Private Catamaran Cruise Sal: Swim Santa Maria Bay

Your own boat, your own schedule, your own pace on the water

A private half-day catamaran cruise along Sal's southwest coast gives you an anchored swim in Santa Maria Bay, snorkeling gear, and drinks and snacks served on board: all without sharing the boat or the crew. Your captain handles the sailing while you relax on deck, choose when to swim, and set the rhythm of the afternoon or morning.

The experience

What makes this different from a shared boat tour is the boat itself: you book the whole catamaran, so there's no schedule built around other groups and no strangers on deck. The captain and crew take care of the sailing and navigation while you sit back, watch the southwest coast slide past, and drink at your own pace. The crew speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages, so communication is straightforward from the start.

The anchor point is Santa Maria Bay, where the water stays calm and clear enough to see down. You get snorkeling gear on board and the freedom to jump in whenever you want. Stay in for twenty minutes or an hour, it's your call. The crew serves drinks (soda, water, beer, wine) and light snacks throughout, so you're never reaching for your own bag or waiting for a service round. If swimming isn't the plan, you can stay on deck, read, or just watch the water.

Pickup is included, so you don't arrange your own transport to the dock. You choose between a morning departure or an afternoon one, depending on which part of your day works best for the water.

What’s included

• Soda and bottled water.
• beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages.
• light snacks served throughout.
• snorkeling equipment.
• use of the private catamaran and crew for the full half-day.
• hotel pickup.

Options for this experience

2 options

Afternoon tripGuide in 9 languages · 13:00Afternoon

Morning tripGuide in 9 languages · 08:30

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 13:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Danish, Norwegian and Swedish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 13 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cape Verde Sailing

Is this one for you?Pick the morning departure if you want the water at its calmest and the light best for snorkeling. The afternoon trip works better if you'd rather sleep late or spend the morning exploring the island first.

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Norwegian, Swedish and Danish.

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's the water like in Santa Maria Bay when we anchor there?

Santa Maria Bay stays calm and clear, which is why the crew picks it as the swimming stop. Visibility is good enough for snorkeling, and the depth is manageable for all swimmers.

Do we have to swim, or can we just stay on the boat?

Swimming is optional. Many people stay on deck the whole time, and the crew is fine with that. You set the rhythm: jump in when you want, or don't jump in at all.

What drinks and snacks are actually on board?

The crew serves soda, bottled water, beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages, plus light snacks. You're not rationed. The drinks and snacks are continuous throughout the cruise.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in a different part of Sal?

Pickup is included in the booking, so the crew arranges transport from your hotel or accommodation to the dock. Confirm your location when you book so they know where to collect you.

Can kids come on this cruise?

Yes. Infants need to sit on an adult's lap, and the cruise is suitable for all fitness levels. Snorkeling gear is available, so older kids can use it in the water if they want to.