Getting Around Sal: Walkability, Public Transit & Biking

Sal, especially in the town of Santa Maria, offers a walkable environment for travelers, with amenities like hotels, restaurants, and shops situated close to each other. This compact layout allows visitors to explore significant parts of town conveniently on foot. However, the island's infrastructure is not uniformly pedestrian-friendly, with varying sidewalk conditions and longer distances between towns, making walking less practical for island-wide exploration.

Public transportation in Sal is limited, relying mainly on private minibuses known as 'aluguers' that connect towns like Santa Maria, Espargos, and Palmeira. While these offer an affordable way to travel between major hubs, they do not cover all attractions and may require supplementing with taxis. The frequency and reliability of services can be inconsistent, posing a challenge for travelers looking to explore the island extensively via public transit.

Sal's flat terrain is conducive to biking, providing an accessible way to travel short distances, particularly within towns. However, the lack of dedicated bike lanes and the occasional heavy traffic diminish the island's overall bike-friendliness. Biking is a viable option for coastal rides or moving around Santa Maria, but may not be suitable for traversing the entire island, especially in less-developed areas.