Sal
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Private transfers are included for this hotel
Offering a fantastic base on the island of Sal, Hotel Pontão is only a short walk from both the main resort and the golden beach.
Hotel Pontão is in a central location in Santa Maria, just 10 minutes from the beach on foot, providing the perfect base for a good value holiday in Sal.
The pool provides an excellent focal point for the hotel.
Hotel Pontão is a friendly hotel situated in the centre of Santa Maria, offering attractive accommodation for both couples and single travellers alike. Ideally located close to the central square with its growing choice of busy restaurants and bars, this hotel is the perfect choice for those wanting to sample the different cuisine options at hand and spend their evenings taking in the local ambience. A 10-minute stroll away is Santa Maria’s stunning beach, where beautiful turquoise waters lap at soft golden sands, and you’ll also discover the pier, which each day comes alive with the local fishermen bringing in their catch of the day.
Over the past few seasons, this hotel has undergone serveral improvements, including refurbishment to rooms and public areas. This provides a fresh and contemporary look, along with improved levels of comfort, offering an excellent base for a beach holiday in Sal.
Pontão hosts a total of 84 rooms, all set over two or three floors surrounding the central pool. The standard rooms are airy and spacious, while the smart superior rooms are newer and furnished in a more modern style (our pricing is based on superior rooms). There’s a bright and colourful bar area close to reception, where guests can enjoy a drink and make use of the free Wi-Fi, plus a breakfast room on the ground floor. Further comfort can be found in the hotels new roof terrace area, complete with a Jucuzzi, sunloungers, a small gym and table tennis, as well as majestic views over Santa Maria
Official local hotel rating: 3 star
Our Guest’s Opinion
- Mrs Yates
Superior Pool View Room
From £1,048pp
Sleeps up to 2
A newly decorated, double/twin room that sleeps two adults with balcony or terrace overlooking the pool. Superior rooms are located on the ground, first or second floor.
Superior Room
From £1,027pp
Minimum child age: 2
A newly decorated, double/twin room that sleeps two adults with balcony or terrace. Superior rooms are located on the ground, first or second floor.
Opening dates are subject to change and beyond our control.
Local
Barracuda
Seafood
More information
Soul Kitchen
Gourmet Restaurant
Zum Fisherman
Ristorante Cretcheu
Seafood & cocktails
Chéz Pastis
White sand beaches and turquoise sea.
Principally a beach resort with long stretches of white sand and an abundance of water sports Sal is really an island for beach lovers as most of the island's sights and attractions can be seen in half a day.
By night, Santa Maria, the main tourist area in Sal boasts a lively atmosphere with a good choice of bars and restaurants.
Sal is the most developed of all the Cape Verde Islands in terms of tourism yet still has a very barren landscape. In the north of the island you will find a salt lake in an extinct volcano crater, an impressive sight. Marine life around the coast of Sal and the rest of the archipelago is high with countless species including flamboyant tropical fish, dolphins and turtles.
Live music plays a huge part in Cape Verdean culture and is often performed live in various bars in Santa Maria during the evening. This is a unique experience and one not to be missed.
A large percentage of visitors come to Sal for the water sports and it's hardly surprising. Sal's long sandy beaches and turquoise water make a wonderful playground for water sports enthusiasts. It is also the perfect place for relaxing in the sun and enjoying long walks along the coastline. Sal is considered to be amongst the world's top five windsurfing locations so it is not uncommon to see bright coloured sails dotted about the ocean. Kite surfing, diving and deep-sea fishing are also very big on Sal. There are plenty of places to hire equipment, have lessons and organise trips.
Santa Maria beach on Sal is simply stunning, offering four and a half miles of golden white sand. You can always find your own piece of paradise here, whether it be enjoying long romantic strolls along the shoreline and relaxing into the pure peacefulness, or hunting out the excellent water sports that the waters provides the perfect playground for.
The following are just a couple of festivals that take place on Sal:
Nossa Sra. De Piedade (Our Lady of Pity) 15th August - Mass, processions, swimming contests and music festival on beach with local musicians.
Santa Maria Festival (Municipality Day) 16th & 17th September - Music festival
It's important to remember that tourism is still very much in its infancy in Cape Verde. There's ongoing development on the islands, so you may see and hear building works, so if there's work taking place in or next to your chosen hotel, we will advise if you we think it will affect your holiday. You may also encounter locals selling paintings and handicrafts, however they're quite harmless.
With constant breezes the Islands don't disappoint for windsurfing holidays and the keenest windsurfer can pretty well count on being able to windsurf every day; however the seas and wind dictate that you need a fairly high level of competence and experience.
Due to their position within the winter tradewind belt, the Cape Verde Islands boast near perfect wind conditions from late November to June and so the Island of Sal has been a popular haven for windsurfing holidays for years.
On Sal, the main area for windsurfing is at the southern end of the island in Santa Maria. The bay here has a white sandy beach stretching for approximately 4km with a steep sand entry in parts.
For the more experienced, seeking the rush of some serious wave riding then a visit to Punta Preta, on the rougher west side, is a must. Waves here can reach up to 8ft running onto a stony shore break.
The Cape Verde Islands are a diver's paradise with wrecks to explore, rich tropical underwater flora and a massive array of fish including shoals of rockfish and bream, dolphins, turtles and sharks.
Cat sharks are frequently seen and with some luck you can also observe tiger sharks, lemon sharks, hammer-head sharks and mako sharks.
We are pleased to offer diving with Cabo Verde Diving based on the beach near the Meliá hotel in Santa Maria, Sal. Dives, courses and equipment hire can be arranged by your resort representatives or prior to your holiday.
Cabo Verde Diving offers dives every day in the morning and afternoon. Night dives and dive packages (6 or more dives) can also be arranged.