Sal holidays

Sal Island’s beaches are some of the most striking in the region and are famed for their white sands and turquoise ocean. The proximity of Santa Maria Beach to the town means it’s easily accessible and makes it the main hub for beachgoers who want to stay close to the hotel. Ponta Preta is slightly quieter, less developed and favoured by surfers and windsurfers because of the strong winds and sizeable waves. Unsurprisingly, Kite Beach is Sal’s kitesurfing capital and a good place to watch surfers soaring through the air. You can even give it a go yourself.

Santa Maria may be the island’s busiest town, but its beach is never overcrowded. With 8 km of white sand to enjoy, there’s room for everyone. It’s located on the south of the island and benefits from calm waters, making it a great option for families. Closer to the town, you’ll find beach bars, watersports centres and sunloungers, so you can easily kick back and top up your tan, grab a drink, or try your hand at windsurfing. There’s also Santa Maria’s famous fishing pier, where local fishermen bring in their catch for the day.

Ponta Preta beach (meaning Black Point in Portuguese) is located 3km to the west of Santa Maria and is considered one of the island’s finest stretches of wild coastline. Largely undeveloped, its massive sand dunes and memorable sunset views make it a favourite among visitors who like long beach walks. It’s also one of Sal’s windier beaches, and the big waves mean it often hosts windsurfing championships.

The Santa Maria market is a fantastic place to pick up your holiday souvenirs at bargain prices. You’ll find everything from traditional African crafts and wooden carvings to beaded jewellery and fresh local produce. There’s definitely a haggling culture, so don’t be afraid to set your price.

If you’re looking for a special holiday memento, Santa Maria’s local boutiques are your best bet. High-quality fresh produce shops stock the region’s famous Cape Verdean coffee, canned tuna that’s exported all over the world, and the unique Fogo wine produced in the islands’ volcanic soils. You’ll also find stores selling traditional artisan pottery and plenty of surf shops dealing in all kinds of water-based equipment and clothing.

Sal isn’t known as a destination for big-brand shopping. Some hotel boutiques may sell a small selection of designer goods, but there are no major designer malls on the island. However, you can find high-quality beachwear and clothing from major surf brands in Santa Maria. Locally grown aloe vera products are also very popular and are ideal gifts or souvenirs for anyone with a passion for skincare.

Santa Maria’s beachfront is made for sunset cocktails and nightly strolls. The restaurants offer oceanfront dining and serve fresh fish stews metres from the water, while the beach bars (known locally as “chiringuitos”) specialise in relaxed vibes, chilled music and multi-page drinks menus. Saturday nights see musicians performing live Morna music – the local mix of Portuguese and Brazilian beats made famous by Cesaria Evora.

Santa Maria’s main square comes to life after dark. Locals meet up here to mingle in the reggae bars and check out live bands, and there’s plenty of dancing in the street. The town also has a few small late-night clubs, where you’ll hear everything from merengue to rock and roll.

If you try one local dish in Sal, make sure it’s Cachupa, Cape Verde’s national dish. At island celebrations, locals gather around tables for big bowls of this delicious slow-cooked stew. A hearty meal consisting of corn and beans cooked with chorizo, fish or meat, it’s an island favourite. There’s even a breakfast version with fried egg for those who want to start the day the Cape Verde way.

Sustainable fishing is central to island life, and that’s reflected in its food. Sal’s yellowfin tuna steaks (known as “bife de atum”) are the perfect example and a local staple. Grilled fresh in a punchy garlic marinade, they’re incredibly popular among visitors and islanders alike. In some restaurants, they’ll be served almost raw, like tuna carpaccio, but you can also request them to be grilled a little longer if that’s more to your taste.

On most restaurant menus, you’ll see a dish that combines sweet papaya jam (doce de papaya) with local goat cheese (queijo de cabra). Comparable to brie and cranberry, it’s served as either a dessert or a starter and is loved for its mouthwatering sweet and savoury mix.

Grogue is the island’s national drink, and there’s a good chance you’ll be invited to try a glass of this sugar cane spirit during your stay. While you can drink it neat, the high alcohol content means you’ll want to be careful. It’s also used as a base for cocktails, including a range of caipirinha-style drinks. It gets its name from 'grog' – a drink that was once a favourite of the British Royal Navy.

Pontche is a popular welcoming or after-dinner drink traditionally made from grogue mixed with molasses or honey and citrus fruits. This gives it a much smoother taste than straight grogue. As there are many local variations, you’re unlikely to try the same pontche twice, and everyone puts their own little twist on this local delicacy.