KM² (KM²)
POPULATION (K)
Sal, the perfect location to enjoy relaxation and water sports starting or ending your trip to Cape Verde.
Salt, sun, sand and wind, the traditionally hostile elements that now give life to the most touristic island of Cape Verde, with its paradisiacal beaches and resorts.
Sal
The new African Caribbean?
Sal Island
Possibly there is no landscape more boring than the one we can find in the Sal Island. Rock, sand and, as the island is called, salt, are the few elements we can find in this land absolutely punished by the wind for millions of years. It is really amazing to travel for several hours flying over the Atlantic Ocean to land in an arid place full of cracks that reveal that very occasionally there are timid precipitations. However, after this sad introduction (it is what it is, and we are not going to fool ourselves…) Sal is undoubtedly an idyllic place for beach and resort lovers, for lovers of multiple water sports and a good base to explore other islands and to be able to relax on dream beaches.
Espargos
Pedra Lume
Santa Maria
Port
International Airport
HIGHEST POINT (M)
SUNNY DAYS
LARGEST ISLAND
SALT SALTS IN SAL
The Myth of the African Caribbean
Years ago, some tour operators and travel magazines called the island of Sal “the new Caribbean” or the “African Caribbean”; in fact, today we can still read articles along these lines. The Caribbean is the Caribbean and Cape Verde is Cape Verde. If you are looking for a new Caribbean you are likely to return home disappointed. While it is true that there are white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water, and what incredible beaches some of them are…; windy days and somewhat above average prices can distort this romantic idea. In addition, the scarcity of things to see on the island can generate a monotonous experience if one spends too many days. For this reason, we recommend Sal, as a place to start or end your trip in Cape Verde and relax in total tranquility.
Entrance doors & Transportation
Sal is one of the international gateways to Cape Verde. It has the Amilcar Cabral International Airport (numerous daily direct flights to Europe), daily domestic flights to Sao Vicente and Praia, and twice a week to Sao Nicolau and Boavista.
In Palmeira we will also find different Ferrie routes that communicate with Boavista and Sao Nicolau, but we recommend doing these routes by plane.
In terms of transportation, the best option for getting around the island are private 4×4 cars or even renting a car / motorcycle.
Sal in data
History
The extraction of sal has been the most important activity on the island throughout time, hence its name. It is known that before its discovery in 1460, the sailors of the area already knew of the abundant existence of this element. The colonization of Cape Verde had a relative impact on the exploitation of the salt mines, since, until then, only a few slaves carried out the work. It was not until the 19th century that the Cape Verdean businessman Manuel Antonio Martins started an export business. From that moment on, the population began to grow until the activity ceased during the first half of the 20th century. Another remarkable fact is the construction of the airport by the dictator Benito Mussolini, who was looking for a strategic point to supply his planes to South Africa. Proof of this are the many Italian restaurants and hotels that still remain on the island. Today, the other elements of the island have become essential for tourism, the sun and sand provide comfort for tourists who want to relax on the beach, while the wind has created a paradise for kite and windsurfing.
Biodiversity
Idyllic beaches of white sand that contrast with the absolute nothingness of the interior of the island.
As it happens in many corners of the planet, with good will protected areas are designated to raise awareness among the population and visitors. Because many of these areas are not guarded or monitored, they attract poachers; for this reason we ask for maximum respect for the environment and to denounce illegal practices. That said, in Sal we can find almost 50 species of small fish, as well as several species of birds of which the Pernalonga stands out, an elegant bird with long red legs that extend during its flight.
At the marine level, the Careta Careta turtle also stands out, which we talked about extensively thanks to our colleagues at Project Biodiversity. Two of the most important problems for this species are tourism and poaching, and thanks to this association, the awareness to preserve a better environment for biodiversity is gaining followers day by day after an extensive work of its cooperators.
Espargos - La Capital
Other locations
- Santa Maria beach: the main beach and the most visited. Where most of the accommodations and resorts are located.
- Salinas de Pedra Lume: salt mines from colonial times. Possibility of bathing and floating in the salt water (Dead Sea).
- Serra Negra: the highest point of the island and a nice excursion to a panoramic viewpoint.
- Burracona / Blue Eye: natural rock pools.
Experiences in Sal
The experiences that we can make on the island of Sal are multiple. As we have already mentioned, we can practice water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing or surfing; the fact that Sal is a point of international windsurfing circuit attracts many athletes. If what we want is to enjoy the sea more quietly, we can sail a sailboat.
In addition, we can dive from beginner to advanced levels. Another option on the island of Sal is to fish in designated areas in private boats or accompanying local fishermen. We recommend this activity between July and October. If what we want is to swim in tranquility or snorkeling, we can do it in any of the beaches enabled for bathing. Like the island of Boavista, we can practice cycling (recommended for triathletes), horseback riding or quad excursions. Finally, turtle and/or shark watching is also a good option.
Outstanding proposals:
- A wide range of leisure activities in the sea and on the beach for the whole family.
- Deep sea sport fishing
- Kite Surfing, one of the best spots in the world for this sport.
Would you like to discover Sal?
Shall we start?
1
Request your trip
To start your trip click on “I want to travel” and we will help you to request your trip without any problem.
2
We design it for you
Once we receive your request, we will get to work to design your trip to Cape Verde.
3
It's time to travel
And little else… in a few days you will receive your proposal to travel with total peace of mind and guarantee.