Cheap holiday in Sal

When is the best time to go?

Sal is the island of eternal summer: 25 to 30 degrees all year, little rain and sun almost guaranteed. November to June is pleasant and dry, July to November a little warmer and more humid. The sea stays swimmable year-round (22 to 25 degrees). Kitesurfers come between December and April, when the trade winds blow hardest.

The best areas on Sal

• Santa Maria The lively tourist heart in the south, with the finest white beaches, a fish market on the pier and most of the hotels and restaurants.
• Espargos The central capital, more local and cheaper than Santa Maria, with real Cape Verdean eateries and live morna music.
• Palmeira The colourful little fishing harbour on the west coast where the boats land the fresh catch.
• Pedra de Lume The east, famous for the old salt crater where you can float in the salty lake.
• Buracona and the north The rugged volcanic coast with natural pools and the famous Blue Eye.

Top 5 things to do on Sal

• Pedra de Lume salt crater Float like in the Dead Sea in the salty lake of an old volcanic crater. Entry around 5 euro.
• Buracona Blue Eye A cave in black lava where, around midday (11 to 13h), the sun turns the water bright blue. Entry around 3 euro.
• Santa Maria beach and pier Kilometres of white sand and turquoise sea; on the pier you watch fishermen clean their catch (and stingrays).
• Shark Bay At low tide you wade into the shallow water and harmless young lemon sharks swim calmly around you.
• Kite Beach and Terra Boa One of the world's most famous kitesurfing beaches, plus the fata morgana (mirage) in the desert near Terra Boa.

Flights + transport from the Netherlands

TUI flies direct from Amsterdam Schiphol to Sal (SID) year-round in about 6 hours 40, several times a week. There are no direct flights from Eindhoven, so plan from Schiphol. A taxi from the airport to Santa Maria costs at most around 20 euro; locally the cheap aluguer minibuses run. To explore Buracona, Shark Bay and Terra Boa on your own a rental car is handy (from around 50 euro a day, a 4x4 is recommended for the unpaved roads). Note: all travellers complete the mandatory EASE registration in advance (around 35 euro per person, including airport tax); a passport is enough.

What does a holiday on Sal cost?

On Sal you pay in Cape Verdean escudo, but euros are accepted everywhere. Hotels cost 60 to 120 euro per night, all-inclusive resorts a bit more; a local dinner with fresh fish runs around 12 to 18 euro. Budget from around 650 euro per person for 7 days including a direct flight.