Maio’s beaches without the Sal crowds

Maio is the beach island people talk about when they find Sal too built. The sand near Vila do Maio is the easy swim. Further along the coast the beaches are empty because there is no bus and very little shade.

How to do it well

Stay in town so you can walk back. Carry water. The sun on this island is not softer than on Sal; there is just less to hide behind. Turtles nest on some of these beaches in season. A night walk without a guide is how nests get trampled. Don’t.

A week here is the right length if you like reading and swimming. A weekend can feel short once the ferry or the plane has taken its share of the days.