Full Day Sal Tour: Kite Beach, Salt Flats & Local Lunch

Eight hours, five stops, one island: beaches, salt flats, villages and a float in Cape Verde's Dead Sea

A full-day tour of Sal covers Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Buracona lagoon, Pedra de Lume salt flats, and the towns of Palmeira and Espargos, with a local guide, all entrance fees, transport and a three-course local lunch included. The tour runs eight hours and operates in English, French, German or Dutch. Viewing of the Buracona 'blue eye' and Terra Boa 'mirage' cannot be guaranteed as both are optical illusions dependent on the sun's position.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sal Island highlights

• Visit Kite Beach
• Pass by Murdeira Bay village
• Explore Palmeira village
• See Buracona lagoon and Terra Boa plains
• Lunch at family-run local restaurant
• Tour Espargos town and street art
• Float in Pedra de Lume salt flats
• Visit Viveiros Botanical Gardens
• Enjoy cocktail at Ponta Preta beach club

The experience

The day starts at Kite Beach, where the horizon fills with the colored sails of kite surfers. From there the route follows the coast to Murdeira Bay, a rocky cove where a village has grown up around the natural reserve, then inland to Palmeira with its palm-lined streets and bright murals. The stops build toward the island's most distinctive feature: Pedra de Lume salt flats, where you float in salt lakes as dense as the Dead Sea, formed inside the crater of an extinct volcano that sits below sea level.

Between the coastal and inland stops, lunch happens at a family-run restaurant using locally sourced ingredients, served as a three-course meal with a drink. After eating, the tour moves to Espargos, the island capital, where street art covers the buildings and expresses local culture. The day closes with a visit to Viveiros Botanical Gardens and a cocktail at Ponta Preta beach club. Transport, all entrance fees and the guide are included. The guide speaks your choice of English, French, German or Dutch.

Bring bathing gear and sunblock. You'll need both for the salt flats and the beach club stop. The Buracona lagoon's famous 'blue eye' and the mirage plains of Terra Boa are optical illusions created by the sun's angle, so their visibility depends on the time of day and weather. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or reduced mobility, and is not suitable for small children.

What’s included

• Transport around the island.
• all entrance fees to Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Buracona lagoon, Pedra de Lume salt flats, Espargos and Viveiros Botanical Gardens.
• a three-course local lunch with drink at a family-run restaurant.
• a cocktail at Ponta Preta beach club.
• and a local guide in your choice of English, French, German or Dutch.

Options for this experience

4 options

French OptionGuide in English · 09:00Includes pickup, French option

German OptionGuide in English · 09:00Includes pickup, German option

Dutch OptionGuide in English · 09:00Includes pickup, Dutch option

English Option09:00Includes pickup, English option

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 30 Apr 2027

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 50 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 33 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Destination Services Cape Verde

Is this one for you?Book the morning or afternoon departure depending on when you want to float in the salt flats and which light suits the optical illusions at Buracona and Terra Boa: both depend on the sun's angle, so timing changes what you'll see.

Traveler reviews

4.46★★★★★★★★★★

13 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is Kite Beach and why does the tour start there?

Kite Beach is a world-renowned spot on Sal's coast named for the kite surfers who fill the horizon with their colored sails. It's the first stop of the day and sets the tone for the coastal portion of the tour.

Can I actually float in the Pedra de Lume salt flats like the Dead Sea?

Yes, Pedra de Lume salt lakes are dense enough that you float naturally, just as you would in the Dead Sea. The salt ponds formed in the crater of an extinct volcano whose base sits below sea level, creating a natural salt water reservoir.

Is lunch included in this tour, and what kind of food is served?

Lunch is included as a three-course meal with a drink, served at a family-run restaurant that uses locally sourced ingredients. It happens midway through the day between the coastal and inland stops.

What language does the guide speak?

The tour operates in English, French, German or Dutch. You choose your preferred language when you book.

What should I bring for this full-day tour?

Bring bathing gear and sunblock. You'll swim in the salt flats and spend time at Ponta Preta beach club at the end of the day, so both are essential.