Sal Holidays

Sal is part of Cape Verde, a group of 10 islands sprinkled off the west coast of Africa. They’re relatively unknown in the mainstream market and, thanks to their location, they’re a unique melting pot of cultures. The islands were originally discovered by the Portuguese, and there’s also a mixture of African and Brazilian influences. You’ll see it in the island’s music, fashion and, perhaps most obviously, in the food.

The travel guides like to refer to Cape Verde as the ‘African Caribbean’, and the country certainly lives up to its nickname. Sal, one of the most popular islands, has snow-white beaches and rainbow-painted towns, just like those you’d find in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

Sal’s busiest town is Santa Maria, a Crayola-coloured hub filled with surf stores, craft shops, and restaurants that serve local specialities, like steaming catchupa stew. Most of the hotels on the island are lined up along the town’s beach – an eight-kilometre stretch of sand dotted with beach bars and windsurfing centres.