Africa · SAL ISLAND TOURS

15 Sal Island Tours That Repay the Early Start

31 tours  ·  from $32

The good sal island tours fill up first and the cheap ones fill up fastest. Below: all 15, what each includes, and where they differ.

Sal: Island Experience Tour with a Certified Local Guide - Santa Maria and the Salt Story
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours with a Local

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 to float in salt water and paddle near lemon sharks. Hotel pickup, transport, photos, and drop-off are included. Lunch and entrance fees cost extra.

“I enjoyed the whole trip ! Enizla, our guide was very kind and very well spoken about the stories of the sites ! it's a very good value for money !”

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Sal: All-Inclusive Salt Lake, Blue Eye and Shark Bay Tour - Meeting lemon sharks at Shark Bay
Cape Verde Tours, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Turtle & Marine Life

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 biggest 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 at Shark Bay, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye and stop at the desert mirage. Hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport and entrance fees are included.

“What an incredible experience! From start to finish, this trip exceeded all expectations. Vanessa was absolutely fabulous, she took care of everyone, shared so much interesting information, and kept us laughing with her great sense of humor. Our driver, Mr. 'No Stress' ;-) (Daniel), truly lived up to his name. Such a great guy! Together, they showed us far more than we anticipated, going above and beyond to make the day unforgettable. The tour was worth every moment, I cannot recommend it enough. We had loads of fun, enjoyed a fantastic local experience, and even ended the day with a cheerful grogue toast. Cheers to the Sal Experience team! It…”

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Experience on Sal Island with native and certified guide (including sharks) - Shark Bay: your most unusual 30 minutes
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

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 certified local guide such as Nany or Christian. See lemon sharks at Shark Bay, float in Pedra Lume’s salt crater, visit Buracona’s Blue Eye, and explore Palmeira, Espargos, Santa Maria, Murdeira, and Kite Beach. Hotel pickup, transport, insurance, and guide-taken photos are included. Lunch costs extra.

“The little sharks and the salt swimming in the caldera are great. The guide was lovely and the minibus comfortable”

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From Sal Island: Blu eye, Salt lake, Lemon Sharks & Palmeira - Santa Maria and Murdeira Bay: starting with coast and water
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

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

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

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

See Sal’s volcanic coast, swim at Murdeira Bay, visit Palmeira and Buracona’s Blue Eye, float in Pedra de Lume, and wade among lemon sharks. Guides such as Yannick, Yuri, and Nelson are praised for warmth, local insight, and patient help. Expect a small group, shared minibus, extra entry fees, and lunch at your own cost.

“Loved the guide, has excellent people skills and relaxed, happy vibes. I don’t think we could have spent more time at the salt pool as it was only 15min there swimming and we only went to one shop in the capital. Absolutely loved seeing the lemon shark bay although we were told on the booking we had to pay entry to blue eye and salt mine. Not shark bay as well.”

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Santa Maria: Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour - The Zodiac ride to Farol or Santa Maria Bay
Cape Verde Tours, Sal Island Tours, Snorkeling Trips, Tour Reviews, Tours

Santa Maria: Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour

5.Guided Snorkeling and Reef Tour

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

Meet Cabo Verde Diving at the Aquarium or Melia Tortuga center, get fitted with a wetsuit, fins, mask, and optional life jacket, then ride a wet Zodiac to reefs near Farol or Santa Maria Bay. Guides such as Adi and Ade help beginners in the water and choose sites to match the sea conditions.

“10/10 amazing!! Can’t find a single fault. Everything was amazing! Guides super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. We saw endless fish, lemon sharks and a turtle - the guides were even taking peoples GoPros and filming the turtle up close! Highly recommend!”

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Complete Excursion and Flight on the Zipline Cabo Verde - The 4x4 ride from Santa Maria
Cape Verde Tours, Day Trips, Day Trips in Cape Verde, 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

Zipline Cabo Verde takes you from Santa Maria by 4x4 to a mountain launch point above Sal’s coast. After a safety briefing and steep walk, you fly toward the sea, then enjoy local snacks, drinks, music, and Cape Verdean dancing. The tour lasts about two hours, includes hotel pickup, and has a 130-kilogram weight limit.

