Palmeira

Palmeira is the port of Sal, a small harbour village where the island's fuel, cement and freight arrive and where the fishing fleet lands its catch, with painted houses along the quay and boats on moorings in the bay. It is a working place rather than a resort, and the seafront bars and fish restaurants are used by islanders as much as visitors. Dive operators run from the harbour to the sites along the western coast.

History

An English captain recorded a small settlement here in 1720, and it appears as Palmera on Jacques-Nicolas Bellin's map of 1747; the village has grown into the main port of Sal and the third busiest port in Cape Verde for freight (Wikipedia, Palmeira, Cape Verde).

What's there

• The working harbour - the port where the island's freight and fuel arrive.
• The fishing landings - the catch brought in and sold on the quay.
• The painted houses - the low seafront buildings along the harbour.
• The dive boats - operators running to the western coast sites.

When to go

November to June is the dry season and calmest for diving. Mornings are when the fishing boats come in. Wind is strongest December to March.

What to expect

It is an industrial port and parts of it are untidy. There is no beach at the village. Facilities are basic and aimed at locals.

Nearby

Buracona is north, and Espargos is east.

Key facts