Home to the best beaches in the archipelago, on Sal you bathe with clean white sand spreading out to either side of the horizon. If you are looking for snorkelling opportunities offshore, hit Santa Maria Beach. Stroll along the crystal clear Santa Maria waters and make a splash, or bask in the sunshine. Meet powdery creamy white sands where dotted boats dominate. Be sure to grab some seafood while you soak up the sun. To view baby turtles hatching, take a beautiful eco-tour and observe Caretta Loggerhead turtles as they lay eggs in their natural habitat of protected beaches. Check out underwater caves at the inlet of Buracona, plus astonishingly clear reefs. From scuba diving to windsurfing, snorkelling to kitesurfing, Sal provides all kinds of water sports. Kite Beach and Ponta Preta are ideal venues for kitesurfing and windsurfing. Join other visitors watching turtles, manta rays, shoals of fish, and colourful corals. Engage in all fishing activities, including surfcasting, deep-sea fishing, rock fishing, and big game fishing.
A vast amount of Cape Verde is desert, so you have a chance to chart quad bike trails through rugged terrain and sand dunes. Afterwards, head to the well-known Pedra de Lume salt pools for a picturesque backdrop offered by Serra Negra mountain.
This is the most prominent island for family holidays in Cape Verde, with Pico de Fogo Volcano as the main attraction. Climb the mountain in six hours, starting from Cha de Caldeiras town. Another great place to be in Fogo is Sao Filipe, the biggest city on the island and home to Cape Verde's main airport. The relaxing beaches on the isle are well worth exploring.
While this busy harbour town hosts most of the archipelago's imports and exports, it has plenty of spots for relaxation, including family-friendly bars and restaurants. There is stunning architecture in Palmeira and numerous underwater caves offshore. Divers usually flock the town as well as hikers. To the north, around 5km from Palmeira port there is a water inlet, Olho Azul, which leads seawater to the wilderness.