Adults-only catamaran tour Santa Maria: Swimming, cocktails, pool

Four hours on the water with a private pool, cocktails and room to actually relax

A half-day catamaran tour from Santa Maria limits each departure to 75 adults, giving you deck space, lounge beds and bean bag nets instead of a crowded boat. The tour departs from Palmeira fishing village, stops at Murdeira Bay to swim and snorkel near Monte Leão, and sets up a floating pool halfway through. Drinks (beer, wine, cocktails and soft drinks) flow throughout, along with freshly made snacks and towels. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Half-day catamaran trip

• Start excursion from Palmeira village
• Stop at Murdeira bay near Monte Leao

The experience

The boat leaves Palmeira, the fishing village on Sal's northwest coast where colorful Cape Verdean houses line the main port. From there, the catamaran heads to Murdeira Bay, where the water stays calm because the coast and a mountain shape it into a protected pocket. This is where sea turtles mate during summer, and where you'll find Monte Leão, a mountain that rises in the silhouette of a sleeping lion. The stop gives you time to swim, use the snorkeling gear provided, or just float and look back at the shape of the rock.

Halfway through the four-hour trip, the crew sets up an inflatable pool on deck: a detail that changes the feel of the day, since you get the novelty of swimming in a pool while anchored in open water. The boat carries up to 90 people but caps each tour at 75, which means the deck doesn't feel packed. Lounge beds, bean bag nets and regular seating give you options for how to spend the afternoon. USB docks let you charge phones between swims.

Drinks arrive unlimited: beer, wine, sparkling wine, cocktails and soft drinks, paired with upgraded snacks made fresh. Towels come with the booking. A guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and several other languages, so the commentary works regardless of who's on board. Hotel pickup and drop-off bookend the day, so you don't arrange transport yourself.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• unlimited beer, wine, sparkling wine and soft drinks.
• freshly made snacks.
• snorkeling equipment.
• towels.
• use of lounge beds and bean bag nets.
• the floating pool (weather permitting).
• USB charging docks.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and additional languages.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesdayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to6h before

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

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hungarian and Romanian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 23 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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcome

Operated by No Limits Adventure

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want a half-day on the water without the crowds: the 75-person limit and deck lounges mean you're not packed in with a hundred others, and the floating pool halfway through gives you something you won't find on a standard boat tour. Adults only, so the vibe stays relaxed.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Hungarian and Romanian.

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 Murdeira Bay like when we arrive to swim?

Murdeira Bay is a protected cove where the water stays calm because the coast and Monte Leão mountain shelter it from wind and waves. It's a natural swimming and snorkeling stop, and the mountain's shape, like a sleeping lion, is visible from the water.

How many people go on each tour?

The catamaran holds up to 90 people, but each tour is capped at 75 guests to keep the deck from feeling crowded and give everyone room to relax on the lounge beds and seating areas.

What drinks and food are included?

Unlimited beer, wine, sparkling wine, cocktails and soft drinks come throughout the tour, along with freshly made snacks. Everything is included in the price.

Is snorkeling gear provided?

Yes, snorkeling equipment is included. Towels are also provided, and USB docks on board let you charge small devices between swims.

When does the floating pool get set up?

The inflatable pool is set up halfway through the four-hour tour, giving you a chance to swim in the pool while anchored in the bay.