-, or 2-hour ride and set off in a small group with a maximum of six participants and multiple english speaking guides on horseback. You’ll ride along white sand beaches and through the salt flats of Sal, with the opportunity to continue to Kite Beach and beyond. Helmets, round-trip hotel transport, and safety briefing are all included.

Activity – Yoga

Yoga Sal Cabo Verde

Yoga Cape Verde has two instructors and classes take place either in their studio or on their beach decking. The instructors offer different approaches based on their background and their experience. When on holiday why not try yoga; you will be guided in focussing your mind and stretching your muscles. The lesson will help you align your body correctly and the classes exhibit calm, energy and mixed with humour. You will not leave the session exhausted, but rather you should feel stronger and more relaxed. Beginners as well as experienced practitioners are welcome.

Activity – Turtle Watching

Sealife Experience, Sal Cape Verde

Sealife Experience is a group of people who are lovers of the sea and fascinated by turtles. They work to respect the environment and promote responsible tourism on the island of Sal.

The turtles are an endangered species and Sealife Experience offer trips to see the turtles laying eggs on the beach at night. They hope that when people see these creatures in their natural habitat, they will better understand these beautiful animals and learn to help conserve them and their environment. Their slogan is ‘Together we can make a difference’ – the aim being to avoid the turtles becoming extinct.

Please note that Sealife Experience only operates between June and October.

Activity – Zipline

Zipline Cabo Verde, Sal, Cape Verde

This tour is unique and a relatively new facility for Ilha do Sal and all of Cape Verde. You are sure to find the quality and potential of this tour on the Zipline Cabo Verde social platforms.

The tour starts from the customer’s pick-up directly at their accommodation in a 4×4 military vehicle and the team will create a happy and fun atmosphere. The journey to the base of the Zipline in the Serra Negra takes only 10 minutes. After a complete briefing, guests are taken in the vehicle to the bottom of the Serra Negra mountain.

A very pleasant 8-minute walk, surrounded by nature with fantastic views take you to the top of the mountain and the top of the Zipline. An aperitif is offered (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) together with typical Cape Verdean snacks. In addition, the team organises entertainment and dances before boarding Zipline.

Customers are dressed in full flight suits and are greeted by the operators at the Zipline base. At the end of the trip, customers are taken back to their accommodation.

Anyone can fly with Zipline: children, families, couples, seniors and people with physical limitations.

Some technical data:

-height of the starting point 103 m
-length of 2 parallel cables 1000 m
-maximum speed 120 km/h

Activity – Sailing

Cape Verde Sailing, Sal, Cape Verde

Cape Verde Sailing offers day trips from Sal, or longer trips of 2-3 weeks, taking in other islands. The longer trips can include a day hiking on the mountainous island of Santo Antão and diving and fishing around other islands. The Cape Verde Sailing crew are very experienced, and offer guests fun and adventure on their yacht ‘Lucy’ and catamaran ‘Kingfisher’.

Activity – Quad bikes, buggies and segways

No-Limits, Sal, Cape Verde

No Limits is based in Santa Maria on the island of Sal. They can provide exciting buggy and quad bike adventure trips and segway tours. The buggies are powerful 4×4 vehicles, well maintained and easy to drive. A drivers licence is required. No-Limits Adventure can also assist with car hire on the island.

Segways are fun and there is chance to try this activity if you haven’t done so before. You can discover the area with your family or in a small group.

No-Limits Adventure is located at the west end of Santa Maria, close to Tropical Resort and the Hilton Hotel.

Activity – Diving and Jet-skiing

Atlantic Star, Sal, Cape Verde

Atlantic Star is a complete nautical centre located on the beautiful beach of Santa Maria in front of Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort. It offers all the water fun you need on Sal island:

Scuba Diving
Atlantic Star is the only PADI 5 Stars IDC in Cape Verde: first time underwater experiences in a safe environment with professional instructors (in half a day!), PADI courses to get your certification and fun dives for experienced divers.

