Search hotels on Sal, Cape Verde

we stayed near the pier which was idyllic. Santa Maria is not commercialized no high rise hotels etc. it is very laid back and chilled. there are plenty of bars and restaurants though but this is not a party place if that's what you are wanting its for relaxing. the locals are so nice and just want to please you. Bear in mind if you stay in one of the big hotels they are not near the beach i would opt of an apartment as most of these are on the sea front

Perfect base to explore the whole island of Sal. Very close to the airport. Especially nice experience for me was Pedra de Lume. There are nice and helpful people everywhere. I will certainly come back. Please note that this is not a beach or resort type of holiday like in Santa Maria.

Beirona/ Murdeira is a beautiful place, definitely worth choosing if you want to relax on the beach/ by the pool without crowds of people around you. There’s just one shop here ( it has an ATM which is a huge advantage), but it’s well stocked. If you’re not a fan of big resorts, but want a laid back holiday, be sure to visit.

This is a small working port town with a traditional small scale fishing industry. It is gradually coming up into the modern world as a result of tourism. The harbour is used by yachts, tall ships and daytrip boats. There is a town beach but it is not commercialised in any way and is not cleaned for leisure purposes. The people are friendly and we did not feel threatened in any way. Restaurants, hotels and some shops will accept Euros and there is an ATM in the town. We liked Palmeira for a short visit before and after a sailing holiday. A taxi to the airport costs 800 cve or 8 Euro.

Fantastic Stay at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde – Relaxing, Welcoming, and Memorable! 🌴 I recently spent a week at Hotel Riu Cabo Verde and had a wonderful experience from start to finish. The location is stunning – right on a beautiful, sandy beach with clear blue waters. Perfect for long walks, swimming, or simply relaxing with a cocktail in hand. The hotel itself is clean, well-maintained, and designed for comfort. My room was spacious, with a lovely balcony and a well-stocked minibar. Housekeeping did a great job keeping everything tidy and fresh. What really stood out was the staff – everyone from reception to the restaurant team was warm, friendly, and helpful. They went out of their way to make sure guests were comfortable and having a good time. The food options were impressive, especially for an all-inclusive resort. The buffet had a great variety with fresh, flavorful dishes, and the à la carte restaurants were a nice change of pace. I particularly enjoyed the Italian and the steakhouse. During the day, there were plenty of activities (shoutout to the fun and energetic entertainment team!), but if you just want to unwind, the two pools and beach loungers offer plenty of space to relax. If I had to note anything, I’d say the buffet can get a bit repetitive after several days, and outdoor seating in the evenings could be a bit more sheltered from the wind. But those are small things in an otherwise excellent stay. Overall, I highly recommend Hotel Riu Cabo Verde for anyone looking for a relaxing, sun-filled getaway with great service and a welcoming vibe. I’d definitely return!

Espargos is a good place to stay to reach the Blue Eye Cave, Shark Bay and Pedro da Lume, but I thought it would be cheaper to get to those places by taxi. Overall not much to do in the city itself, but I didnt want to miss the island’s capital. Not as touristy as Santa Maria, you can stroll the streets without being bothered, I felt safe, very friendly propeople as everywhere on Sal .

The first thing to say about Santa Maria is that local people are very friendly and welcoming. Trips are available for motorised vehicles, sea trips and cultural site seeing. During the day Santa Maria is very good for watersports and of course relaxing at the beach. There is always wind which helps with the water sport and doesn't cause sunworshippers any real inconvenience. There is a long stretch of beach which is worth walking, it has numerous beach bars which can be relaxing or lively dependant on where they are along the beach. The evenings are relaxed and mainly consist of dining, dinking, dancing and listening to music. There are numerous bars and restaurants to choose from, both on the main street and further in. There are many shops and a market to look around but I can't say much about this as it's not my thing. What I particularly like about Santa Maria is that it is not over developed, although things are moving along. Santa Maria takes me back to a time when life was far simpler and in my opinion much better. The key thing to remember is that you are in an African country with it's own culture and characteristics, just embrace it!