The Island of Sal has the most advanced infrastructure of all the Cape Verde islands. It is therefore the one that has the greatest current tourist trade, the best roads, hotels, restaurants, bars, banks and whose residents are most likely to speak English.
The town of Santa Maria covers the whole south end of the Island. It's miles of beaches that have powdery sand (left) are never crowded with beach beds stacked shoulder to shoulder. Here you can relax, take a wind surfing or kite surfing lesson or simply enjoy a swim in the Atlantic surf.
The locals bring fish into the pier and there is generally something going on, but you're always able to find a secluded spot to where you can read a book without being disturbed
The restaurants vary from expensive to Pizza parlors, but there are no Mcdonalds or "British Pubs" contaminating the local culture.
You can take lunch at the beach club and have a enjoy great cuisine while experiencing one of the most relaxing views in the world (right).
The town is well served with shops and other facilities and many visitors don't move from this idyllic beach during their stay.
Sal is only about 40 km from end to end. The main town of Espargos is positioned roughly in the centre, with the airport about 2 km, the conurbation of Murdeira about 9 km and Santa Maria at about 18km. Roads between the two towns are very good, mainly a 4 lane highway with very little traffic. That makes a cycle ride from Santa Maria to Espargos about 18km long and you can add a trip to the main port of Palmeira, which is a further 5km down to the coast, making a round trip of about 46km.
From sea level the island rises to a maximum road height of 240ft and there is generally a wind blowing from the north east during the winter of between 15 and 25 mph.
Sal means "Salt" and the island is so called because salt was the main product of the island until fairly recently. You can still visit the old salt mines at Pedre de Lume, which is an interesting afternoon trip.
A visit to the main port of Palmeira is a must and if you wish to fish you can do so from the beaches or coast near Palmeira. Scuba diving and snorkeling are also popular pastimes, with the ocean being clear and visits to wrecks being easily arranged.
However, athletic pursuits are the most common pastimes, like windsurfing in the waves at Ponta Preta (left).
