Holiday in Sal
Island in Kapverden — tips, highlights & best time to visit
Country
Kapverden
Type
Island
Best time to travel
November to June (dry season, 23-28 °C). Sunny and warm year-round. July-October has slightly more wind and occasional rain.
Budget/day
75-150 €
Getting there from Germany
Direct flight to Sal (SID, approx. 6 hours from several German airports). No visa required (up to 30 days, EASE registration online).
Deals for Sal:
What makes Sal special as a destination?
Sal is the most touristically developed island of Cape Verde and the main destination for European beach holidaymakers. The flat, dry island in the Atlantic offers year-round sunshine, consistent wind, and some of the best conditions for kitesurfing and windsurfing in the world. Santa Maria in the south is the tourist center with a long beach promenade, colorful houses, restaurants, bars, and the famous pier from which one can observe lemon sharks and rays in the clear water. The beach of Santa Maria stretches for several kilometers with fine, golden sand. The Pedra de Lume salt flats are located in an extinct volcanic crater and offer a surreal experience: floating in the pink salt lake like in the Dead Sea, surrounded by the crater rims of a lunar landscape. The historic salt flats were once the economic foundation of Sal and gave the island its name. The Buracona Blue Eye — a natural rock hole through which sunlight falls into an underground grotto, making the water glow intensely blue — is one of the most photographed natural wonders of Cape Verde. Between February and April, when the sun is perfectly positioned, the water literally explodes in bright turquoise.
What are the top highlights in Sal?
The top highlights in Sal include Santa Maria Beach, Pedra de Lume Saline, Buracona Blue Eye, Kite Beach, Shark Bay.
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Santa Maria Beach
Kilometer-long golden sand beach: Sal's tourist lifeline with pier, bars, and lemon sharks in the water.
Pedra de Lume Saline
Floating in the salt lake of a volcanic crater: surreal Dead Sea experience in a pink lunar landscape.
Buracona Blue Eye
Natural rock hole with glowing blue: when sunlight falls into the grotto, the water explodes in color.
Kite Beach
World-class kitesurfing spot with consistent wind: professional schools for beginners and pros.
Shark Bay
Shallow bay with lemon sharks and rays: safe snorkeling with sharks in knee-deep water.
Santa Maria Pier
Sal's landmark: colorful wooden jetty, fishermen, diving boats, and the perfect sunset spot.
Hotels in Sal
Compare thousands of hotels, apartments and resorts on Expedia – with price guarantee, free cancellation and reward points.
* You will be redirected to Expedia.de. Their terms of use apply.
Reise-SIM für Sal
Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
When is the best time to visit Sal?
The best time to visit Sal is November to June (dry season, 23-28 °C). Sunny and warm year-round. July-October has slightly more wind and occasional rain.. 25-30 °C, warm and windy with occasional short showers In winter: 22-27 °C, dry, sunny, and pleasant — perfect beach weather
Recommended travel time
November to June (dry season, 23-28 °C). Sunny and warm year-round. July-October has slightly more wind and occasional rain.
Summer
25-30 °C, warm and windy with occasional short showers
Winter
22-27 °C, dry, sunny, and pleasant — perfect beach weather
How much does a holiday in Sal cost?
Budget travellers: 40-65 €/day, mid-range: 75-150 €/day, luxury: 170-400 €/day.
Average costs per person per day
Budget
40-65 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
75-150 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
170-400 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
How do I get from Germany to Sal?
Direct flight to Sal (SID, approx. 6 hours from several German airports). No visa required (up to 30 days, EASE registration online).
Book a package holiday to Sal
Compare thousands of package holidays to Sal and find the best deals with flight & hotel.
Compare package holidays nowWhat travel tips are there for Sal?
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
No visa required — visa-free for up to 30 days. Complete EASE registration online in advance (mandatory). Direct flights from 6 hours!
Kitesurfing — Sal is one of the best kite spots in the world. Schools in Santa Maria starting from about 60 € for beginner courses.
Pedra de Lume — visit in the morning before the tourist buses arrive. Saltwater sticks, definitely shower afterwards.
Blue Eye — between 10 and 12 o'clock, when the sun is just right. February-April for the most intense effect.
Tipping — 5-10% customary in restaurants. Be mindful of belongings on the beaches, but overall safe.
What should you eat in Sal?
Typical specialities in Sal: Cachupa — corn and bean stew in two variations: Cachupa Rica (with meat) and Cachupa Pobre (simpler) — the national dish., Buzio — snails in tomato sauce or grilled: Sal's maritime delicacy, fresh from the ocean., Percebes — goose barnacles: rare delicacy harvested from rocks — intensely briny and expensive., Caldo de Peixe — hearty fish soup with cassava and banana: Cape Verdean comfort food after a day at the beach., Caipirinha de Grogue — Cape Verdean version with local sugarcane spirit: stronger and spicier than the Brazilian original..
These specialties you must try!
