ATV Riding in Sal: Quad Bikes to Kite Beach

Ride past white salt flats and mountain ridges to reach the island's most famous beach

ATV riding in Sal takes you across the island's salt plains and past Serra Negra mountains on a quad bike, ending at Kite Beach in the southeast. You choose between a 2 or 4 hour ride, with hotel pickup, full instruction, equipment and an English-speaking guide included. A valid driving licence and moderate fitness are required. Riders must be 18 or over.

Step-by-step itinerary

Quad biking around Sal island

• Pickup from hotel
• Drive past Serra Negra mountains and salt flats
• Arrive at Kite Beach
• Choose two or four-hour quad ride
• Quad biking experience at Kite Beach

The experience

You'll be picked up from your hotel and head straight for Sal's salt flats. The landscape that makes quad biking here feel built into the terrain itself. The route takes you past Serra Negra mountains and across the white salt plains, a stretch that works as a natural introduction to how the quad handles on sand and packed earth. The riding builds toward Kite Beach in the island's southeast, where the swells and wind that draw kitesurfers from around the world also make the beach a visual payoff after the inland section.

The quad bikes seat either one rider or one driver plus one passenger, and the price stays the same either way, so you can book a single bike and ride solo, or bring someone along to share the experience. You'll get full instruction before you ride, and an English-speaking guide stays with the group throughout. The activity demands at least moderate fitness and a steady nerve on uneven ground, but no prior riding experience is needed. You must be 18 or older and carry a valid driving licence. Riders aged 14 to 17 can join as passengers if an adult drives.

The choice between 2 and 4 hours shapes how much ground you cover and how much time you spend on the bike itself. Both options include the same route structure and the same stops. The longer session simply gives you more riding time and a more thorough exploration of the terrain.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return transport.
• quad bike rental with helmet and safety equipment.
• full instruction before the ride.
• an English-speaking guide for the duration.

Options for this experience

2 options

2 Hour TourGuide in English · 09:30Pickup is included in the 2-hour tour

4 Hour TourGuide in English · 09:30Includes pickup for the 4-hour tour

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:30Last departure this season: 31 Dec

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupUp to 30 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Destination Services Cape Verde

Is this one for you?Book the 4 hour ride if you want a more leisurely pace and time to take in the landscape. The 2 hour option works better if you have a limited window in your day and want to hit the main highlights (Kite Beach and the salt plains) without the longer commitment.

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Kite Beach like when we get there?

Kite Beach sits on Sal's southeastern coast and takes its name from the kitesurfers who gather there for the strong winds and large swells. It marks the end point of the quad route and gives you a chance to see the beach itself after the inland ride across the salt plains and mountains.

Can I ride the quad bike if I've never done it before?

Yes. You'll receive full instruction before the ride begins, so no prior experience is necessary. You do need to be 18 or older, hold a valid driving licence, and have at least moderate physical fitness to handle the uneven terrain and the physical demands of operating the bike.

Can two of us share one quad bike?

Yes. A quad bike can carry one driver and one passenger for the same price as a single rider, so you book one ticket for two people if you want to ride together. The passenger sits behind the driver, and the price per bike doesn't change.

How does hotel pickup work?

The operator picks you up from your hotel and brings you back after the ride ends. Pickup is included in the activity, so you don't need to arrange your own transport to the starting point.

What's the difference between the 2 hour and 4 hour options?

Both follow the same route across the salt flats, past Serra Negra mountains, and to Kite Beach. The 4 hour option gives you more time on the bike and a more extended exploration of the terrain. The 2 hour option covers the same ground at a faster pace.