Sal and Boa Vista are Cape Verde's two big beach islands, and most first-timers choose between them. They look similar on paper — flat, sandy, sunny — but they feel quite different. Here's how to pick.
The quick answer
Choose Sal if you want a livelier holiday with a walkable resort town, lots of restaurants, watersports and easy independence. Choose Boa Vista if you want somewhere quieter and wilder, with bigger, emptier beaches, a real desert and better wildlife — accepting that it's more remote and resort-based.
Beaches
Both have superb sand. Sal's Santa Maria beach is gorgeous and has safe swimming by the pier, right by the town. Boa Vista's beaches are longer and emptier — Santa Monica is arguably the finest in the country — but many have strong currents, with the sheltered Sal Rei bay best for swimming.
Town, food & nightlife
Sal wins here. Santa Maria is a real, walkable resort town packed with restaurants, bars and shops, so you can easily eat out and go independent. Boa Vista's resorts are more isolated and there are fewer options nearby, so most guests stay all-inclusive and head into little Sal Rei for a taste of local life.
Things to do
Sal: watersports (it's a world kitesurfing hub), the Pedra de Lume salt-crater float, catamaran trips. Boa Vista: desert 4x4 tours, the shipwreck, and stronger wildlife — whales and turtles. Both offer seasonal whale and turtle trips.
The verdict
For a first trip, nightlife, watersports and easy dining: Sal. For space, nature, calm and the wow-factor beaches: Boa Vista. Can't decide? They're a short hop apart, so some people do both — see our island-hopping guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sal or Boa Vista better?
Sal is livelier and easier for independent travel; Boa Vista is quieter, wilder and more scenic. Sal suits first-timers and active travellers; Boa Vista suits those wanting calm and nature.
Which has better beaches, Sal or Boa Vista?
Boa Vista has bigger, emptier and arguably more beautiful beaches, but Sal has easier, safer swimming right by its resort town.
Is Boa Vista quieter than Sal?
Yes. Boa Vista is more remote and resort-based with fewer restaurants and less nightlife, while Sal has a busy, walkable resort town in Santa Maria.