Sal Island Half-Day Tour: Blue Eye, Salt Lake & Sharks
Four stops, four hours, one native guide who knows where the sharks gather.
This half-day tour of Sal Island combines four natural attractions (the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake in an extinct volcanic crater, the Blue Eye at Buracona, the Terra Boa mirage and Shark Bay) in a single morning with a native certified guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, and all entrance fees. You float in mineral-rich salt water, swim in a natural pool when conditions allow, and observe juvenile lemon sharks in their habitat. The tour returns by early afternoon, leaving the rest of your day free.
Options for this experience
4 optionsWhat’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off.
- entrance to the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake and Buracona (Blue Eye).
- Shark Bay experience.
- all entrance fees and taxes.
- air-conditioned transportation.
- skip-the-line tickets.
- native certified guide in your chosen language.
- passenger liability insurance.
- complimentary photos and videos taken by your guide.
- free child seat on request.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Sal Experiences
Prices and times updated yesterday
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The experience
The morning starts with hotel pickup and a drive to the Pedra de Lume Salt Lake, an extinct volcanic crater filled with mineral-rich water so buoyant you float without effort. The guide is a native of Sal Island certified to lead the tour, and speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese or French depending on which option you book. From there you move to Buracona to see the Blue Eye, one of Cape Verde's most recognizable natural wonders: a natural swimming pool fed by seawater, accessible when the ocean and sunlight cooperate. The visibility and the ability to swim depend on weather and sea conditions on the day you go.
Between the major stops, the tour passes the Terra Boa mirage and takes in views over Murdeira Bay and Lion Mountain. At Shark Bay, you enter the water to observe juvenile lemon sharks in their natural setting. Water shoes are recommended for this part and can be rented on site for €2 if you don't bring your own. Your guide photographs and films the day, and you receive the images. The whole route covers four hours, and the van is air-conditioned. All entrance fees, transportation and liability insurance are included. Skip-the-line tickets mean you don't queue at the gates.
The tour is designed for first-time visitors and travelers with limited time on the island. It returns to your hotel between 1:00 and 1:30 PM. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. Water shoes are optional but useful for Shark Bay. Baby seats and child seats are available free on request. Shark Bay is not suitable for travelers with reduced mobility, and the Blue Eye's visibility is a natural event. It appears only under the right sunlight and sea conditions.
Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Sal Island's main natural attractions in one morning and return to your hotel by early afternoon. The fixed four-hour schedule and included transportation mean the day holds together without you arranging stops, timing or entry fees. You just show up at your hotel ready to swim and observe wildlife.
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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 (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).
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 exactly is the Blue Eye at Buracona?
The Blue Eye is a natural swimming pool at Buracona fed by seawater, and one of Cape Verde's most famous natural attractions. You can swim in it when sea conditions and sunlight allow, but visibility and water access depend on the weather on the day of your tour.
Will I really float in the salt lake without swimming?
The Pedra de Lume Salt Lake sits inside an extinct volcanic crater and is filled with mineral-rich water so buoyant that floating requires no effort: similar to the Dead Sea or the Dead Sea in other destinations. You'll float effortlessly in the water.
How close do you get to the sharks at Shark Bay?
At Shark Bay you enter the water to safely observe juvenile lemon sharks in their natural habitat. Water shoes are recommended for this part of the tour and can be rented on site for €2 if you don't have your own.
Does the tour include hotel pickup?
Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The tour departs from your accommodation and returns between 1:00 and 1:30 PM, leaving the rest of your day free.
What happens if the Blue Eye isn't visible on the day I go?
The Blue Eye is a natural phenomenon and appears only under suitable sunlight and sea conditions. Swimming at Buracona's natural pool is also subject to weather and ocean conditions, so visibility and access can vary depending on the day.
Sal Island Half-Day Tour: Blue Eye, Salt Lake & Sharks
4h · EN · ES · FR · PT · at your hotel
from US$ 51 per person
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