Sal Cape Verde
Sal is currently the most unspoiled of the Islands, originally named “Llana” meaning flat when discovered in 1460 by the Portuguese, it was given its current name when a lagoon in a crater of an extinct volcano was discovered to produce salt after it had rained. Sal is very flat and relatively small; it is also the most barren of the Islands measuring 30km long and just 12km wide, with vast swathes of sand interspersed with brown plains. The only two major settlements are the capitol of the island Espargos in the North and the tourist resort of Santa Maria in the South.
There are kilometres of long white sandy beaches and its vast blue sea makes Sal hugely popular for sunbathers, swimmers and wind-surfers. Although still undiscovered by the mass tourist market for now, it is still possible to stroll along the beach for an hour or two and meet only a handful of people.
.jpg)
Santa Maria Beach Ponta Preta Beach
There are varied Leisure pursuits in Sal to suit everyone. Fishing trips are available all year round but these are best between July and October. Diving is very popular in Sal as there are many opportunities viewing marine life, in various caves, tunnels and reefs. Cycling and hiking trips are also readily available, as is kite-surfing on Ponta Preta Beach in the south. Of course, you can just lie around, chill out, or enjoy the various local bars, restaurants and listen to the local music or peruse the local shops dotted about in the towns. If you want, the ultimate break away from the real world, where better than Sal.
There is only one main road running along the centre of the island, from Santa Maria in the south, to the airport and Espargos in the middle. There are other rough roads, which will take you all round the islands smaller towns. It is easy to hire a car and that gives you the freedom to go exploring the island at your leisure, to discover the secrets that do not come with travel guides! Daily boat or plane trips are available to Boavista, and most include lunch; these are a must as Boavista is considered a worthy competitor in the beauty stakes against Sal.
