Boa Vista: 4x4 Shark & Turtle Bays, Sandboarding & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.91 (105 reviews) 93% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/20

Duration4h 30m

GroupUp to 8

LanguagesEN · DE +2

PickupAt your hotel

Sandboard Boa Vista dunes see turtles & sharks then sip grogue

You’ll ride across Boa Vista by 4x4, carving down Morro de Arreia’s dunes on a sandboard before spotting turtles and baby sharks at Turtle Bay and Shark Bay. Explore Praia Varandinha’s ancient caves, then unwind with homemade grogue and pontche in Povoação Velha’s oldest bar. It’s raw, lively, and leaves you tasting salt and sugar on your lips.

4h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Boa Vista's nature and culture

Sandboard at Morro de Arreia dunes
Visit Turtle Bay and Shark Bay
Explore caves at Praia Varandinha
Relax at Santa Monica beach
Taste grogue and pontche in Povoação Velha
Shop souvenirs at local vendors

The Experience

We were already bouncing along the edge of those pale sand dunes when I realized I’d never actually tried sandboarding before. The wind whipped up little stings of grit against my ankles as our guide, Paulo, grinned and handed me a board. “Just lean back,” he said — easier said than done. I slid down, half-laughing, half-panicking, and ended up with sand in my teeth but honestly? Worth it. The ocean just kind of melts into the dunes here at Morro de Arreia — you can smell salt and something sweet in the air that I still can’t name.

After that we rattled over to Turtle Bay. Paulo pointed out green turtles poking their heads above the water — he said sometimes you get loggerheads too if you’re lucky. It was quiet except for waves slapping rocks and some kids shouting somewhere behind us. At Shark Bay, I squinted into the shallows and there they were: these tiny lemon sharks darting around our ankles (Paulo promised they don’t bite). I didn’t expect to feel so weirdly calm watching them — like you’re part of their world for a second.

Praia Varandinha’s caves felt cool after all that sun — dark stone under your fingers, echoey inside. We didn’t stay long because Santa Monica beach was calling; it’s just this endless sweep of white sand with nothing built on it. No umbrellas or hotels or anything, just wind and sea and a few footprints. Felt kind of wild.

Povoação Velha was our last stop — first settlement on Boa Vista, tucked between two mountains so pirates couldn’t find it (Paulo told us that story twice). Fabiana poured us grogue and pontche at her bar while her daughter fried risois in the back. I tried saying “obrigado” with my mouth full; everyone laughed. The drinks are strong but go down easy after a day like that. I still think about Fabiana’s smile when she handed me that glass.

What’s included

Your day includes round-trip hotel pickup by 4x4 vehicle, all sandboarding equipment for Morro de Arreia dunes, stops to watch turtles and baby sharks in their natural habitats, entry to Praia Varandinha caves and Santa Monica beach nature reserve, plus tastings of local grogue, pontche, and homemade risois before heading back to your accommodation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Taxi & Tour Gil Boa Vista