Things To Do in Sal

The hotels supply much of the evening entertainment, laying on barbecues, shows and live dancing. But you’ll also find a couple of bars and a disco in the middle of town. Caipirinhas are the drink of choice here – they’re much like the Brazilian cocktail, but instead of cachaça it comes with local grogue, made from sugarcane. Or, you can try the Strela beer.

Cape Verde’s biggest island can count Captain Cook and Sir Francis Drake among its visitors. Nowadays, though, it’s mainly day-trippers making tracks for the old capital, Cidade Velha. Along with its volcanic beach, you can head for its atmospheric market, the National Maritime Museum, or visit a church that dates back to 1495.

Cape Verde’s biggest island has got plenty in the way of history. Captain Cook and Sir Francis Drake both docked here on their voyages of discovery, and the old capital, Cidade Velha, was raided by pirates back in the 18th century. Today, you can see artefacts saved from sunken ships at the island’s National Maritime Museum.

One of the best ways to see the hidden treasures of Sal is to jump in a 4x4 and go for a ride. Your itinerary will cram in all the sights, from pastel-washed villages and mural-painted caves to the Buracona Lagoon – a sea-side cave whose waters light up to make it look like a big blue eye. There are even extra-salty lakes – a bit like the Dead Sea – where you'll float like a cork.

Back in the 18th century, this village was famous for its salt mines, which supplied the white stuff to Africa. Today, the industry has long gone, but the saltpans remain, providing a mosaic of pink, blue and green lakes set into a deep volcanic crater. Take a look at the old mining village, and then walk through a tunnel to enter the crater.

Sal, which means salt in Portuguese, used to be famous for just that. The salt mines have long gone – you’ll pass a rickety abandoned one on the way here – but the saltpans remain, and they’re great for bathing in. Because of the incredible buoyancy, you’ll float on the surface. Afterwards, head to the little café, wash off the salt, and sit back with an ice-cold drink.

This seven-kilometre beach at the foot of the island is, without doubt, Sal's sandy star. You’ll come across beach cafés and bars along the main stretch in town, but you don’t have to walk far to find solitude in the sand dunes. And, as this is one of the world’s top five windsurfing spots, watersports centres aren’t hard to come by.

Municipal Day celebrates the founding of Sal’s towns, and festivities across the island are explosive. The main event is the Santa Maria Festival of Music, which sees a string of local bands and soloists take over the sands of Santa Maria Beach.

Take a mini-cruise around Cape Verde to check out the lunar landscapes of the different islands. It’s a good way to see the area’s marine life, as well – keep an eye out for Crayola-coloured fish and technicolor coral formations. Most of the boats anchor at tucked-away beaches, so you can swim and snorkel in the turquoise waters.

It’d be a crime to come to Cape Verde and not spend a day out at sea. Join an excursion and you’ll cruise along the island’s coast at a tortoise-like pace. Most boats anchor at untouched beaches as you go. Plus, loads of them stop off at the isles’ best-known beauty spots, so make sure you pack a camera.

The combination of volcanic landscapes and crystal-clear waters on the island of Sal make it a dream come true for scuba divers, and there are lots of PADI courses for beginners. Drift around silent rock tunnels, weave your way through spooky wrecks swarming with parrotfish and lobster, and float over reef walls crowded with yellow polyps, trumpet fish and barracuda.

Rolling dunes plumped up like pillows, sun-scorched trees bent by trade winds, and miles of wind-rippled sands. Mother Nature pulled out all the stops to create the Viana Desert, on the neighbouring island of Boa Vista, so it’s only right you pay homage. Join a quad bike safari, go hiking, or hire a 4x4 to explore under your own steam. Time your visit for sunset to get the best views.

A mainstay on the town’s main street, Americo’s is justly famous for its grilled lobster. But if you’re feeling adventurous, you might want to give the gooseneck barnacles or grilled cuttlefish a go. Meat lovers won’t go hungry either – try cooking your fillet steak the traditional way here on your own personal hot stone.

Santa Maria’s beachfront restaurants specialise in seafood. And it’s done very elegantly, so expect tuna carpaccio, grilled lobster and the local wahoo fish. While you’re here you could also try the island’s speciality dish, cachupa – it’s a healthy stew made with meat, beans and vegetables. As for drinks, the local white wine – cha do fego branca – goes down a treat.

This stretch of white sand is ideal for sun-worshippers and windsurfers alike, with plenty of room to spread out your towel, and good winds out to sea. It's only five minutes in a taxi from Santa Maria, and there's a pretty lighthouse by the peninsula that sticks out into the sea.

This day-long festival celebrates Sal’s patron saint. Things kick off with morning mass in Santa Maria’s church. This is followed by processions down to the beach. And in the afternoon, there's live music, and swimming races in the Atlantic Ocean.

If you're up for wrestling with big game fish, you'll fall hook, line and sinker for Sal. Come here between July and October and you'll find waters bursting with supersized creatures of the deep. There are plenty of fishing trips to choose from, all leaving from Santa Maria. If Lady Luck's on your side, you could be reeling in anything from gigantic sailfish to sharks.

The sand dunes of Santa Maria Beach wrap around the southern coast of Sal for seven kilometres. Like lots of beaches on the island, it’s got a pretty quiet atmosphere. That said, there are a few watersports centres running the length of it if you want to take advantage of the great windsurfing conditions.

Pedra de Lume village may have once been famous for the salt mines that gave Sal its name, but nowadays it's only home to a few fishermen. Unsurprisingly then, the dinky beach is nice and quiet – you won't find much to disturb your peace.

Santa Maria’s melting pot of cultures means you’re never short of unusual souvenir ideas. You can browse the resort’s colourful little open-air market for coconut shell carvings, clay dolls, bongo drums and African masks. Elsewhere, you can wander the town’s cobbled streets where trendy surf shops go head-to-head with traditional artisans.

The white sands and clear waters of Ponta Preta grace hundreds of Cape Verde postcards. But this beach is just as popular for its windsurfing credentials as it is for its looks. The windsurfing championships are held here every year, so if you want to try your hand at the sport, you’ve got conditions fit for a pro. The beach is around a five-minute drive from Santa Maria.

Cape Verde is smack in the trade winds belt, so windsurfing conditions couldn’t be better. The winter winds here – which attract national teams – are a steady Force 4 to Force 5, which means exhilarating slalom runs aren’t hard to come by. Tortuga Beach is your best bet – it inspired top windsurfer Francois Guy to set up shop there.

Cape Verdeans have music in their blood, so any event here will serve up plenty of it. And this one, held on Santa Maria Beach, is the biggest and best. Thousands of people turn up to listen to local bands, as well as dance hip-thrusting batuko, to a line-up of international DJs and reggae artists. Beach barbecues serve up plenty of tasty food, too.

One of the best lunch spots on the island, this beachfront restaurant sits on a smart decked terrace overlooking the sands. The menu includes an array of fresh fish, which is grilled and served up with a choice of sauces, rice and fresh vegetables. Or you can choose from club sandwiches, salads and pasta.