“One of the best experiences on the island! Thanks to the crew it was not only riding down the zip line, it was a really fun activity with drinks, local food and dating to live music in the end. Thanks a lot!”

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Horse Riding in Sal Island - Cabo Verde - Riding across the dunes to the Big Salt Mines
Cape Verde Tours, Horse & Carriage Rides, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, 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 Santa Maria’s Viveiro Botanical Gardens to the Big Salt Mines, with longer routes continuing to Kite Beach. Choose a 1, 1.5, or 2-hour ride. Guides such as Ziggy and Matteus match horses to riding ability, with helmets, lockers, transport, and insurance included.

“Thank you for the great time !!! Coming back soon. Guide is taking care about the animals and the participants!”

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Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise - Lounge beds, cold drinks, and an easy start
Boat Trips & Cruises, Boat Trips in Cape Verde, Boat Trips in Sal Island, Cape Verde Tours, Half-Day, 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

Spend four hours aboard the Lounge Catamaran Sodade, cruising Sal’s west coast with a friendly multilingual crew. Swim, snorkel, fish, or relax on lounge beds while enjoying snacks, unlimited beer and soft drinks, towels, music, and hotel transfers. Choose a morning or afternoon sailing, with an adults-only option available.

“It was an incredible experience! Keila, Bellany, Willy, and everyone else brought their joy and friendliness! I loved every moment with them!”

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Santa Maria: Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island - From Santa Maria to a deserted beach
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Santa Maria: Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

9.Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

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

Meet your guide in Santa Maria for a quiet night on Sal’s beaches. After hotel pickup, walk across the sand with trained guides such as Nany, Dani, or Chan, then watch loggerhead turtles nest under infrared light. Wear dark clothes, stay patient, and expect the outing to last until roughly 10 or 11 PM.

“A genuine natural marvel - spectacular to witness. I didn’t expect to get so close - I could have reached out and touched the turtle’s shell. The guides were very knowledgable, answering all questions in detail, and importantly they are very keen to minimise disturbance to the turtles. Would definitely recommend this experience.”

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Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch - Santa Maria, Murdeira, and Lion Mountain
Cape Verde Tours, Full-Day, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch

10.Sal Island: Guided Full-Day Highlights Tour with Lunch

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

Spend 6 to 7 hours touring Sal in a small group of up to 10. Guides such as Alejandro and Miguel explain local life as you visit Palmeira, Buracona, Espargos, Shark Bay, and Pedra de Lume. Lunch with a Cape Verdean family, hotel transfers, and a comfortable minibus are included. Bring water shoes, swimwear, sunscreen, and a towel.

“Very friendly and knowledgeable, Approachable A brilliant day recommend it to everyone The dinner host was lovely and the food was fantastic”

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4h SSV Buggy Island Adventure - 1000cc or 500cc - Fontona and colorful Palmeira
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Quad Bike Tours in Cape Verde, Quad Biking & Buggies, 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

You drive a 500cc or selected 1000cc buggy across Sal with a local guide, stopping at Murdeira, Palmeira, Regona’s natural pool, Terra Boa, Pedra de Lume, Shark Bay, and Serra Negra. Guides such as Chips, Zé, and Valdir lead small groups of up to eight. Hotel pickup, safety gear, and water are included.

“The trip from start to finish was excellent, it made our holiday extra special. The tour guides were fantastic. I would highly recommend No Limits Adventure for any excursion.”

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2h SSV Buggy Desert Adventure - 1000cc or 500cc - Igrejinha Lagoon and the first sandy tracks
2-Hour Experiences, Cape Verde Tours, Desert Tours, Desert Tours in Cape Verde, Quad Bike Tours in Cape Verde, Quad Biking & Buggies, 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 a two-person 500cc or 1000cc automatic buggy across Sal’s sand dunes, beaches, salt flats, and volcanic coast. Hotel pickup from Santa Maria, a local guide, water, helmet, goggles, belt, and protective suit are included. Bring your original driver license. Guides have included Jota, Edy, and Jason, though names vary by departure.

