Santa Maria Full-Day Tour with Native Certified Guide

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.87 (1,378 reviews) 91% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/44

Duration7h

GroupUp to 15

LanguagesEN · PT +2

PickupAt your hotel

You walk through shallow water alongside juvenile lemon sharks in their natural habitat.

A full-day tour of Sal Island with a native certified guide covering nine stops—Santa Maria, Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Espargos, Palmeira, Buracona, Terra Boa Mirage, Shark Bay and Pedra de Lume Salt Lake. The guide shares Cape Verdean history, culture and local stories at each stop. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included; lunch at a local restaurant is optional and paid separately; entrance fees to Buracona and Pedra de Lume Salt Lake are also optional and paid on site. The tour runs seven hours and suits all fitness levels, though it is not wheelchair accessible.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sal Island's highlights

Start in Santa Maria town
Visit Kite Beach
Stop at Murdeira Bay viewpoint
Drive through Espargos city
Visit Palmeira fishing village
Explore Buracona and Blue Eye
See Terra Boa Mirage
Enjoy optional lunch break
Walk with lemon sharks at Shark Bay
Discover Pedra de Lume village
Float in Pedra de Lume Salt Lake

The Experience

The day starts at your hotel in Santa Maria, where the guide picks you up and drives you through the island's most significant sites. You begin in Santa Maria itself, walking the colourful streets and visiting the fishing pier to see how locals live. From there, the route moves through Kite Beach—where from October to March you watch dozens of colourful kites on the water, or enjoy the empty turquoise shoreline the rest of the year—then to Murdeira Bay for views of Monte Leão, the island's volcanic landmark. The guide explains the geology and shares stories about the island as you move between stops.

Mid-morning takes you through Espargos, Sal Island's capital, where you see urban art and everyday Cape Verdean life beyond the tourist areas, then to Palmeira, a fishing village with colourful boats and a relaxed pace. Buracona comes next, home to the Blue Eye—a famous volcanic cave where sunlight creates a blue reflection inside, surrounded by ancient lava formations and natural pools. The guide walks you through the geology of the landscape. You also visit Terra Boa Mirage, an optical illusion in the desert that looks like a shimmering lake, and learn the science behind it.

After seven hours of driving and walking, you return to your hotel. Lunch happens mid-tour at a local restaurant of the operator's choosing—it is optional, costs €11 per adult and €6 per child up to seven years old, and includes one drink and a choice of traditional Cape Verdean, vegetarian or vegan dishes. The Shark Bay experience, where you wade into shallow water with juvenile lemon sharks, is included; the guide briefs you on safety before you enter. Entrance to Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, where you float in mineral-rich water inside a volcanic crater, is optional and paid on site. The guide provides photos and videos from the day, and the air-conditioned vehicle includes a comfort stop for water and Wi-Fi.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from Santa Maria, Murdeira, Espargos or the airport.
air-conditioned vehicle with free child seat on request.
native certified guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Portuguese or French.
the Shark Bay experience with a specialised guide in the water.
photos and videos taken by your guide.
passenger liability insurance.
a comfort stop with free Wi-Fi and the option to buy lunch (€11 per adult, €6 per child up to seven, including one drink and a choice of traditional Cape Verdean, vegetarian or vegan dishes).

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for back problems

Operated by Sal Experiences

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see the island's main landmarks—the Blue Eye, salt lake, and Shark Bay—with someone who knows the local stories and can explain what you are looking at. The native guide and flexible pace mean you choose which paid attractions to enter and whether to eat lunch, so the day shapes itself around what interests you rather than a fixed itinerary.