Explore Sal Island

Quiet beaches, steady winds, chilled bars. Welcome to Cape Verde’s easy-going paradise.
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THE 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 both a colourful and a happy place if you only discover its vibrant energy, natural beauty and great culture. The more you get to know it, the more fascinating it gets. Explore the Island of Sal through our website, and see if you fall in love with what Sal can offer you.

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Map of Cape Verde with Sal Island Marked Black © Sal, Cape Verde

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.

History & Culture

Carnival

FEBRUARY

When: 3 days before Ash Wednesday
Where: all islands

Independence Day

JULY

When: July 5th
Where: all islands

Santa Maria Festival

SEPTEMBER

When: Mid-September
Where: Santa Maria, Sal

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The Great Gym Built From Rubbish by Alcindo (Video)

The Great Gym Built From Rubbish by Alcindo (Video)

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In the CNN’s Great Big Story Alcindo Soares says that he grew up in Cape Verde, dreaming of the day when he would become a professional athlete. Because – like many other Cape Verdeans – he had no money to go to an indoor gym, Alcindo improvised, using garbage washed up on the shores of Sal Island to build his exercise equipment. With his background in construction, he was able to assemble the outdoor gym with ease. Thanks to his astonishing work, many people can now enjoy training for free in one of the island’s most beautiful places – on the sandy beach, just a few steps from the ocean, with a chill breeze and sun over their heads. “The fact that a gym like this exists in Santa Maria no only for me, but for the people here, is very important,” Alcindo says.

Strange Sculpture on Rua 15 de Agosto in Santa Maria

Strange Sculpture on Rua 15 de Agosto in Santa Maria

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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”.

Abandoned Salt Shed: the Old Ghost of Pedra de Lume

Abandoned Salt Shed: the Old Ghost of Pedra de Lume

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Our Lady of Compassion Chapel in Pedra de Lume

Our Lady of Compassion Chapel in Pedra de Lume

Amid the salt-carved crater of Pedra de Lume, just east of Sal’s settlement, stands a modest yet enduring landmark: the Capela de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, or Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion. Erected in 1853, it offers more than shade; it holds stories of faith, industry, and local memory—a silent observer amid blowing salt flats and shifting sands.