Sal's Attractions
Sal Island combines golden beaches, salt craters, natural pools, and lively towns, offering visitors a restful retreat, water sports, land adventures, and a glimpse of authentic Cape Verdean culture.
Turtle Watching on Sal Island: All You Need to Know
Turtle Watching: Sal Island is famed for a rare natural spectacle. Every summer, its beaches host thousands of nesting loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta).
The Best Tourist Attractions of Sal Island: Complete Guide
Attractions: Sal Island is a great destination for active travellers, thanks to its blend of water sports, outdoor adventures, and relaxed leisure options.
Buggy Adventures on Sal Island: All You Need to Know
The volcanic landscape of Sal Island transforms into an adventure playground when viewed from the driver’s seat of an off-road buggy.
Tourist Attractions on Sal Island
Sal Island in Cape Verde offers a great blend of attractions that draw visitors from around the world throughout the year. The island’s central hub, Santa Maria, is renowned for its long, golden beach, lively pier, and a wide choice of water sports, including kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing, windfoils, diving, snorkelling, jet-ski and sailing.
On the northern side of the island, the port in Palmeira still reflects the simple life of a small Cape Verdean fishing village. The marina offers sailing and catamaran cruises. Shark Bay allows close encounters with lemon sharks in shallow waters, while Buracona, with its Blue Eye rock pool, captivates with its shifting colours under the midday sun. Inland, the Pedra de Lume salt crater gives a glimpse of the island’s volcanic origins, where travellers can float in briny waters similar to the Dead Sea.
Away from the coast, Sal offers land adventures, including 4×4 and buggy tours, watching the mirage of Terra Boa, and guided sightseeing tours through the most important landmarks of all the islands. Espargos, the island’s capital, reveals a more authentic side of Cape Verdean life, with local markets, cafes, and traditional fishing practices. Inland, you can also find stables offering horse rides, as well as a small Zoo, a botanical garden and a green golf course at the beautiful Pachamama Eco Park.
Altogether, Sal offers a combination of relaxation, adventure, and cultural encounters.
Kitesurfing on Sal Island: All You Need To Know
Sal has become a world-class kitesurfing destination, blessed with consistent trade winds, warm temperatures, and a laid-back atmosphere.
How to Play Ouril: Rules of The Traditional Game
Ouril (also spelt ouri, uril, urim, or ori depending on the island) is a traditional Cape Verdean board game of the mancala family. It was brought to Cabo Verde by enslaved people from West Africa and has been passed down through generations. The game is especially popular among men, often played in public squares and port towns, such as Mindelo (São Vicente). In essence, Ouril is a two-player strategy game where each player “sows” seeds and captures the opponent’s seeds to gain an advantage. Below is a comprehensive guide in two parts: first, a beginner-friendly walk-through of rules and gameplay; second, advanced tips on strategy and regional variations (including notes on the island of Sal).
The Best Guide to Quad Tours and Rentals on Sal
Sal’s Quad Tours represent adventure tourism at its best. It’s professionally managed compared to other quad destinations, and has established safety standards.
The Mirage of Terra Boa: Sal’s Beautiful Desert Illusion
In Terra Boa, you may feel small amid the emptiness. Take a moment to feel the surrounding. It’s just you, the wind, and a mirage that shimmers like a promise.
Horse Riding on Sal Island: The Complete Guide
The horse riding experiences in Sal Island promise unforgettable moments and a deeper appreciation of the island’s serene charm.
Guided Tours on Sal Island: What You Need to Know
The best guided tours feel less like sightseeing and more like visiting with a knowledgeable friend. Sal Island receives more tourists than any other island…
The Best Kitesurfing Schools and Gear Rentals on Sal
Sal Island kitesurfing schools are extremely visitor-friendly – show up as a complete novice and safely fly a kite within hours under professional guidance.
Carnival: The Unique Celebration of Cape Verdean Culture
Sal’s carnival is modest, reflecting the small local population and tourism-oriented economy. The celebration prioritises joyful community participation.
Six Tips for a Great & Smooth Sal Kitesurfing Trip
A bit of preparation and local insight can go a long way in ensuring you get the most out of your Sal kitesurf holiday. Here are some helpful hints and tips.
Salinas Pedra de Lume: All You Need to Know about Salt Mines
Nestled within the crater of a dormant volcano on Sal Island, Cape Verde, the Salinas de Pedra de Lume weave a story of nature, ingenuity and transformation.
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.