Private transport
Our guide Stephan and driver Hoi absolutely made our day. They were informative, drove safely and were so helpful. Both were engaging and answered all our questions. They made us feel at ease and we had a lot of laughs with them.
Sal may be small, but it punches above its weight when it comes to scenery. This private tour takes in the most memorable spots on the island – Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Buracona lagoon and Pedra de Lume salt flats. What's more, there's a three-course lunch in the capital, Espargos, and a visit to the Botanical Gardens. João, one of our local guides, says, ‘You'll have the chance to try Cape Verde's most famous dish – catchupa. It's a hearty stew with meat, beans, vegetables and sweetcorn. Every family has its own recipe, but the idea is the same. We cook catchupa for several hours, so the flavours become mellow.'
On a private tour, you have the freedom to adapt the itinerary and timings to suit your needs. We suggest kicking off with a trip to the legendary Kite Beach, where the sky is often a riot of colourful kitesurf sails. Then head down the coast to Murdeira Bay, and onwards to the palm-lined streets of Palmeira village, where bright murals adorn the walls. After this, visit the Buracona lagoon in search of the ‘blue eye,' and survey the mirage plains of Terra Boa.
Explore the capital, Espargos, before tucking into a lunch of local specialities. You'll then pop to Pedra de Lume salt flats, where the salty water means you'll float like a cork. Before things wrap up, we'll wander through the colourful botanical gardens and have a cocktail at Ponta Preta beach club. And as a keepsake of your day, you'll take home a handmade pottery gift.