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Cruise ports in Cape Verde Cruises – Discover Sal and São Vicente

Published ports: 3. An overview for planning your cruise.

The Cape Verde archipelago brings together diverse landscapes and port towns. On Sal, the scene is shaped by an arid coastline, beaches and the history of salt production. São Vicente tells a different maritime story through Mindelo: in the 19th century, its natural harbor, Porto Grande, attracted coal companies and ships from the South Atlantic. A stay on Sal is therefore quite different from a visit to Mindelo, the cultural center.

Sal: Salt history and volcanic landscapes

Sal was reached by Portuguese sailors in 1460 and later became a stopover for ships traveling between Europe, Africa and the Americas. Settlement grew in the 19th century, when the Pedra de Lume salt pans began to be exploited in 1804. The saltworks lie in the crater of an extinct volcano; salt and calcite contributed to the island’s economic development. The area has been designated a protected national landscape since 2003, and in 2014 it was granted the status of a natural, historical and cultural heritage site of Cape Verde.

Sal’s landscape is mostly flat and dry; Monte Grande reaches 406 meters. Dunes and pale beaches stretch across the south, including the shores of Santa Maria and Ponta Preta. Along with its long beach, Santa Maria has a market selling local produce and handicrafts. On the west coast lies Buracona: when the sun is at the right angle, a 22-meter-deep underwater tunnel creates a blue glow known as the “Blue Eye.” Salt production, volcanic terrain, dunes and coastal towns all sit side by side on Sal.

Mindelo and the port of Porto Grande

Mindelo on São Vicente developed rapidly from the mid-19th century onward. English coal companies established facilities on Porto Grande Bay, whose location made it well placed to supply ships on South Atlantic routes. Mindelo was granted the status of a town in 1858 and received city status about two decades later. The buildings in the historic center reflect different periods and architectural styles; the port helps explain the city’s international character. Today, music and culture define Mindelo just as much as its maritime past.

Salbrings together beaches and salt history; Palmeirais its port town. On São Vicente lies the port city of Mindelo.

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