Most travelers who book Cape Verde end up on Sal or Boa Vista: about nine out of ten vacationers choose one of these two islands, usually in an all-inclusive resort. Rightly so, because they are beautiful. But Bruno also regularly hears from travelers looking for something different than a resort with a swimming pool. This is the honest difference between Sal, Boa Vista, and Santiago.
Sal: sun, sea and kitesurfing
Sal literally means ‘salt’, and the salt mines of Pedra de Lume are therefore one of the best-known sights. Most visitors stay in the fishing village of Santa Maria, with eight kilometers of white sandy beach and pastel-colored houses. Sal is the island for kitesurfers and surfers: Kite Beach is internationally renowned. The island is flat and desert-like, with an international airport and many direct flights from Europe.
Boa Vista: beaches and desert
Boa Vista has the longest, most deserted beaches of the archipelago, including Santa Monica Beach. Sea turtles lay their eggs here, and the impressive sand dunes of Viana are reminiscent of the Sahara. Boa Vista is also mainly about large resorts, peace, and the beach, with less emphasis on local interaction.
Santiago: the versatile island
Santiago is the largest island of Cape Verde and home to the capital city, Praia. Instead of resorts, you will find bustling markets here such as Sucupira in Praia and Assomada, colonial architecture in Cidade Velha (a UNESCO World Heritage site), strenuous hikes like the Pico de Antónia, and the quiet, still undiscovered beach of Tarrafal. Santiago does not have miles of resort beaches like Boa Vista, but it does boast a concentration of culture, history, and nature that you will not find on the other two islands.
Which island suits whom?
- Kies Sal if you mainly want to kitesurf, lounge on the beach, and want to put in little effort to get there
- Choose Boa Vista if you are looking for the most remote, pristine beaches and love tranquility
- Choose Santiago if you really want to get to know Cape Verde: culture, markets, hiking, history, and beach all in one trip
Many travelers combine it: a few days of beach on Sal or Boa Vista, followed by a week on Santiago for the real Cape Verdean feel. Others consciously choose only Santiago, precisely to avoid mass tourism.
Read also why we think that Santiago, the most versatile island of Cape Verde, is.
Discover Santiago with Bruno
We are a local tour operator, based on Santiago. Our tours take you to the places that most visitors of Sal and Boa Vista never see.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine Sal or Boa Vista with Santiago?
Yes, with a short domestic flight (usually €50 to €100) you can easily travel between the islands.
Is Santiago just as beach-friendly as Sal or Boa Vista?
Santiago has beautiful beaches like Tarrafal, but fewer kilometers of continuous sandy beach than Boa Vista. Those who are mainly looking for a beach are best off combining it with one of the other islands.
Why do so few travelers choose Santiago?
Santiago has fewer large resorts and fewer direct flights from Europe, making it less known to mass tourism. That is precisely why it has remained so authentic.
Do you already know that Santiago suits you better than a resort island? View our Santiago tours and discover why more and more travelers are choosing this authentic island.
