Cape Verde · SAL ISLAND TOURS

The 15 Best Things to Do on Sal Island

78 tours  ·  from $32

Sal is small, flat and easy to cover in three days if you plan around the light and the tide. These 15 sort the salt crater, the Blue Eye, Shark Bay, the catamarans and the buggy routes by price, duration and how early each one leaves Santa Maria.

Sal: Island Experience Tour with a Certified Local Guide - Santa Maria, where salt gave way to tourism
Guided, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sal: Island Experience Tour with a Certified Local Guide

1.Island Experience Tour with a Certified Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 3,249 reviews · 7 hours · from $41Our pick

Spend seven hours crossing Sal with a local guide such as Tony, Christian, Nany, or Kiki. Visit Santa Maria, Palmeira, Buracona, Pedra de Lume, Shark Bay, and Espargos, with time for salt-lake floating, lemon-shark viewing, local food, photos, and a natural-pool swim.

“Everything was really nice. We went around all island and see everything and the most famous places. I highly recommend”

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Sal: All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour - Pedra de Lume: floating in an old salt lake
Blue Eye Tours, Pedra Lume Salt Lake Tours, Sal Island Tours, Shark Bay Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sal: All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour

2.All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 2,033 reviews · 4 hours · from $53

See Sal’s main natural sights in four hours with a local guide such as Kiki, Vanessa, Tony, or Nani. Float in Pedra de Lume’s salt lake, watch lemon sharks near Shark Bay, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye, and photograph the desert mirage from an air-conditioned minibus.

“Tony is the best. Great tour with lots of in depth information for each specific area. Fun times with the sharks and bathing in the salt lake. Did not feel rushed at all, everything went smoothly. Great chauffeur too. Thanks guys!!”

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Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks) - Shark Bay: the day’s most unusual encounter
Guided, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks)

3.Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,166 reviews · from $36Top rated

Spend about seven hours touring Sal with a native certified guide such as Nany or Christian. Wade among lemon sharks, float in Pedra de Lume’s salt crater, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye, and see Palmeira, Espargos, Santa Maria, Murdeira, and Kite Beach. Lunch costs extra.

“Great!! Just fantastic trip to take to see allot of the island. Nanny was a super guide. Great sense of humour and just the right amount of time at each place. Highly recommend”

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From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira - Santa Maria and the southern coast
Pedra Lume Salt Lake Tours, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira

4.Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,003 reviews · 6 hours · from $35

Travel across Sal in a minibus with a multilingual guide, stopping at Buracona’s Blue Eye, Murdeira Bay, Palmeira, Shark Bay, Terra Boa, Espargos, and Pedra de Lume. You’ll swim, float, see lemon sharks, and learn about Cape Verdean history. Guides such as Yannick and Yuri are often praised for their care and local insight.

“The tour was absolutely fantastic! Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly, everything was very well-organised, and the driver was professional and careful. We visited some truly stunning places that are definitely worth seeing – highly recommended!”

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Santa Maria: Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour - The safety briefing sets the tone
Guided, Sal Island Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews, Tours

Santa Maria: Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour

5.Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 809 reviews · 2 hours · from $44

Join Cabo Verde Diving for a two-hour boat snorkeling trip from Santa Maria. Guides such as Adi, Daniel, Wesley, Eddie, and Franco have helped beginners explore reefs near Farol and the bay, where you may see turtles, rays, eels, tropical fish, coral, and a shallow wreck.

“Very well organised. Great health and safety. Saw beautiful fish and ship wreck was amazing! We would do that again next time we visit.”

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Complete Excursion and Flight on the Zipline Cabo Verde - Registration, weighing, and the safety briefing
Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zip Lines

Complete Excursion and Flight on the Zipline Cabo Verde

6.Complete Excursion and Flight on the Zipline Cabo Verde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 591 reviews · from $56

Ride from Santa Maria in a 4x4, climb to a 100-meter lookout above the sea, and zip back down after a safety briefing. Your package includes equipment, drinks, local snacks, music, live Cape Verdean entertainment, and return transport. Wear sturdy sneakers for the steep, rough walk.

