Hotel Riu Funana - All Inclusive

We had a wonderful time at the Riu Funana. It was the 2nd time returning to the island of Sal. We previously stayed in the sister hotel next door (Adults only). The location is ideal—just a short distance from Santa Maria, so it’s easy to explore the local area while still enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of the resort. The grounds are beautifully maintained, and the beach is stunning with plenty of space to unwind. One of the highlights for us was the kids’ aqua park—it was absolutely brilliant! Our little one had an amazing time, and it’s a real bonus for families traveling with children. It’s well-designed, safe, and provided hours of entertainment, which gave us time to relax as well. The staff deserve a special mention. Everyone we encountered was incredibly hardworking, friendly, and always happy to help. From the front desk to the restaurant and housekeeping teams, they made sure we felt welcome and comfortable throughout our stay. The food and entertainment were varied and high-quality, with lots of options to suit different tastes. Whether you want to stay active or just relax by the pool or beach, there’s something for everyone. The only issue we experienced was the mosquitoes, especially in the evenings, so we’d recommend bringing some good insect repellent. Overall, Riu Funana exceeded our expectations. It’s a fantastic choice for families and couples alike visiting Cape Verde, and we would definitely stay here again!

If you are looking at booking this hotel then I say go for it! We’re just leaving after 12 nights here and have loved it. Do the rooms need a bit of work here and there… yes, HOWEVER they are cleaned immaculately every day with care. Are there mosquitoes.. yes, you’re in Africa, it’s up to you to bring the correct prevention, we bought lemon shower gel, mosquitoes bands, plug in for room and spray, we have 2 bites between 4 people. Never saw a cockroach but again if it do you’re in Africa! Food was hot and plentiful, bookable restaurants were ate at numerous times and they were all good. If people have bad stomaches then it’s not the food and perhaps i personal hygiene or too much alcohol 😜 Pool.. now this is a bit of a pain but if the 9am rule was not there then most of the beds would be gone way before that. We were up and at breakfast before then so never failed to get beds together. If you want clean cut white lined no character hotel then this isn’t for you. This is our families take on the Funana, you’ll have your own 😎

Lovely hotel, very clean and well kept gardens. All of the staff work hard and are friendly. Lots going on if you want to get involved. Lots of variation of food but was a bit hit and miss and we all got dodgy stomachs. The 3 restaurants you had to book were easy to book via the RIU app, the Asian was ok, the Kulinarium was better but the menu didn't change in 2 weeks. The steak restaurant was awful, so we didn't go there again. Not enough sunbeds round the pool and some of them broken so stressful in the morning when trying to locate any. Really didn't need this stress when on holiday..most people put their towels down and then go off, despite signs saying not to do this. Which weren't enforced. This needs addressing. Plenty of sun loungers down by the beach which is where we went mostly. Drinks in swim up bar weren't great, premixed cocktails which tasted bad. Drinks much better in the bars. Rooms were fine and cleaned every day. Lots of space to hang clothes. Aircon wasn't that good though and the ceiling fan looked like it was going to fall off! Overall we had a good holiday and enjoyed Sal, only a short ride to Santa Maria from the hotel. We did eat out more than I was expecting just to get a better food experience. I wouldn't return to this hotel though because of the food and sunbed situation