Explore Sal Island
Quiet beaches, steady winds, chilled bars. Welcome to Cape Verde’s easy-going paradise. ARTICLESBOOKS & MORETHE OCEAN, SAND & SUN
“Paradise is when your mind is in a perfect state,” says Frederick Lenz, and that’s what Cabo Verde offers you — it’s as colourful as happy if you only discover its vibrant energy, natural beauty and great culture. The more you get to know the place, the more fascinating it gets. Explore the Island of Sal through this website, and see if you fall in love with what Sal can offer you.
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Loggerhead Sea Turtle: The Most Fascinating Guest on Sal
The loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) is a type of sea turtle known for its large size, distinct reddish-brown shell, and powerful jaws. They are among the largest sea turtle species, with adults reaching an average length of around 3.5 feet (1 meter) and weighing between 200 and 400 pounds (90 to 180 kilograms). However, some exceptional individuals can grow even larger.
Pontche: The Strong and Sweet Spirit of Cape Verde
Cape Verde may be best known for grogue. Still, its sweeter cousin, pontche, carries an altogether different reputation.
Palmeira: The Important Fishing Village of Sal
Tucked away on the windswept western coast of Sal Island, Palmeira is not the place you visit for palm-lined beaches or polished resorts.
Understanding Cape Verde
An essential step towards truly understanding a country’s culture is diving into its history. Events from the past profoundly shape local customs, behaviours, and the community’s character. To see Cabo Verde beyond its image as a sun-soaked tourist paradise, you first need to get familiar with its past — learning Caboverdian history is your starting point. From there, the authentic beauty and richness of local life become genuinely visible. Explore our pages to discover more about genuine Cape Verdean culture, away from tourist clichés.
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Morabeza: The Unique Caboverdean Hospitality
In Cape Verdean Creole, morabeza refers to a deep-rooted culture of hospitality and friendly, relaxed warmth.
Palmeira: The Most Important Port on Sal Island
Arrival Arriving in Palmeira feels like stepping into a place that is firmly anchored in purpose rather than polish. A five‑kilometre drive west from the island's capital, Espargos, or a slightly longer ride from the airport, this small port town unfolds around a...
Shark Bay: Shallow Coastline Full of Baby Lemon Sharks
A short drive east from Santa Maria leads to Shark Bay, a shallow, rocky coastline where juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris) gather — it’s one of Sal’s most fascinating natural curiosities. Tranquil, otherworldly, yet alive with movement, it’s a reminder that Cape Verde’s marine life often thrives just beyond the tourist trails.
Buracona: The Amazing Bay and its Blue Eye Cave
Buracona is a small bay where the dark azure water of the Atlantic crashes on the rocky coast creating spectacular splashes of white, frothy waves. There are a few beautiful caves and a natural pool where you can swim. The gazebo on the cliff has a small natural history museum on the ground floor and a stunning view of the ocean upstairs.
Little Egret: That Amazing White Bird With Long Legs
Little egret (Egretta garzetta) is a small white heron with a long, thin neck, long, dark legs and, in the western race, yellow feet. It’s an aquatic bird that feeds in shallow water and on land, consuming a variety of little creatures. You can notice them strolling...
Strange Sculpture on Rua 15 de Agosto in Santa Maria
On 15 Agosto Street in Santa Maria, we find an interesting curiosity, a sculpture described as a Stone Artifact. Its information plate also has a quote: “From here I see the beach of the President, and you?” in four languages, and the name of the sculptor underneath, Giovanni Mandole Jr. The artwork is dated 12.09.2015. And it’s all we know about it so far. The mighty internet and the power of asking people locally gave us no trace of any other information about the meaning of this fascinating “artefact”.
In-Depth Look at Lemon Sharks in the Shark Bay
The lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) is a large, coastal species of requiem shark found in tropical and subtropical waters throughout the Atlantic Ocean. Recognisable by its stout body, blunt snout, and yellowish-brown colouring, it is named for the pale hue that...
Arte d’Zona: The New, Yoyful Colours of Santa Maria
Arianna Casaburo is originally from Naples and has lived in Santa Maria for several years. She is an Italian fashion designer but also works as a kitesurfing instructor. During the pandemic, she had no one to teach, so she spent her free time walking the deserted streets of Santa Maria. That’s when she noticed the streets were grey and neglected, making the city look sad.
Families with Children: the Best Place to Stay on Sal
Family travel to Sal presents unique challenges around children’s safety, dietary needs, and entertainment—challenges that accommodation choices can either amplify or mitigate.
Cachupa: The Most Popular Capeverdean Stew (Recipe)
Cachupa is a typical dish of Cape Verde and has two main types: Cachupa Rica (which translates to rich), made with various types of meat, and Cachupa Pobre (which translates to poor) with fish only. The distinction between the types of Cachupa has to do with the fact that Rica contains meat, which makes the dish more expensive, and only accessible to the better off, while the poor – Pobre – version is more accessible to all.
Capeverdean Flag: Official Interview With Its Designer
Below, you will find an exact translation from Portuguese to English of an interview with Pedro Gregório Lopes, the architect and creator of the current Cape Verde flag, conducted by Expresso das Ilhas.Architect Pedro Gregório Lopes won the competition to design Cape...
The Independence Day: Great Celebrations in Cape Verde
When the sun climbs over Sal Island on July 5, Espargos and its surrounding communities stir into quiet celebration. It’s Independence Day — a moment of reflection, pride, and communal warmth marking the 1975 proclamation that set Cape Verde free from nearly five...
Espargos: Capital of the Island in the Heart of Sal
Espargos (Portuguese for “asparagus”) is the capital city of Sal. Although not particularly attractive, it’s less focused on tourism and has a more authentic atmosphere than Santa Maria. It’s nice to visit its shady main square, low-key bars, fruit and fish market,...
Meet Luna, The Girl Who Plays Golf on The Moon
Luna lives in Sal, Cabo Verde. She likes many sports, like surfing and snorkelling, but her favourite is golf. In this short documentary, she says…
Palmeira: Fishing Village and Sal’s Most Important Port
Where Sal’s desert plains meet the Atlantic, Palmeira stands — an island lifeline that hums with maritime purpose.
Monte Leão: The Great Lion Mountain of Sal Island
Rising starkly from the flat desert plains of Sal Island, Monte Leão, also known as Rabo de Junco, asserts a quiet dominance over the surrounding coast. Towering approximately 165 m above sea level at the northern rim of Baía de Murdeira, this distinctive “Lion Mountain” functions both as a geological sentinel and as a cherished destination — a point where geology, ecology, and human aspiration converge.
Iago Sparrow: Endemic and Easy to Spot on Sal
These cute little birds you observe on the streets and in the crowns of trees are far cousins of European sparrows and – contrary to popular belief – didn’t migrate to the islands from far away. These little guys are Iago sparrows (Passer iagoensis) and are endemic to Cape Verde. That’s why they are often called Cabo Verde sparrows by professional and hobby ornithologists. Iago sparrows occur on all islands of the archipelago besides of Fogo, and on most of them it is quite common.
Morna: Listen to the Traditional Music of Cape Verde
Characterised by a melodious style, slow tempo, and 4/4 time, in most cases with sentimental lyrics, morna is commonly known as the national music of Cape Verde – a fundamental aspect of local social and cultural life, performed at most important life events, such as...