If you are staying in Santa Maria Sal, this hidden spot Praia Afonso is a must. Get here by walking along the south east coast of Sal, Cape de Verde. It’s about 1 kilometer or 15 min walk east from Santa Maria.

Praia Afonso is basically some old deserted wooden buildings offering shade, a place to grill or just relax in your own privacy. There is a small beach protected from waves but there are a lot of coral here.

Take a swim in the pond, just behind the buildings. This is probably the most child friendly bathing spot for smaller children since the pond is completely safe from waves. No more than 0,5-1 m water, but filled with tropical fish and crabs. Snorkeling here is a must. There is no other place like this in the whole of Cape de Verde islands and Sal.

There are rarely any people at this spot. Maybe one or two tourists walking by, or an African family cooking away in the weekend. Don’t be surprised if they invite you to join them. Sometimes one or two locals are fishing at this cape, or collecting small crabs from under the stones along the shoreline, a common activity in Cape de Verde islands.