
Windsurfing at Santa Maria © www.caboverde.com
Sal is the liveliest and most touristy of the Cape Verde
Islands, the town of Santa Maria being the centre of the action.
Crystal clear waters lap long stretches of white sandy beach,
drawing water sports enthusiasts and holidaymakers who make the
most of the rapidly developing hotels and resorts. Nearer the
international airport is the town of Espargos, where shops, bars
and restaurants do good business, the strains of live music usually
filling the air. The island's main port, Palmeira, is a working
fishing harbour and import station, but is currently improving its
tourist infrastructure in line with the rest of the island.
Sal's landscape is unexciting, being flat and arid, but there
are some interesting features to visit including the salt lake at
Pedra de Lume and a volcano crater. Tourists also enjoy day trips
to the nearby island of Boavista, known for its sand dunes, by
catamaran.