Sal Cape Verde Islands- rental apartments, villas, and townhouses direct from the owners

Sal Boa Vista Santiago Fogo Brava Sao Nicolau Sao Vicente Santo Antao Maio Santa Luzia

Sal

The perfect destination for water sport lovers. Santa Maria compliments active days on the beach with a good selection of bars and restaurants in which to enjoy the lively nightlife in the evenings.

Despite its dry barren landscape, the tropical beaches here more than make up for it with crystal clear waters and white sand. Sal is understandably a popular choice, with the widest range of accommodation and international flights as well as access to most of the other islands.

Santa Maria is becoming one of the world's top locations for wind and kite surfers. In addition, Sal’s shores are also an excellent destination for diving and sun worshipping. Santa Maria has amazing restaurants right on the beach, serving seafood fresh from the water, and in the town you find a lovely square with shops, bars and restaurants with musicians playing traditional Cape Verde tunes.

Santa Maria holds a wondeful charm in its cobbled streets, which are buzzing with atmosphere, whether it’s children playing an impromptu game of football or upbeat music drifting from a paveside cafe.

The Island of Sal was originally named Liana meaning flat, but was given its current name when a lagoon in a crater of a now extinct volcano was discovered to produce salt.

It is relatively small, 30km in length north to south and does not exceed more than 12km in width. Its highest point is Monte Vermelho, with a height of 406m. Until recently, Cape Verde's only International Airport, Amilcar Cabral, was located on Sal, and still continues to serve as the main gateway to the whole Archipelago. Sal has two major settlements, the capital of the island Espargos and the tourist resort of Santa Maria. This resort has been growing over the last 20 years specifically to accommodate tourism. There are many things to visit in this town. The Salt Pits of Santa Maria lie about 1km from the town and are well worth a visit.

As well as kitesurfing and windsurfing - there is a choice of fishing, scuba diving, mini-golf, volleyball, basketball and tennis to list a few of the other activities.

Other recommended places to visit are the Port of Palmeira where the lobster farms are quite fascinating. Algadoeira, a small oasis and Buracona, a natural swimming pool that fills and empties according to the tides are all well worth a visit.

Night life on the island is animated by the crowded discotheques. Restaurants in Santa Maria and Espargos are in abundance for a unique, delectable dining experience. Sal is constantly featured in songs about its beautiful idyllic beaches and natural landscape. Tourism is a huge business for the Cape Verdeans and on this island they are incredibly hospitable to those who visit their home.

Sal, with its striking, lunar-like landscape that greets you like a spaghetti western film set. The colourful resort of Santa Maria sits on its sparkling southern shores and is a charismatic mixture of brightly-painted Portuguese-style houses, cobbled streets and smiles as warm as the sun. Whether you're seeking blissful relaxation, high adventure or hosts of watersports, there's something here for everyone.