Sal Island Full-Day Tour: Blue Eye, Salt Lake & Native Guide

Float in an extinct volcano's salt lake, then walk through shark-filled shallows.

A full-day tour of Sal Island led by a native guide who grew up here, visiting the Blue Eye at Buracona, Shark Bay, Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, and five other stops across the island. Hotel pickup, a traditional Cape Verdean lunch, all entry fees, and photos taken by the guide are included. The guide speaks your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sal Island with native guide

• Start in Santa Maria town
• Visit Kite Beach
• Admire Murdeira Bay views
• Explore Espargos capital
• See Terra Boa Mirage
• Visit Buracona Blue Eye
• Explore Palmeira fishing village
• Enjoy traditional Cape Verdean lunch
• Walk in Shark Bay waters
• Discover Pedra de Lume village
• Float in Pedra de Lume Salt Lake

The experience

Seven hours on Sal Island means you move through the day without rushing. The guide picks you up at your hotel and drives you in an air-conditioned vehicle to Santa Maria first, the island's main town, where you walk the fishing pier and colourful streets before heading out to the quieter sites. From there the route opens up: Kite Beach on the north coast, Murdeira Bay with views of Monte Leão, Espargos in the island's interior, and the Terra Boa Mirage. A natural optical illusion where the desert looks like a shimmering lake. Each stop has a story the guide knows because he was born here, not because he read it in a manual.

The two signature moments come in the afternoon. At Buracona you see the Blue Eye, a volcanic rock pool where the water reflects an intense blue, and you stand on the Atlantic cliffs above it. Then you drive to Pedra de Lume, a village built around an extinct volcano, and walk down into the crater to float in the salt lake. The mineral content is so high you cannot sink, the same principle as the Dead Sea. Before that, you stop at Shark Bay and wade into shallow water to watch juvenile lemon sharks in their natural habitat. Water shoes help but are optional (you can rent them on site for €2 or bring your own). You also visit Palmeira, a fishing village with colourful boats and a relaxed pace, and stop at a local restaurant for a traditional Cape Verdean lunch with fresh fish, meat, pasta or vegetarian options, plus one drink.

The guide takes photos and videos throughout the day and shares them with you. The group stays small, and the vehicle has a child seat available on request at no extra cost. A rest stop midday gives you time to eat, drink and access the internet. Uneven terrain appears at some locations, so the tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and large bags or strollers cannot come along.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• entrance fees to Buracona and the Blue Eye, Shark Bay, and Pedra de Lume Salt Lake.
• a traditional Cape Verdean lunch with one drink.
• a native guide fluent in your chosen language.
• photos and videos taken by the guide.
• a child seat on request at no extra cost.

Options for this experience

4 options

French speaking guide09:00Includes pickup

English speaking guide09:00Includes pickup

Spanish speaking guide09:00Includes pickup

Portuguese speaking guide09:00Includes pickup

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 09:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (7 to 11 years) · Infant (under 7)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 46 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 7 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Sal Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Sal Island's most famous natural sites (the Blue Eye, the salt lake, the sharks) without arranging transport or paying entry fees separately. The seven-hour pace lets you move through multiple stops without feeling rushed, and a native guide who grew up here tells you stories and history a visiting guide cannot. Uneven terrain at some locations means it is not suitable for people with mobility impairments, and large bags or strollers do not fit the itinerary.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (7 to 11 years); Infant (under 7).

What is the Blue Eye at Buracona and why is it famous?

The Blue Eye is a volcanic rock pool at Buracona where the water reflects an intense blue colour, creating one of Sal Island's most striking natural attractions. You see it from the clifftop above the Atlantic Ocean and, weather permitting, can admire the reflection inside the pool itself.

Can I actually swim in the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, or just float?

You float in the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake because the mineral-rich water creates natural buoyancy so strong you cannot sink. The lake sits inside the crater of an extinct volcano, and walking down into it is one of the tour's main highlights.

What happens at Shark Bay and is it safe?

At Shark Bay you wade into shallow water to observe juvenile lemon sharks in their natural habitat. It is a safe, controlled wildlife experience. Water shoes are optional and available to rent on site for €2 if you do not bring your own.

How many stops does the tour include and which ones are the main attractions?

The tour includes nine stops across Sal Island over seven hours. The main attractions are the Blue Eye at Buracona, Shark Bay, and the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, but you also visit Santa Maria, Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Espargos, Terra Boa Mirage and Palmeira fishing village.

What is included in the lunch, and are there vegetarian options?

Lunch is a traditional Cape Verdean meal at a local restaurant, with choices of fresh fish, meat, pasta or vegetarian dishes, plus one drink. The restaurant is carefully selected and the meal is part of the full-day price.