Sal holidays

Amazing beaches are what originally put Cape Verde on the map, and Sal offers some of the best in the country. The island has a coastline dotted with pockets of Caribbean-white sand and golden dunes. And trade winds mean watersports like wind and kite surfing are readily available. Just be sure to pay attention to the flag system if you want to swim in the ocean – red means stay well away, yellow says take care, and green means you’re good to go.

Santa Maria is the busiest town on the island, and its beach follows suit. That’s not to say it’s overcrowded, though – with seven kilometres of sand on offer, there’s plenty of room for everyone. The busier areas have beach bars and watersports centres, while the quieter parts tend to just welcome the odd sea bird.

Pedra de Lume is home to a small slither of sand tucked between craggy cliffs. There aren’t any watersports or beach huts here, so if you need to stretch your legs, head up to the volcano that overlooks the coast. At its cusp is a salt-rich lake and a few mud baths that you can paddle in.

The Sal Indoor Market, in Santa Maria, is your best bet for picking up souvenirs at bargain prices. Work your way around the al fresco tables and you can haggle for the likes of beaded jewellery, traditional clothes and fresh local produce.

The shops in Sal are multi-coloured and, when you step inside, you’ll find shelves filled with handmade crafts that are just as colourful. The best selection lies within Santa Maria’s Centro de Artesanato. Here, you can get your hands on everything from wooden statues and traditional instruments, to works of art made from sand. Most of the buys are made onsite by local craftsmen.

Don’t come to Sal expecting to splurge on big names like Chanel. This peaceful island only has a handful of shops to its name. The closest you’ll get to designer gear is in the surf shops of Santa Maria’s town centre. They stock signature floral beachwear, sunglasses and boards, many of which are international brands.

The Santa Maria beachfront is great for night-time wanders. The restaurants here serve fresh fish stews metres from the Atlantic Ocean, and the bars specialise in chill-out music and multi-page cocktail menus. Saturday nights tend to see live musicians performing the local morna music – a mix of Portuguese and Brazilian beats.

Santa Maria’s main square comes to life after dark. Locals meet up here to mingle and dance outside the bars and cafés. There are also a few clubs that stay open until the early hours. They’re small by European standards, but play a good mix of music, from merengue to rock and roll.

At island celebrations, locals gather around tables for big bowlfuls of this stuff. It’s a tasty, slow-boiled stew cooked with beans, chorizo and marinated chunks of meat or tuna. There are lots of variations of it, depending on which ingredients are in season.

Fishing is ripe here, which means seafood is present on practically every Boa Vista menu. According to locals, this is the recipe of recipes. Chefs will take freshly-netted tuna, marinate it in spices and lace it with vinegar, before serving it on a bed of butter-smothered boiled potatoes.

Papaya jam is the jam of choice in Cape Verde, and locals spread it on everything from toast to crepes. Most commonly, though, it’s served alongside goats’ cheese for dessert. Think of it as an alternative to brie and cranberry.

This sugar cane brandy is close to the hearts of many islanders – an invitation to try a glass isn’t to be turned down. The locals have grown it in the green valleys of Santa Antao island for centuries. It gets its name from 'grog' – a drink that was a one-time favourite of the British Royal Navy. Be warned, though – it’s 43% proof.

Sip this refreshing, minty liqueur after a big meal, and your food will go down in no time. It’s made by mixing coffee and figs with cinnamon, peppermint and lime. If you’re a little unsure of the taste, try adding a splash of orange juice to dilute it.