Sal Island family tour: Pedra de Lume, Shark Bay beaches

Float in the salt crater, hunt for shells on three beaches, and eat lunch like a pirate.

A private 4x4 tour of Sal Island designed for families with children, including hotel pickup and a local guide who speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese. The itinerary visits Pedra de Lume Salt Crater where you float in mineral-rich waters, Shark Bay's reef, Conchas Beach and other stops. Lunch and drinks are optional add-ons. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours and moves at a pace that suits all ages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sal Island family highlights

• Visit shell-strewn beach
• Explore Shark Bay reef
• Float in Pedra de Lume salt crater
• Walk through Espargos markets
• Swim at Blue Eye oasis
• Lunch at Pirate Nine restaurant
• Snorkel at Murdeira coral reef
• Visit Botanical Garden and Animal Sanctuary

The experience

Sal Island's best stops fit into one afternoon when you book a private tour built around how families actually travel. You get picked up at your hotel and driven in a 4x4 to Conchas Beach first, where the shoreline is thick with shells and the sand is soft enough for small feet. From there the route moves to Shark Bay, a reef ecosystem off the coast where the water is clear enough to see the marine life below, then inland to Pedra de Lume Salt Crater, the centerpiece. The crater is a working salt flat that has fed the island's economy for centuries, and the water inside is so mineral-dense you float without effort, which is the moment most children remember.

The guide is a local who knows the island's history and speaks your language (English, Spanish or Portuguese). The stops are chosen to mix activity with rest: you'll walk through Espargos, the island's main town, where the markets and restaurants show how people actually live here, then move to quieter spots like Murdeira's coral reefs or the Botanical Garden and Animal Sanctuary if those appeal to your group. Lunch is optional and can happen at a pirate-themed restaurant designed like a ship (a detail that tends to land with children), or at a local spot in Espargos serving Cape Verdean food. The whole day is flexible: because it's private, the pace and the stops bend to what your family wants to do.

The vehicle is comfortable for long drives and the itinerary assumes all fitness levels, so younger children, infants in strollers and anyone with mobility needs can join. Specialized infant seats are available if you need one. The tour wraps by returning you to your hotel, which means no navigating transport on your own at the end of the day.

What’s included

• Experienced local guide fluent in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in a private 4x4 vehicle.
• access to Pedra de Lume Salt Crater, Shark Bay, Conchas Beach, Espargos town and other island stops.
• lunch and drinks available as an optional add-on at checkout.

Options for this experience

5 options

Group of 1 to 2 participants (German-language tour)Up to 2 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:30 and 09:00Lunch and drinks are available as an option at 14€ per person; the tour is run in a 4x4 pick-up or 4x4 jeep. Entrance fees: Blue Eye 3€ per person, Salinas de Pedra Lume 6€ per person, Bay of Sharks 3€ per person, Botanical Garden 5€ per person. Pickup is included.

Group of 3 to 4 participants (German-language tour)Up to 4 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:30 and 09:00Lunch and drinks are available as an option at 14€ per person; the tour is run in a 4x4 pick-up or 4x4 jeep. Entrance fees: Blue Eye 3€ per person, Salinas de Pedra Lume 6€ per person, Bay of Sharks 3€ per person, Botanical Garden 5€ per person. Pickup is included.

Group of 5 to 6 participants (German-language tour)Up to 6 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:30 and 09:00Lunch and drinks are available as an option at 14€ per person; the tour is run in a 4x4 pick-up or 4x4 jeep. Entrance fees: Blue Eye 3€ per person, Salinas de Pedra Lume 6€ per person, Bay of Sharks 3€ per person, Botanical Garden 5€ per person. Pickup is included.

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Group of 7 to 8 participants (German-language tour)Up to 8 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:30 and 09:00Lunch and drinks are available as an option at 14€ per person; the tour is run in a 4x4 pick-up or 4x4 jeep. Entrance fees: Blue Eye 3€ per person, Salinas de Pedra Lume 6€ per person, Bay of Sharks 3€ per person, Botanical Garden 5€ per person. Pickup is included.

Group of 9 to 12 participants (German-language tour)Up to 12 per booking · Guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese · 08:30 and 09:00Lunch and drinks are available as an option at 14€ per person; the tour is run in a minibus. Entrance fees: Blue Eye 3€ per person, Salinas de Pedra Lume 6€ per person, Bay of Sharks 3€ per person, Botanical Garden 5€ per person. Pickup is included.

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 09:00

Book up to12h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 45 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 37

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Logan Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if your family wants to move at its own pace without keeping to a fixed schedule or group itinerary. The private format means the guide adjusts the stops and timing to what works for your children and your energy level through the day.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

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.

Can my toddler come on the Sal Island tour, or is there a minimum age?

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available for the 4x4 vehicle, so the tour is built to include the youngest travelers.

What exactly is Pedra de Lume Salt Crater and why do people float there?

Pedra de Lume is a historic salt flat carved into a crater on Sal Island, worked for centuries to harvest sea salt. The water inside is so rich in minerals that you float effortlessly without swimming, similar to the Dead Sea or the Great Salt Lake. The density of the salt does the work for you.

Is lunch included in the tour price, or do I pay extra?

Lunch and drinks are optional. You choose whether to add them when you book. If you do, you can eat at a pirate-themed restaurant or a local spot in Espargos serving authentic Cape Verdean cuisine.

How many people can book this private tour together?

You choose your group size at checkout: the tour runs for groups of 1 to 2, 3 to 4, 5 to 6, 7 to 8, or 9 to 12 participants, and the price adjusts accordingly.

Does the tour include hotel pickup, or do I need to get to a meeting point?

Hotel pickup is included. The guide collects you from your accommodation and returns you there at the end of the day, so you don't arrange separate transport.