Book Cheap Flights to Sal from UK

Cheap Flights to Sal from the UK

Direct flights from the UK to Sal take around 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours. Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID) is the arrival airport, located 3 km from Espargos, 18 km from Santa Maria.

TUI from Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Newcastle, and East Midlands. easyJet from Gatwick and Manchester. Also easyJet from Gatwick starting March 2025. Connecting flights via Lisbon with TAP Air Portugal are another option if direct availability is limited.

Return fares from the UK start at £200-350 in the quieter months and go up to £480-650+ during school holidays and the winter sun season. Package deals through TUI sometimes work out cheaper than booking flights alone.

Sal is Cape Verde's most popular tourist island, and Santa Maria at the southern tip is where most visitors stay. The island is flat and dry with consistent year-round sunshine and temperatures of 24-30°C. Salt mines at Pedra de Lume sit inside a volcanic crater. Shark Bay has nurse sharks in shallow water.

Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID) - Facilities & Travel Guide

Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID) serves Sal, Cape Verde. Located 3 km from Espargos, 18 km from Santa Maria, it handles domestic and international flights. The airport provides basic to moderate facilities depending on the scale of operations.

Amilcar Cabral International Airport provides the following facilities:

Terminal: Modern terminal building with check-in, security, and boarding gates.
Shopping and Dining: Duty-free shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Currency Exchange: Available in the terminal.
Car Hire: Available from operators at the airport.
Wi-Fi: Free Wi-Fi available in the terminal.
Lounges: VIP lounge access available for eligible passengers.

Taxis to Santa Maria (the main tourist town) cost about 1,500-2,500 CVE (around £12-20) and take 15-20 minutes. Shuttle buses run by tour operators are cheaper. Most package holidays include transfers.

Travel tips for Sal:

EASE Registration: Complete the online EASE form at least 5 days before travel to pay the security tax.
Cash: Cape Verdean Escudo (CVE) is the local currency. Euros are widely accepted. ATMs available in main towns.
Language: Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole. Some English spoken in tourist areas.
Climate: Warm year-round, 24-30°C. Trade winds keep things comfortable.

Flight Times to Sal

Direct flights from the UK to Sal with TUI and easyJet take about around 5 hours 30 minutes to 6 hours. These run seasonally, mostly during the winter sun and summer holiday periods.

Connecting flights add a few hours to the journey:

Via Lisbon (TAP Air Portugal): Around 8-10 hours total.

Tips if taking a connecting route:

Lisbon is the main connection point for indirect Cape Verde flights. TAP layovers are usually 2-5 hours.
For inter-island connections, allow at least 3 hours between flights. Schedules are limited.
If your budget allows, the direct TUI or easyJet flights save you significant time and hassle.

Sal operates on GMT-1 (which is 1 hour behind London in winter and 2 hours behind London in summer).

Airlines Flying to Sal

easyJet

British Airways

TAP Air Portugal

Sal Flight Prices

Category	Period	Average Return Fares
Economy - Low Season	May-June / September-October	£200-350
Economy - Mid Season	March-April / November	£350-480
Economy - High Season	December-February / July-August / Half-term	£480-650+
Business - Low Season	May-June / September-October	£850-1,300
Business - High Season	December-February / July-August / Half-term	£1,300-1,900+

Booking Tips:

Book TUI or easyJet direct flights 8-12 weeks ahead for the best prices.
Package deals (flight + hotel) often beat flight-only bookings on this route.
School half-terms and Christmas push prices up by 30-50%.
May-June is the sweet spot: warm weather, fewer crowds, lowest fares.

Best Time to Book Sal Flights

Price Patterns

Prices follow UK holiday patterns closely since this is a popular winter sun destination.

TUI early-booking discounts can save 15-25% if you commit 4-6 months ahead.

easyJet fares are cheapest on the day they release (usually 6 months out).

Sweet Spot

8-12 weeks before travel for the best balance of availability and price. Earlier is better for school holiday periods.

Avoid Booking

Less than 3 weeks out (late bookings are expensive on this route).

School half-terms without booking well ahead.

New Year period when demand is at its peak.

Things to Do in Sal

Santa Maria

Relax on golden sands and stroll the lively pier in the island’s main beach town.

Blue Eye

See the glowing natural pool at Buracona when sunlight creates a bright blue “eye.”

Pedra Lume

Float in the salty crater lake at Pedra de Lume, set inside an old volcano.

Kite Beach

Watch colourful kites fill the sky or try kitesurfing on windy Atlantic waters.

Shark Bay

Walk in shallow waters at Baía da Parda to spot small lemon sharks up close.

Frequently Asked Questions

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