Why fly to Sal?
Sal is where you come for beaches and stay for, well… more beaches. Oh, and sunshine, lots of sunshine.
Sal is the celebrity island of Cape Verde – famous for its year-round sunny, golden beaches, salty landscapes and towns that think "busy” is a word best left for the mainland. The main hub, Santa Maria, is all about toes in the sand, oceanfront cafés and the kind of relaxation that feels like a full-body sigh. Here, even the ocean seems to take its time. Think sunbeds by day, live music by night and freshly grilled seafood, just the way the locals like it.
But there’s more to Sal than just beaches. Pedra de Lume’s salt flats are a must-see, where you can literally float – no lilo needed. The salt mines are set in a crater, giving you the surreal experience of floating in an extinct volcano: it’s the bucket list moment you didn’t even know existed. And for thrill-seekers, the island’s famed winds make it a haven for kiteboarding and windsurfing. Still too tame? How about an up-close encounter with sharks? In Sal’s shallows, you’re likely to see a species adorably called lemon sharks, and they’re harmless (but your social media following doesn’t need to know that).
And pack your appetite: at Sal’s seafront restaurant, you’ll feast on net-fresh tuna, grogue cocktails and cachupa (Cape Verde’s national dish). As the sun sets, Santa Maria becomes a lively scene with beach bars, reggae beats and the kind of local hospitality that’ll make you wonder if they’ve mistaken you for a long-lost cousin. So, grab the sun cream – Sal’s sandy paradise won’t bask in itself.
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