Sal Island holidays

What to do in Sal

Though first and foremost a beach destination, Sal has more to offer than just sand and sunbathing. As well as a world-class destination for wildlife spotting and kite surfing, the island’s otherworldly interior is the perfect playground for quad biking, cycling and horseback trekking.

Shark’s Bay

Ever taken a stroll with a shark? Well, in Sal you can. Thrashing about in the shallow waters off the coast of nearby Feijoal, lemon sharks routinely flock to the aptly named Shark’s Bay to breed – and you can walk out close enough for a look.

They might look scary – they can grow up to eight feet in length – but the sharks aren’t a threat to humans, only eating small fish. Wade out among them for one of the island’s more unusual wildlife experiences.

Santa Maria

A classic beach town in every sense, Santa Maria backs straight onto sand where sugar white melts into shimmering turquoise and colourful wooden boats bob around an old jetty.

Its streets of pastel-painted houses are packed with surf shops, live music bars, and no-frills restaurants serving the freshest seafood hauled in that day. Grab a potent Cape Verdean caipirinha and find a space on the sand – you’ll soon see what “no stress” is all about.

Kite surfing

Powerful Atlantic winds and shallow waters have made Sal a mecca for kite surfers; along the coast, multi-coloured kites slicing through the sky are a common sight.

A handful of schools operate on the island’s south-eastern shore, where you can take lessons. For calmer conditions, beginners should head to Santa Maria Bay. Be warned, you’ll need at least a week to get anywhere near actual surf – kite surfing is not as easy as it looks.

Pedro de Lume salt mine

It might be hard to believe, but tiny Sal once produced enough salt to keep large parts of Brazil and West Africa suitably seasoned. The clue’s in the name really – Sal means “salt” in Portuguese.

Though those days are long gone, the remnants of this once mighty condiment empire are still visible at the Pedro de Lume salt mine in the north of the island. Set in a vast crater, amid Sal’s rusty barren interior, the mine is a sight in itself, but it’s the salt pools – saltier than the Dead Sea – that are the real draw. Hit the all-inclusive buffet all you want – it’s impossible to sink.

Turtle watching

Home to the third largest population of nesting loggerheads in the world, Cape Verde is prime turtle watching territory. On Sal, there are a handful of conservation projects and hatcheries, which you can visit during your holiday.

It’s possible to take a night tour of nesting sites, and observe rangers recording the turtles’ behaviour and health. For the best chance of seeing hatchlings, visit in August.