Essential information for Sal

When to go

Temperatures in Sal stay fairly warm all year with annual averages of 26°C. Even in the winter you’ll be sure to get incredible weather on your Sal holidays, with temperatures staying above 19°C between December and March. Make sure to pack some sun cream. The breeze from the Sahara means you’ll always have a little cool air to keep you comfortable. Rain clouds are scarce in Sal and this inviting island gets an average of 350 days of sunshine a year, so there’s no bad time to visit.

Sal is known for being a windy island, and the best time for any kitesurfers or windsurfers to visit is in the winter months between October and April. The sea is warm all year round with comfortable swimming conditions at 26°C in the summer and 24°C in the winter.

Health and safety

As with any holiday, you should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover yourself and family on your trip. Make sure you have funds easily accessible to cover any cost of medical treatment you might need.

If you are visiting Sal specifically to take part in sports or watersports, including hiking, you should make sure your insurance covers this. See our holiday extras page for more information and for the latest health and safety information visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cape-verde.

Passports and visas

British citizens need an entry visa to enter Cape Verde and must have a valid passport. By law, you must carry your passport with you and may need to show it when paying by credit card. For the most up-to-date passport and visa info, visit https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cape-verde/entry-requirements.

Getting around

The main tourist town in Sal is Santa Maria, known for its incredible white-sand beach. This town is just a 20-minute drive from the Amilcar Cabral International airport and the capital city, and is home to most of the resorts on the island. The easiest way to get to your hotel or resort is by public minibus or taxi, but most tour operators will include transfers as part of their Cape Verde holiday packages, so check before you travel.

There’s only four main towns in Sal so you can easily travel the whole of the island on your visit. The buses here are very well organised and there are fixed prices on their routes. They run between Santa Maria to Espargos and Espargos to Palmeira. If there’s somewhere in between you want to visit, just ask the bus driver once you’re on board. There’s several places where you can rent a vehicle in Santa Maria if you want to visit the whole island in one day.

You can get a direct international flight to Sal from Manchester, Gatwick and Birmingham. You can also get flights to the surrounding islands in Cape Verde once you have landed in Sal.

Advice for travellers with children

Children will enjoy the endless soft sand beaches in Sal and its great watersport facilities. Teenagers can learn to kitesurf or windsurf here. The vast majority of hotels have kids’ clubs and large outdoor pools for children to splash in, and with a range of All Inclusive Cape Verde holidays on offer you can guarantee family-friendly dining options and entertainment if you wish.

A great excursion to take children on is a visit to Sal’s turtle hatchery in Santa Maria. You can take guided walks to see these beautiful creatures lay their eggs on the shore during July, August and September. From August to December you’ll have a front-row seat to watch the baby turtles hatch before your very eyes.

Electricity

Connector type: Generally round two-pin adapter

Voltage info: 220 volts AC, 50Hz

Emergency services

In case of an emergency call 132 for the police or 131 for the fire department services.

British Consulate

If you are a victim of crime, affected by a crisis overseas, or if something happens to a relative or partner, contact the British Consulate. There is no British Embassy in Sal or Cape Verde. If you’re in Cape Verde and you need urgent consular assistance, you should call +44 1908 516666.

Hospitals

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 130 (Santiago island) and ask for an ambulance.

Hospital Do Sal

Address: Caixa Postal No. 72, Bairro Novo, Espargos, Sal, Cape Verde

Telephone Number: 2411130/2700

Fax: 241-1162

E-mail Address: pulinhasantos@gmail.com