Private Sal Island Tour with Native Certified Guide
- 6–7 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- 4 languages
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover Sal Island on a fully customizable private tour led by a native certified guide. Explore the island at your own pace, with the freedom to personalise the itinerary, spend more time at your favourite locations or skip stops according to your interests. Visit Sal Island's most iconic attractions, including Buracona's Blue Eye, Shark Bay, Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, Espargos, Palmeira, Murdeira Bay, Terra Boa Mirage, Kite Beach and Santa Maria, while discovering the island's history, culture, traditions and hidden gems through the eyes of a local. Upon request, your tour can also include the Viveiro Botanical Garden (optional entrance fee), Santa Maria's historic centre, hidden natural pools and other off-the-beaten-path locations, creating a truly exclusive experience tailored to you.
Inclusions
What's included
- Private transportation
- Free child seat available on request
- Fully customizable private tour at your own pace
- Hotel, accommodation or private address pickup and drop-off anywhere on Sal Island
- Free digital photos and videos taken by your guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Native certified guide
- Passenger liability insurance
What's not
- Optional lunch (€11 per adult and €6 per child up to 7 years old), including one drink and a choice of fish, chicken, meat or vegetarian meal
- Blue eye Buracona
- Salt lake
- Optional Viveiro Botanical Garden entrance fee (€5 per adult)
Itinerary
Begin your private tour in Santa Maria, Sal Island's vibrant tourist town. Stroll through its colourful streets, visit the iconic fishing pier and discover the island's history, culture and local traditions through the stories and insights shared by your native certified guide. As this is a private experience, you'll have the flexibility to explore at your own pace and spend more time where it matters most to you.
Visit the famous Kite Beach, one of Cape Verde's top kitesurfing destinations. From October to March, watch dozens of colourful kites powered by the trade winds create an unforgettable spectacle over the turquoise waters. During the rest of the year, admire the beach's unspoilt natural beauty, dramatic coastline and breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views.
Enjoy a stop at the peaceful Murdeira Bay, where panoramic views of Monte Leão (Lion Mountain) create one of Sal Island's most scenic landscapes. Take your time to admire the breathtaking coastline, capture unforgettable photos and learn about the island's volcanic origins from your native certified guide.
Visit Palmeira, a charming traditional fishing village where daily life is still closely connected to the sea. Watch local fishermen at work, admire the colourful fishing boats and experience the relaxed atmosphere of one of Sal Island's most authentic communities.
Explore Buracona, home to the famous Blue Eye, one of Sal Island's most iconic natural attractions. When sunlight conditions are just right, witness the spectacular blue reflection shimmering inside the volcanic cave. Admire the surrounding lava formations and natural pools shaped by ancient volcanic activity while discovering the fascinating geology of this unique coastal landscape.
Discover the famous Terra Boa Mirage, a fascinating natural phenomenon that creates the illusion of a shimmering lake in the middle of the desert. Your native certified guide will explain how this remarkable optical illusion is formed and why it is one of Sal Island's most fascinating natural wonders.
Discover Espargos, the capital of Sal Island, and experience a more authentic side of Cape Verdean life. Drive through its lively streets, admire the vibrant urban art and learn about the island's culture, traditions and everyday life through the stories shared by your native certified guide.
If you wish, enjoy a lunch break at a carefully selected local restaurant offering traditional Cape Verdean cuisine, as well as international, vegetarian and vegan options. As this is a private tour, the timing and duration of the stop can be tailored to your preferences. Lunch is optional and paid directly at the restaurant.
Step into the shallow waters of Shark Bay for an unforgettable encounter with juvenile lemon sharks in their natural habitat. Before entering the water, your native certified guide will explain the experience and safety guidelines. A specialised local guide will then accompany you in the water, ensuring a safe and enjoyable wildlife experience as you observe these fascinating sharks up close.
Discover Pedra de Lume, a historic mining village nestled inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Learn about Sal Island's rich salt mining heritage and the important role this remarkable place played in the island's history and economic development.
End your tour at the famous Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, located inside the crater of an extinct volcano. Float effortlessly in its mineral-rich waters, renowned for their exceptionally high salinity, and enjoy one of Cape Verde's most unique and relaxing experiences. Take your time to unwind and admire this extraordinary natural setting at your own pace.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
4.9
- 551
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Ratings come from 57 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Great day out
Fantastic day out around various areas of the island. Cristian was happy to help with any questions and was really knowledgable great guy.
5Perfect private tour
We thoroughly enjoyed this trip. We wanted to see and learn about the island. This was ideal as we got to choose how long or short we stayed at each venue. Our guide, Eddie, was very informative. Would highly recommend this if you want a tour at your pace and to se some wonderful sights.
5Absolutely amazing 4x4 all day tour of the island
We did the couple all day tour with Christian our guide of the full island and all the main attractions. He was amazing, very informative, arrived on time and organised and professional. Highly recommend this tour company. My husband also left behind his reading glasses in the vehicle, we didn’t realise until we had a text to say he was returning with them to reception at the hotel. Great service
5fantastic tour with amazing tour guide
We had a wonderful day with our tour guide Matchu. He showed us all amazing places on the island and managed that there are no waiting times in the busy attractions. Matchu answered all our questions about local life and showed us the real life of the island, it was fantastic!
5A must-do tour around the island
This tour is a must if you’re coming to Salt island and want to see what Cape Verde is like beyond the resorts. You get to see many beautiful sights around the island, such as sharks and a desert mirage. If you’re lucky enough you might get Dani as your guide. He is very passionate and knowledgeable about Cape Verde, and it was a real pleasure to spend this day with him.
5Tour of the Island Sights
We did a private island tour with Kiki ( Kyle). He was great. Took us to a variety of places all over the island. Shell graveyard beach, The Blue eye, Espargos- views of the main city, Kite bay- absolutely fascinating to learn, from a guy who does it, how to kite surf. No we didn’t actually do it. Lunch in Palmeira, and a swim at Salinas. WE also saw the shanty town, the mirage and the harbour at the end of the salt mine. Kiki was great company and very informative. An amazing island. Thank you Kik and Stephen at Melia Dunas for suggesting Sal Experience.
Know before you go
- Pickup
- Pickup is included for everyone.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Sal Experiences
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This tour is not wheelchair accessible.
- Strollers and service animals are welcome.
- Baby car seats are available free of charge upon request.
How it compares in Santa Maria
- Its from-price is 283% above the median of the 30 day trips we list in Santa Maria.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 8 of 30.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Santa Maria
Santa Maria, on the southern tip of Sal in Cape Verde, is a beach town of pale sand, steady Atlantic wind and a fishing pier.
Santa Maria occupies the southern tip of Sal, a flat, dry island in the Cape Verde archipelago off the coast of West Africa. Sal means salt in Portuguese, a nod to the salt pans once worked here for export. The sandy streets of Santa Maria, lined with pastel houses, lead down to a long beach and a pier where local fishermen sell their catch.