Jet-skiing
Enjoy Sal island from with a different view while riding a powerful jet ski: Excursions starting from 30 minutes, you can ride by yourself or with your buddy!

Atlantic Star also offers Crazy donuts, banana boat, waterski, wakeboard, snorkeling, kite surf, kayak, hobie cats, etc.

Activity – Golf

Viveiro Golf Course, Sal, Cape Verde

This golf course opened in 2022 and currently comprises a 9-hole course. The course is Par 35 and has an approximate length of 2,800m. Between approximately October and March, the north east trade winds blow across the island from the Sahara. This makes for an interesting, if sometimes challenging game.

The course is surrounded by Palm Trees and has extensive views of the Atlantic Ocean. The course is fully equipped with a 300m driving range with obstacles, a pitching green and a putting green. Good quality clubs and bags can be hired, as can trolleys and electric golf carts. There is also a bar and restaurant together with restrooms.

Activity – Spa and Wellness

Spa Wellness, Sal, Cape Verde

Why not pamper yourself while on holiday and book a massage or treatment? The studio is located in Porto Antigo Residence in Santa Maria. The studio provides a lovely, comfortable, clean and calm space for the customers. In addition to various types of massage, there is a sauna and a hammam. Services offered also include nail treatment.

Activity – Spa and Wellness

Spinach Tours, Sal Cape Verde

Spinach Tours takes sightseeing to the next level! Our electric eco-friendly talking cars guide our clients through the island of Sal with witty commentary, insider knowledge, and a unique sense of humour. From hidden gems to famous landmarks, our tours cover it all. One thing we can promise – you’ll never be bored as our car keeps the banter going the whole way through.

You can choose to go on a self-drive adventure or join a group excursion with a tour guide from our team. The duration of the tours varies from 2 to 4 hours. We have tours that include pick-up and drop-off transfer, in case you’re not staying close to our shop.

All Spinach Tours are available all year round, from 8:30am to 5:30pm.

Accommodation on Sal, Cape Verde

Tropical Resort Cape Verde

Ground Floor Apartment (sleeps 6)

Tropical Resort is just 300m from the beautiful sandy beach of Santa Maria on the island of Sal Cape Verde. The apartments are arranged around a lovely tropical garden and the swimming pool. The gardens and pool are for shared use and sun loungers are provided around the pool. Bars, restaurants and two small supermarkets are just a two minute walk away.

The apartment is furnished to a high standard, and comprises two bedrooms (one with a double bed and one with two single beds). The living room is comfortable and includes a double sofa bed and also has a television. In the kitchen there is a gas hob, fridge-freezer, microwave and all the equipment needed for self-catering. There is a dining table and chairs to seat 6 people. The bathroom includes shower, hair drier, toilet, bidet and washbasin. All windows and the doors to the terrace are fitted with insect screens. There is a safe and there are ceiling fans in the living room and both bedrooms. There is air-conditioning in the bedrooms and living room.

Outside, there is an external terrace that overlooks the gardens and gets the morning sun. This is a great place to enjoy breakfast at the external table and chairs. Santa Maria town centre is a 10 minute walk away and can be reached by either walking along the beach or along the road. Sal airport is just a 20 minute drive by taxi. Cars can be hired, but taxis are relatively cheap and plentiful and therefore car hire is not essential.

Casa Pau Guesthouse Sal Cape Verde

Guest House (5 double bedrooms)

Casa Pau is located at the east end of Santa Maria. The Antonio Sousa and Kite beaches are close by, as is the Josh Angulo Surf Centre. The name of the house comes from a local creole expression ‘Casa d’Pau’, which relates to the rustic nature of a place. In the house much of the furnishings are made from re-used timber and other recycled materials. The house provides comfort, a sense of well-being and harmony in a tranquil location. The owners believe in simplicity, sustainability and quality and offer a personalised service.

All five rooms are ensuite and some have either a balcony or a terrace. Each room is decorated in a different style and named accordingly. Breakfast and airport transfers can be provided, both at an additional cost. A baby’s cot is also available in one of the rooms. There is wifi available.