“Great instructors, with a good sense of humor. Really worth the money. Great view, and felt safe during the trip”

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Horse Riding in Sal Island - Cabo Verde - One hour through dunes and salt
Horses, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Horse Riding in Sal Island – Cabo Verde

7.Horse Riding in Sal Island – Cabo Verde

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 500 reviews · from $60

Ride from the Viveiro Botanical Gardens through Santa Maria’s dunes and salt flats to Kite Beach. Choose a one, 1.5, or two-hour route. Guides such as Ziggy and Matteus match horses to riding ability, with helmets, hotel transfers, lockers, and insurance included.

“I did the 2 hours tour and got lucky because I was the only one. It was a great tour to see some landscape and surroundings (salt pans, kite beach, etc.). Nice team, friendly horses and the photographer took some really good photos 😊”

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Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise - What the 60-person limit means onboard
Cape Verde Sailing Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise

8.All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 486 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Sail Sal’s west coast aboard the Lounge Catamaran Sodade, limited to 60 people despite room for 90. You’ll get hotel transfers, towels, snacks, unlimited beer and soft drinks, snorkeling gear, swimming, fishing, and a lively return with Cape Verdean music and dancing. Guides speak five languages.

“The trip was well organised. All the staff were polite,and left you feeling happy. We were extremely lucky too see whales on our trip. Overall an amazing enjoyable boat trip.”

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Santa Maria: Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island - Leaving Santa Maria after dark
Cape Verde Turtle Watching, Cape Verde Turtle Watching in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Santa Maria: Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

9.Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

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

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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Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch - Murdeira and Lion Mountain: a quiet opening stop
Full-Day, Guided, Lunch Experiences, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch

10.Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 414 reviews · 6 hours · from $69

Travel Sal by minibus with guides such as Alejandro or Miguel, visiting Murdeira, Palmeira, Buracona, Espargos, Shark Bay, and Pedra de Lume. You’ll eat a Cape Verdean lunch in a local home, swim when conditions allow, and walk among lemon sharks. Bring water shoes and budget €8 for entrance fees.

“Great day trip to visit the sites of Sal. Plenty of stops and excellent guide and driver. Really enjoyed our day and gave us a good insight into the island. Enjoyed the lunch at the home of a local family too.”

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4h SSV Buggy Island Adventure - 1000cc or 500cc - Palmeira gives the ride some local life
Cape Verde Buggy Tours, Cape Verde Buggy Tours in Sal Island, Cape Verde Island Highlights Tours, Cape Verde Quad Tours, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

4h SSV Buggy Island Adventure – 1000cc or 500cc

11.4h SSV Buggy Island Adventure – 1000cc or 500cc

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 363 reviews

Drive a 500cc automatic buggy, or the available 1000cc option, across Sal with a local guide. Expect desert tracks, Terra Boa’s mirage, Serra Negra, lemon sharks and Regona’s natural pool. Guides such as Chips, Zé and Valdir are known for keeping the pace safe and fun.

“Fue muy divertido recorrer la isla entera y ver su increíble paisaje. 4 horas de aventura y recomendaría esta excursión sin duda.”

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2h SSV Buggy Desert Adventure - 1000cc or 500cc - Pickup from Santa Maria and the pre-ride check
2-Hour Experiences, Cape Verde Buggy Tours, Cape Verde Buggy Tours in Sal Island, Cape Verde Quad Tours, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

2h SSV Buggy Desert Adventure – 1000cc or 500cc

12.2h SSV Buggy Desert Adventure – 1000cc or 500cc

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 361 reviews

Drive an automatic two-seat 500cc or 1000cc buggy from Santa Maria with a guide such as Jota, Edy, or Jason. Expect dusty tracks, salt flats, dunes, Kite Beach, Ponta Preta, and volcanic shores. Hotel pickup, water, helmets, goggles, belts, and protective suits are included.

