Activities in Sal, Cape Verde

The island of Sal is surrounded by beautiful golden / silver sand beaches and crystal-clear water. A true paradise for sun worshippers, fishers and fans of water sports alike. The friendly Cape verdians make its living out of fishing and tourism. 

With its numerous small restaurants, bars and hotels, Sal is without a doubt the most cosmopolitan island of the whole archipelago. 

Upon your arrival on Sal, you will be pleasantly surprised. Sal is a rough area, consisting of rocks, sand and salt. Sal enjoys a mild climate, thanks to the trade-winds blowing over the island. Santa Maria has beautiful golden sand beach stretching out over 8km, next to the azure blue sea. 

Santa Maria, thanks to its location on the south side of Sal, the beach is largely protected from the wind, without high waves or strong current. Swimming is therefore excellent here. The fine temperature of the sea water invites you to dive in.

The inland of Sal could be explored by pickup truck. The ‘must see’ site is the salt mines of Pedra de Lume.

 Once they were at the base of the economic development of the island. Today a trip to the heart of this extinct volcano is worth the effort, to be amazed by the surreal colouring of the salt deposits. The village of Palmeira offers warm cosiness and a beautiful fishermans port. You will be charmed by the warm and easy-going way of the locals.

In Buracona you can go for a cool dive. The basin was carved out of the volcanic rock by the waves. The view is breath-taking, and you can experience the power of the waves first hand. And finally, you can roam the seas by trimaran, fishing boat, surfboard, ferry, … with a little luck you will be accompanied by dolphins and whales that will provide additional entertainment. But even without their company it will be pure enjoyment, floating on the currents, sights set to the surrounding horizon…

But especially for fans of water sports, Sal is the place to be. The rich marine fauna is a paradise for divers and fishers. The famous surf spots attract on their part the most fervent surfers, wind and kite surfers, and other fans of water sports to the island. 

You can dive there with Scuba team Cabo Verde. In Santa Maria, caves, steep or overhanging cliffs and ship wrecks, inhabited 

by tropical and Atlantic animals. Nurse and lemon sharks, doctor fish, morays, groupers, manta rays and other species of local fauna thrive in a majestic volcanic decor with numerous caves, clad in yellow-orange calcium corals. Diving is possible year-round. The best, most optimal season runs from April to October. Consider that a minimum of skill is required to dive in the Atlantic Ocean. Club Scuba team offers courses, gear and several diving formulas. Their services are valuable, safe and multilingual. Ask the hostess for info. 

Surfers will also find all they want here. Nice, moderate trade-wind 2-4 Beaufort, waves that break perfectly and a 23 deg C water temperature during the whole year, these are the qualities that make the bay of Santa Maria seen by experts as one of the 5 best destinations worldwide for surfing, wind surfing and kite surfing. These sports are done the whole year round. it is recommended for beginners to get started with this sport in the summer. Ask the hostess for info.

The most fanatic sportsmen on the other hand can go all out from November to end of March, when the wind is the strongest. At the club Surf Zone Cabo Verde you can take training courses or rent equipment. Both beginners and advanced surfers are welcomed in several languages. Ask the hostess for info.

Porto Antigo 2, with its private pool is within walking distance of all activities and right on the beach.