Sal is a a pretty flat and desert like island. It's the most visited island of the archipelago due to the fact that the international airport is located on it and European package-tours are dropped off here.
The village of Santa Maria is the place where these people are housed, some 20 km from the main village of Espargos. For other travelers Espargos is probably a better base, you'll have no difficulty finding a pensão (pension) or a restaurant here.
