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Best things to do in Sal, Cape Verde

Year-round sun with a side order of adventure? Island escapes to Sal are too good to gatekeep.
Ahh, Cape Verde – Africa’s answer to the Caribbean. Sal (anchored off the eastern side of the Cape Verde archipelago) is an island primed for adventure – despite its fly-and-flop image. From scuba diving and windsurfing to whizzing across sand on a dune buggy tour, expect your activity agenda to burst at the seams.

Sound like your bag? Get the lowdown on the best things to do, then get there for less with our best Cape Verde deals.

Pack a picnic for Pachamama Eco Park

Also known as Viveiro Botanical Garden & Zoo, this patch of lush green in the middle of the desert is well worth a visit. Packed with over 100 plants – including palms, hibiscus and passionfruit – why not wander the winding gravel paths for some home-patch inspiration? It’s also home to loads of animals and birds, including parakeets, peacocks, donkeys and ducks.
Couple walking around Viveiro Botanical Garden & Zoo.

Stretch out on golden sands

If lying undisturbed on a beach is the holiday vibe, Sal has you sorted with the toe-sinking, bucket-and-spade types of sand. Ponta Preta – which translates as ‘black tip’ – is top for finding your spot and staying put, thanks to its creamy sands and rugged dune backdrop. You won’t find loungers, parasols or beach huts here, so pack snacks to keep you going from sunrise to sunset.
A woman walking along a golden sand beach.

Make waves with watersports

Want to try your hand at windsurfing? The world championships happen here yearly, so you’ve got pro-approved weather conditions on your side. Ponta Preta is reserved for the experts, thanks to its fast reef waves, but there are plenty of spots if you’re not up to speed. Santa Maria Beach has calmer waves and a surf centre where you can learn the ropes. Kite Beach is the best spot for – yep, you've guessed it – kitesurfing. Just a five-minute drive across the dunes from Santa Maria, this place has a professional kitesurfing school and reliable strong winds.
Action shot of a man windsurfing.

Say hello to Santa Maria

Feel like peeling yourself off the soft sand beaches? Santa Maria – once the islands’ colourful capital – has craft shops, surf stores and a top-notch culinary scene to explore. If you’re game for tasting local plates, the beachfront restaurants serve bowlfuls of steaming hot cachupa stew. Made with beans, lentils, and slow-cooked chicken, goat or fish, cachupa is streaks ahead of any stew back home. Want to learn more about island cuisine? Stroll to the pier and see local fisherman bringing in their catch of the day – tuna and swordfish – to be bartered for by locals and restaurant owners.
View of the sea and colourful fishing boats in Santa Maria.

Look for Lemon Sharks

Named for their yellow-hued skin, lemon sharks are one of the largest shark species – and one of the friendliest. Found in shallow waters of the aptly-named Shark Bay, they spend their early years in the bay, away from predators and camouflaged by the sandy shores. Fancy seeing them up close? Paddle in the water (don’t forget your sea shoes) and let the lemon sharks weave in and out of your legs.
A catamaran out to sea.

Float in a salt mine

In the northwest corner of Sal, the small village of Pedra de Lume has Sal’s answer to the Dead Sea. Once famous for its salt mines, the lunar-like volcanic crater – looking more like the backdrop of a sci-fi film than a tourist attraction – is now home to pink, green and blue saltpan lakes. Pack your swimming gear and take a dip in the exfoliating saltwater. Our top tip? Skip the towel dry and dry naturally in the sunshine instead – your skin will absorb all the salty goodness, leaving it feeling super hydrated.
Salt mine at Pedra de Lume.

Watch the turtles hatch

Between June and October, Sal becomes home to loggerhead turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs. There are two hatcheries on the island, where biologists and volunteers monitor hundreds of nests. When the turtles hatch, they’re released onto the sand to find their way back to the sea. If you’re really into doing your bit for the turtles here, you can even adopt a nest – how cool is that?
Turtles crawling on the sand towards the sea.
Ready to soak up all that Sal has to offer?

Get the lowdown on the best time to visit Sal and the top hotels in Cape Verde, or find out which Cape Verde island is best for you.

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

Author: Laura Wilkinson

Last updated: 25.03.2025

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