The island is long and narrow, aligned north to south, and with the few main roads forming a ‘T’ shape with Pedra de Lume and Palmeira on the ends of the branches and the main settlement Santa Maria at the bottom.
Santa Maria has some excellent hotels along with a sensitively designed apartment and town house development making use of the beautiful coastline. The beach there is good for sunbathing and safe for swimming but also attracts windsurfers for the westerly breezes that blow in from the Atlantic. To the west of Santa Maria you’ll find the awe-inspiring sand dunes that are a popular tourist destination and are particularly attractive in the red glow of the setting sun.
Getting out and about from Sal, you can visit Pedra de Lume on the east coast which is a tiny fishing village with a small harbour. Sadly, the area will lose its traditional feel soon for it is earmarked for a marina and big golf course.