Sal is the most developed of the Cape Verde Islands for tourism, the town of Santa Maria being the centre of the action and the main tourist resort of Cape Verde. Crystal clear waters lap along stretches of beautiful white sandy beach, and  water sports enthusiasts and holidaymakers make the most of the rapidly developing hotels, resorts and tourist infrastructure. Santa Maria is becoming one of the world’s top locations for wind and kite surfers as well as being an excellent destination for diving and sun worshipping. Santa Maria has surprisingly good restaurants right on the beach, and in the town you find a lovely square with shops, bars and restaurants with musicians playing Cape Verdean classics in the open air. Santa Maria is still very much in it’s infancy as a resort. The palms are still 4 feet high, but growing with the popularity of this charming town.

The international airport in Sal is a 15 minute drive to Santa Maria, on the best tarmac road in Cape Verde.