Sal

Sal may be one of Cape Verde’s smallest islands but in terms of visitor appeal, it punches way above its weight. In fact, it’s not far away from becoming the proverbail knock-out!

In so many ways a microcosm of all that is great and good about the archipalego, Sal is a tropical isle of some 15,000 souls – the fourth most populated island in Cape Verde. It is also the oldest of the islands, formed around 50 million years ago during a huge volcanic eruption.

In terms of natural tourist resources, it has a myriad of surprises that collectively amount to a dreamy tropical destination that, certianly for its size, has few rivals on the planet. Add to that, the swell of recent and ongoing investment in high end tourism and leisure facilities – including a €2 billion resort comprising Ernie Els designed championship courses and 5-star Nikki Beach resort – and you have a tiny island that is fast turning into one of the world’s most exclusive tourist destinations.

To know Sal is to understand why such investment is justified. Here, where time seems to stand still, visitors effortlessly while away their days on endless white sandy beaches and in tropical temperatures, averaging year round between 25°C and 27°C. If it gets too hot – which, due to the cooling ocean breeze, it rarely does - guests can always cool down in the warm turquoise waters of the Atlantic.

For the more adventurous, there is an abundance of activities, particularly at shoreside where windsurfing, which is just one of the sports/activities available, is as good as it gets anywhere in the world. The island also boasts some of Cape Verde’s most unusual and fascinating scenery. The flattest of the volcanic Cape Verdean islands, Sal (Portuguese for salt) takes its name from its famous salt mines but was originally called Llana (meaning flat) until the discovery of its salt deposits. These deposits, although long since inactive, have left a wonderful legacy at Santa Maria, where saliency levels in pools are equal if not on par with the Dead Sea.

Another venue - perhaps the most picturesque on the island - that leaves visitors spell-bound is the Pedra Do Lume. This now extinct volcano, to which a man-made tunnel was built way back in 1804, bears a breathtaking crater some 500m in radius. Although 1km from the sea, water has still managed to filter its way into the crater and, again, the saliency level is such that it is impossible to be submerged. The island also has a maze of interconnecting caves to explore.

Today, Sal is Cape Verde’s principal point of entry, thanks in no small way to the development of its airport at Vila dos Esparagos, which was used as a major refueling base by various international airlines. The island now accounts for an estimated 50% of the archipelago’s burgeoning tourism industry, which is attributable to the Sal’s wonderful natural resources and ever improving accessibility to, and around, the island.

The ultimate acknowledgement of Sal as tourist destination is the massive wave of investment in elite, upmarket tourist and leisure facilities, which are largely concentrated around Santa Maria - Sal’s tourism epicentre. They don’t come much bigger than last year’s announcement of that €2 billion golf and leisure resort investment on a 425 hectare coastal site just ten minutes from both Santa maria and the international airport. ‘Calheta Bay’, with its magnificent ocean views from 70% of the site, will feature two Ernie Els designed and PGA managed 18 hole championship-standard golf courses. The golf facilities will include a PGA National Golf Academy, while experts predict the courses will be among the best in Europe/Africa.

The investment is a joint venture between the islands’ largest property development company, Cape Verde Development, Ernie Els and Nikki Beach. Included in it will be an exclusive ‘Nikki Beach Resort’ complete with an aqua park, golf and spa hotel and marina to accommodate super yachts, as well as a cultural centre that will tell the story of the islands.

Other investments on the island include the upmarket Paradise Beach and Murdeira Beach. Paradise Beach is an outstanding luxury beachfront resort that is beautifully positioned on 28 hectares of south-west coastline, within fifteen minutes walk of the tourist town of Santa Maria.

Similarly, the Murdeira Beach Resort includes exclusive units, a 75 berth marina, extensive sporting facilities, commercial space, a boat house with a diving centre and a variety of bars and restaurants.

Only 400m from the white sandy beach of Santa Maria, is the small resort of White Sands, which comprises 31 exclusive large apartments, including eight one-bedroom.

It is no wonder that investors have zoned in on the former capital of the island, Santa Maria. Located on a stunning bay at the foot of the island, once night-time descends this old-world town becomes a cauldron of fun as the famed Cape Verdean soul of carnival and celebration kicks in. Equal to the most vibrant and colourful Caribbean towns, Santa Maria throbs with a passion and spirit, encapsulating in its culture the east-meets-west fusion of African, European and Brazilain traditions on the islands. It is populated with stunning resturants that serve up exotic international and local cuisine. Restaurants in Sal are particularly renowned for their exotic fish dishes, with everything from fresh lobster to shellfish on the menu. Among the favourite venues are Atlantis, and Restaurant Chez-Pasti, while top watering holes are bars like Calema, May O’Leary’s, Papaya’s and the aptly titled Chill Out.

During the day, visitors relax under the soothing tropical sun along Santa Maria’s stunning 8km long beach or, if they feel up to it, participate in the many water-sports – windsurfing, kite surfing, fishing and diving - the area has to offer.

To the north of Santa Maria, is the world famous beach of Ponta Preta, which is rated among the top windsurfing locations on the planet. The pretty fishing village of Palmeira, only a short distance from the acacia oasis of Fontona, also has its own charm.

Espargos is the nearest village to the airport and it is the capital and administrative centre of the island. Other villages worth a visit include Algadoeira, another quaint oasis, and Buracona, where a natural swimming pool fills and empties according to the tides.

Sal is the ultimate getaway – perfect sun, sea and sand; stunning scenerey and abundant activities. And now, with investment in its tourism product coming by way of elite, high-end facilities, this is truly emerging as the archetypal island of dreams!

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