“Rien d extraordinaire, très cher pour 1h30 de buggy, pas possible de faire un peu de vitesse, et pourtant j avais un buggy puissant”

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3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island - Boarding by beach and dinghy
3-Hour Experiences, Cape Verde Sailing Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sailing, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island

13.3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 349 reviews · 3 hours · from $69

Sail Sal’s coast with Cape Verde Sailing on a relaxed 3-hour catamaran trip for small groups. Expect drinks, light snacks, a short swim or snorkel stop, and possible wildlife sightings. Crews may include Daisy, Wesley, Jair, Marcio, or Anna, with hotel pickup available.

“Super friendly crew. Anna, Joseph and Stephan (hope I didn’t get name wrong) Look after us from the start, drinks, dolphins very chatty and did everything they can to make it special experience. Anna was absolutely fantastic. Thank you guys to make it so special. Not many people on the catamaran make massive difference as well. Snorkelling and sweet pastries at the end of the trip. Highly recommended.”

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Electric Beach Bike - Guided Tour in Sal Island - Riding the beaches, dunes, and salt-mining areas
Cycling Tours, Guided, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Electric Beach Bike – Guided Tour in Sal Island

14.Electric Beach Bike – Guided Tour in Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 349 reviews · from $34Best value

Ride powerful electric mountain bikes from Santa Maria with guides such as Mo, Fortz, Tony, or Jack. Expect beaches, dunes, salt mines, neighborhoods, nature areas, and a swim or beach-bar stop. The route suits mixed fitness levels, but group size can vary.

“Our guide was well knowledgable of the tour route, made the tour memorable for all . Well worth doing it”

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Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria - The ride from Santa Maria to Shark Bay
Sal Island Tours, Shark Bay Tours, Tour Reviews

Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria

15.Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 345 reviews · 2 hours · from $35

From Santa Maria, ride to Sal’s east coast for about an hour with lemon sharks in the shallows. Your guide explains their habits and habitat, provides water shoes, and helps you across the rocks. You can watch from shore or enter the water for a closer look.

“Great trip. Interesting facts on the journey there and then about the sharks themselves. Top tip- use crocs not the swim shoes. Great couple of hours. We'll worth it.”

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New in Sal Island Tours

★ 4.53-Hour Shark Bay and Salt Lakes in Sal Island Guided TourFrom $3719 reviews
★ 5.04h Turtle Watching with SSV Buggy Night 4WDFrom $18520 reviews
★ 4.5Half-Day Sailing Yacht Adventure in Sal Island – 3 hoursFrom $6914 reviews
★ 4.2Lemon Shark Bay and Pedra de Lume Salt Lakes TourFrom $4030 reviews
★ 3.5Snorkelling trip with certificate local guideFrom $5031 reviews
★ 5.0Salt Lake Tour, Shark bay & Pedra de Lume VillageFrom $3634 reviews
★ 4.8Sal Island, Salinas, Buracona and Lemon SharkFrom $4133 reviews
★ 4.5Sal Island, Salinas, Buracona and lemon sharkFrom $3434 reviews
★ 4.5Snorkeling Experience in Santa Maria Bay by boatFrom $3434 reviews
★ 5.0Romantic Sunset & Glamping ExperienceFrom $15634 reviews
★ 4.1Snorkeling with Local GuideFrom $3534 reviews
★ 4.5Guided Coastal Hike & Monte Leão SunsetFrom $5837 reviews
★ 4.8Santa Maria city tour, street art and tapas37 reviews
★ 5.0Double Diving in Sal Island – Half DayFrom $10438 reviews
★ 4.2Guided Sal Island City TourFrom $3939 reviews

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Explore Cape Verde

Pick an island, a boat or a dune.

On the water

Shark BayTurtle WatchingBoat TripsSnorkellingDiving

Sand and lava

Buggy DaysQuad DaysViana DesertPedra de LumeBlue Eye

Towns and tables

Cidade VelhaCity ToursLunch With a FamilyLunch IncludedWalking Tours

Up in the hills

HikesSerra MalaguetaMonte VerdeVolcano WalksSanto Antão