“Ne pensez pas vous amuser ou passer du bon temps, c’est une sortie militaire, notre guide nous a pris de haut en nous disant que c’était lui le chef celui qui n’est pas content c’est pareil🤣, le ton est donné, pas d’explication pendant l’excursion….quelque tour pour s’amuser Read more”

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3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island - Getting from your hotel to Santa Maria Beach
3-Hour Experiences, Boat Trips & Cruises, Boat Trips in Cape Verde, Boat Trips in Sal Island, Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, 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 for three hours with Cape Verde Sailing on a small-group catamaran. Expect drinks, light snacks, a short swim or snorkel stop, and a crew led by guides such as Daisy, Wesley, Marcio, or Jair. Wildlife sightings may include dolphins, turtles, flying fish, or whales, but nature sets the schedule.

“Amazing experience, lovely crew, clean boat and beautiful weather :) what else can you ask for ❤️”

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Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria - Arriving at Sal’s natural lemon shark rookery
Cape Verde Tours, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Cape Verde, Marine Life Trips in Sal Island, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Turtle & Marine Life

Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria

14.Sal Island: Shark Bay Experience from Santa Maria

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

Travel from Santa Maria, Murdeira, or Espargos to Sal’s Shark Bay for about an hour beside wild lemon sharks. A guide explains their behavior and helps you across rocky ground. Stay on shore with binoculars or enter the shallow water. Water shoes, private transport, and hotel pickup are included.

“It was absolutely amazing we are very well traveled and always like to do a different experience with every holiday we have done dolphins/ stingrays / turtles / giraffes / so this one was another one off out to do list . We were very happy with the experience our guide that took us into the water to see the sharks was amazing and both my husband & I both in our 60s . He was so helpful and helped me in the water as a little slippy he was lovely thank you all it was the best .”

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Sal Island: 2-Hour Buggy Desert Adventure - Salt flats and dunes near Santa Maria
2-Hour Experiences, Cape Verde Tours, Desert Tours, Desert Tours in Cape Verde, Island Trips, Island Trips in Cape Verde, Quad Bike Tours in Cape Verde, Quad Biking & Buggies, Sal Island Tours, Tour Reviews

Sal Island: 2-Hour Buggy Desert Adventure

15.Sal Island: 2-Hour Buggy Desert Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 328 reviews · 2 hours · from $170

You’ll drive a 1000cc buggy from Santa Maria across salt flats, dunes, Kite Beach, Serra Negra, Palha Verde Oasis, and Ponta Preta. Guides such as Patrick, Jota, Primo, and Ricardo lead the convoy, provide safety instructions, and stop for photos and water. Bring your original driver’s license and wear closed shoes.

“Fantastic buggy tour great fun and well worth the money. Professionally organised and safe, guides are helpful and let you know all safety aspects. Highlight of our holiday. Don't hesitate to book.”

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New in Sal Island Tours

★ 4.3Snorkeling Boat TourFrom $44213 reviews
★ 4.5Salt Mine, Natural Pool, and Shark Bay TourFrom $34165 reviews
★ 4.3Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only CatamaranFrom $81163 reviews
★ 4.9Discover Scuba DivingFrom $13581 reviews
★ 4.6Sal Rei: Boa Vista Island Full-Day North to South DiscoveryFrom $9479 reviews
★ 4.9Ilha do Sal: Buggy with Local GuideFrom $61197 reviews
★ 4.3Full-Day Trip Around the Island with LunchFrom $78117 reviews
★ 4.7Espargos City Tour, Local Life, and Cape Verde TapasFrom $35200 reviews
★ 4.8Sal island: Secrets of a Native Guide Day trip with LunchFrom $65139 reviews
★ 4.7Sal island Zipline Experience (Official)From $65227 reviews

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