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About SalNavigator

SalNavigator is an independent, free English-language guide to Sal Island, Cape Verde. It is made and maintained from Santa Maria, and it exists so visitors can find the island's real restaurants, beaches, tours, surf schools, spas, taxis and apartments without wading through outdated listings or commission-driven booking sites.

Who is behind it?

SalNavigator is run by Mark Burbach, based in Santa Maria on Sal. The guide started as a simple list of places worth visiting and grew into a full directory of local businesses, built together with the owners themselves — they send their menus, prices and photos, and we publish them in English for their guests.

How do we work?

Four rules decide what goes on the site and how it is presented.

Real photos only

Every photo on SalNavigator is an actual photograph of the place — taken on the island or supplied by the owner. We never use generated or stock images to make a business look like something it is not.

Checked on the island

A listing gets the Verified badge only once we have photos and confirmed contact details for it. Menus and price lists are transcribed from the business's own menu, so they can change over time.

No commission, ever

You contact restaurants, drivers, schools and apartment owners directly. We take no booking fee and no cut, which means we have no reason to push one business over another.

Written for visitors

Everything is in English, with prices in escudos and euros, walking distances from Santa Maria, and the practical details you actually need on the first day.

Who is the site for?

For tourists planning a holiday on Sal or already sitting on Santa Maria Beach wondering where to eat tonight — and for local business owners who want to be found by those visitors. Businesses can list themselves free of charge.

Corrections

Prices, opening hours and menus on Sal change often. If something on the site is wrong, email or WhatsApp us and we will fix it — corrections from business owners are always welcome.

Contact

Explore the guide

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