You already know Cape Verde’s a popular pick for beach holidays. But then you find out there are two big islands to choose between and how are you meant to know which is best? This article’s a start… Pick your fighter – Boa Vista vs Sal. We’ve put these two standouts in a head-to-head to battle it out for your next Cape Verde visit.
A bit about Cape Verde…
There are many reasons why Cape Verde’s a big name in the beachy travel world. The volcanic archipelago’s got Insta-worthy salt lakes, deep-green mountain ranges and solid windsurfing swell. You can pick from plenty of luxe beachfront resorts and loads are All Inclusive for the whole package. Plus, sitting around 500km off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde doesn’t know the meaning of winter, with sun all year round, so you can’t really go wrong.
Why pick Boa Vista
Need a reason to reach for your passport? Enter, Boa Vista. Just three things worth shouting about include its desert-island feel, rolling sand dunes and its amazing watersports offering. But ofc there’s a whole lot more, too. Did you know Boa Vista is one of the best places in the world for windsurfing? Thanks to a prime position in the Atlantic Ocean, its variety of swells and lack of strong currents mean people travel here just for the sport.
If sunning yourself is more your thing, there are plenty of beaches to test your tanning game. In fact, this gorg island boasts more than 55 kilometres’ worth of sand and the rocky bays and clear waters just keep coming. Stretch out on Santa Monica Beach – it’s named after California’s mother of all sands for good reason. Here, the coastline stretches out for a whopping 18 kilometres. You could take a hike from end to end or just lay out and chill – you’ll likely have a section all to yourself. Bliss.
Why pick Sal
It’s a tough competition for the title of beach heaven. The sun-kissed resort of Sal raises you powder-white sands, stunning blue water and plenty of good vibes. Plus, this spot is known for a load of chilled-out beach bars right on the sand, so you’ll never be too far away from those ice-cold Caipirinha cocktails – top priority.
Look away from Sal’s shoreline, though, and you’ll still find plenty of things to do. The star of the show here is the town of Santa Maria, where you can spend the day wandering through colourful cobbled streets that settle in next to surf shacks, traditional Cape Verdean restaurants, and a handful of al fresco cafés. The seafood is something else. And you won’t want to miss out on browsing through the market stalls, either. You can find everything from clay dolls to coconut shell carvings and traditional African masks here, so it’s perfect for culture vultures.
If Cape Verde sounds like a bit of you, get it booked or browse our other Beach holidays.
Looking for more articles? You’ll find them on the Inspire homepage.
Author: Lily Owen (she/her)
Last updated: 05/09/25
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