Turtle Watching in Cape Verde: The 12 Best Tours

1.Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 446 reviews · from $41Our pick

From Santa Maria, ride to a quiet Sal beach and watch for nesting turtles under the stars. Guides such as Nany and Chan explain the full nesting process, from digging and laying eggs to covering the nest and returning to sea. Wear dark clothes and comfortable shoes.

“This was a magical experience. The guide was very knowledgeable. Be prepared to have some patience, but as you wait you can enjoy the starry skies.”

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2.Shark, Turtles, Cave, Sandboarding & Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 328 reviews · 4 hours - 270 minutes · from $70

Travel south Boa Vista in an open pickup with guides such as Veronique, Joshua, or Gil. Spot turtles and lemon sharks when conditions allow, sandboard Morro de Arreia, visit Varandinha caves and Santa Monica Beach, then taste grogue, ponche, and risois in Povoação Velha.

“We were a group of 6, our guide Veronica made our tour fun. She’s so interactive and made us all feel so comfortable. The tour itself self was amazing, from start to finish. We would definitely recommend to anyone. Thank you Veronica and Gil for an awesome experience.”

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3.Sal Island Sea Turtle Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 256 reviews · 3 hours · from $37Best value

Join a small evening group from Santa Maria to watch nesting turtles and hatchlings at Kite Beach. Guides speak English, Portuguese, French, and Italian, and names such as Sousa, Johnny Cash, and Anastassi Salsa have led recent tours. Expect patient waiting, red lights, and strict no-touching rules.

“It was an unforgettable experience. We saw how a turtle lays eggs, hides them and goes back to the ocean. Our guide told us some interesting facts about turtles. Thank you 😊”

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4.São Vicente’s Enchanting Sea Turtle Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 153 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70

Meet your guide in Mindelo, ride to São Pedro, and take a short boat trip to a turtle site. You get snorkeling gear, safety guidance, and about an hour in the water. Guides such as Soraya and Eddie have helped first-time snorkelers feel at ease. Pickup and drop-off are included.

“Our guide, Eddie, was incredibly helpful, kind, and patient. He guided us close to the turtles and stayed with us. It was my first time and I would definitely do it again !”

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5.Snorkel with Sea Turtles Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 1 hour · from $70

Travel from your São Vicente hotel or port to São Pedro, learn the basics from a multilingual guide, then take a short boat ride to a turtle-filled bay. You get about an hour in the water with sea turtles and colorful fish. Guide Elder has earned praise for calm, caring help.

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6.Beautiful Beaches, Turtles & Djeu Island Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 100 reviews · 7 hours · from $100

Spend seven hours exploring Boa Vista with guides such as Joshua, Veronique, or Axurance. Snorkel calm waters off uninhabited Djeu Island, eat lunch by the beach, then ride a 4x4 to Santa Monica, Shark Bay, Turtle Bay, caves, and Morro de Areia for sandboarding.

“If I could give more stars I would. This trip was amazing from start to finish. Our guide, Axurance, and driver, Mendez, were helpful and professional throughout the trip. The day started at Santa Monica beach, where we were the only ones there, apart from a few crabs running around. We managed to see one small shark but the turtles made up for it. The sandboarding and snorkelling were lots of fun. There were lots of fish. Axurance had lots of energy, singing and dancing and taking lots of photos and videos of us enjoying the day. I would recommend this trip to anyone coming to Boa Vista.”

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7.Turtle Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · from $45Top rated

Join Sealife Experience Sal Island Nature Excursions for a three-hour evening outing from Santa Maria. After pickup, guides such as Marta, Jay, or Kenny explain turtle conduct in an open glamping tent before leading your small private group along the beach with red lights to watch loggerhead turtles lay eggs.

“Buena excursión, las tortugas preciosas y el guía lo hizo muy bien. Solo destacar que en el grupo en el que nos tocó vino una mujer borracha a la cual se debería haber echado de dicho tour. Molestó muchísimo, encendiendo el móvil, el flash, hablando alto y hasta acercándose demasiado a la tortuga. Se deberían tomar medidas más estrictas frente a este tipo de personas expulsándolas de la actividad, por respeto q las tortugas y por que estas pueden sufrir un estrés innecesario.”

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8.Snorkel and Swim with Sea Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 58 reviews · 1 hour · from $68

From Mindelo, you’ll ride 15 minutes to São Pedro, board a wooden boat, and snorkel beside sea turtles for up to 20 minutes. Guide Diego and a team of marine professionals provide safety instructions, equipment, and transfers. Groups are limited to nine people.

“We highly recommend this tour! 💯👍 A very smart driver picked us up at our hotel in Mindelo. We drove approx. 15 minutes to the beach in Sao Petro. Diego, our tour guide was already there and started immediately to prepare the boot. He gave us security instructions also life jackets. My wife stayed in the boot while I went snorkeling. It was amazing to see the sea turtles and fishes too. Four big ones surrounded me while swimming and snorkeling. After a while even a bigger one showed up. On board again Diego told us about the wildlife and fishing activities in this area. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ka and Andi”

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9.Swimming and Snorkeling Tour with Sea Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 44 reviews · 1h 30m · from $67

From Mindelo, you’ll ride to São Pedro, board a local fishermen’s boat, and snorkel with sea turtles in clear coastal water. The small group is limited to 12, with English, Portuguese, or French guidance. Turtle sightings are guaranteed year-round, though contact time follows a 25-minute legal limit.

“Unforgettable experience. Richard was lovely tour guide and spoke English very well. Tour was as described. Pick up was perfectly on time. Transfer to beach was smooth. We saw 6+ turtles. Sting ray, puffer fish and lots of other fish. Transfer back to town was smooth. Thanks for a great experience.”

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10.3h Turtle Watching Expedition

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 39 reviews · from $76

Join No-Limits Adventure for a nighttime visit to Pesqueiro Grande, one of Boa Vista’s main Caretta Caretta nesting beaches. Your guide explains turtle etiquette before you walk across the sand in the dark, hoping to see turtles lay eggs or hatchlings reach the sea. Pickup and drop-off are included.

“After an initial pick up error the trip was amazing. Drivers and guide were brilliant and the walk over the sand in the dark was managed very well. Managed to see a turtle camouflage her nest then waited… one came out but changed her mind. The another back along the beach, and it was magical. Clear night, lots of stars…. And to top it all off a solo hatchling appeared so we helped it on its way.”

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11.Live Snorkeling & Swimming with Sea Turtles in the Atlantic

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 29 reviews · 1 hour · from $57

From Mindelo, drive 15 minutes to São Pedro, board a fishing boat, and swim beside Carreta sea turtles in their natural bay. Guides such as Hernani, Diego, André, and Lulu may assist with transport, safety, snorkeling, and videos. Groups are limited to 10, though other boats may share the water.

“Bellissima esperienza. Nuotare in mezzo a queste creature è stato davvero stupendo. C'erano 6-7 tartarughe che stavano lì girando intorno senza paura, è stato possibile sia fotografarle che fare video. Hernani (driver) e Diego (in barca) sono davvero simpatici e ci hanno fatto sentire a nostro agio. Lo rifarei senza dubbio”

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12.4h Turtle Watching with SSV Buggy Night 4WD

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $185

Drive a two-person buggy caravan from Santa Maria across Sal’s salt flats, dunes, valleys, and nature reserve, then watch loggerhead turtles at the coast in summer. Valdir guides the trip, with mechanic Elzio on hand. Hotel pickup, gear, fuel, and water are included.

“La possibilità di poter visitare il deserto di notte con delle guide esperte e competenti e di guidare dei nuovi mezzi mai provati”

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