Renting a car on Sal Island: when it makes sense (and when it doesn’t)
This is one of the most common questions before travelling to Sal. It’s also one of the most confusing ones, because you’ll hear every possible opinion.
The short answer is: “it depends.”
The useful answer is a bit longer, but it can save you wrong decisions, unnecessary costs, and a few avoidable annoyances during your trip.
Let’s put some order into it.
Before you decide: one key idea
Sal Island is small.
That can work both for and against you when it comes to renting a car.
You don’t need a car to manage your day-to-day, but it can make a real difference depending on how you travel, how many days you have, and what you want to do once you’re there.
On Sal, renting a car isn’t about necessity — it’s about your travel style.
What “getting around Sal” really means
When people talk about getting around the island, it helps to separate two things:
- Everyday life in Santa Maria
- The rest of the island
Santa Maria concentrates many hotels, restaurants, beaches, and services. If your plan is mostly based there, walking and using taxis covers most needs without any trouble.
The rest of the island is different: more open beaches, quieter areas, and places you won’t reach on foot in five minutes.
That’s where a car comes in… or not.
When renting a car does make sense
Renting a car is usually a good option if several of these apply to you:
- You want to explore the island calmly, at your own pace
- You plan to leave Santa Maria frequently
- You’re travelling as a couple or in a group and can share the cost
- You’re staying more than four or five days
- You don’t like depending on fixed schedules or packaged tours
What you gain most is flexibility. Not necessarily speed or luxury — simply the freedom to decide as you go.
A car on Sal doesn’t take you to “more places”; it lets you go when it suits you.
When renting a car usually isn’t worth it
There are plenty of Sal trips where a car doesn’t add much and ends up being more cost and hassle than real benefit.
That’s often the case when:
- You’re staying in Santa Maria and expect to spend most of your time there
- You’re on the island for just a few days and want to keep it simple
- You prefer moving around without having to think about logistics
- You don’t mind taking a taxi now and then
- You prefer organised tours for the main highlights
In those situations, a car rarely makes life easier. It can become something you have to manage without getting much out of it.
If your trip stays within a small radius, a car often ends up being unnecessary.
Taxis and tours: a real alternative
On Sal, taxis work well for specific trips. You don’t need to plan much: you step out, ask, and move. For many travellers, that’s enough.
Organised tours cover the best-known points of the island in a short time. They’re not everyone’s favourite style, but they solve a lot if:
- you have limited time,
- you don’t want to drive,
- or you simply prefer someone else handling everything.
It’s not “better” or “worse” than renting a car. It’s just different — and for some trips, it fits better.
Practical details worth knowing
Beyond a simple yes or no, these details help you decide realistically:
- Driving on Sal is straightforward
- Traffic is generally calm
- Main roads are paved
- Signage isn’t always as clear as in Europe
- Wind can affect beach plans
None of this should worry you, but it’s useful context so you don’t idealise the experience.
A sensible way to decide (without locking everything in from home)
If you’re not sure, there’s a middle option that often works well:
Arrive without a car, spend the first days getting your bearings, and decide on the island.
In many cases, renting a car once you’re there is simple and lets you adapt the decision to the trip you’re actually having — not the one you imagined at home.
Final recommendation
After all the debate, the decision is usually simpler than it seems.
If your trip is relaxed, based in Santa Maria, short, and you don’t need to move around constantly, it’s absolutely fine not to rent a car. Walking, a taxi here and there, and a tour or two will cover your needs.
If, on the other hand, you like to explore, improvise, change beaches depending on the day, and avoid depending on other people’s schedules, a car can make a real difference — especially on longer stays.
The most sensible advice for many travellers is this:
Don’t turn the car into an obligation you decide from home.
Arrive, settle in, see how you move around… and decide with the island in front of you.
On Sal, many decisions work better when you make them there, once the pace has dropped and distances feel real.
There isn’t one “correct” option for everyone.
There are options that fit better depending on how you travel.
And with that clear, your trip starts off much better.
