Santa Maria salt flats and shark bay tour: Sal Island in 6 hours

Float in salt water 25 times saltier than the ocean, then wade knee-deep among lemon sharks

A 6-hour minibus tour of Sal Island departing Santa Maria at 9:00 AM, with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French. You'll travel south through salt flats and desert landscape, stop in Espargos for lunch on your own, then reach Pedra de Lume salt crater to float in hypersaline water and see the blue eye when the sun peaks between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM. The tour includes a wade through Parda Bay's shallow waters where lemon sharks inhabit a 50-square-meter zone, and visits to a viewpoint overlooking the island. Hotel pickup and minibus transport are included. Entrance fees to the salt crater, shark bay and blue eye are not.

Step-by-step itinerary

Santa Maria salt mine and shark bay tour

• Pick up from hotel at 9:00 AM
• Visit Santa Maria pier and salt flats
• Travel through Terra Boa desert
• Free time for lunch in Espargos
• Climb to viewpoint for island views
• Observe blue eye natural phenomenon
• Enter water and swim with lemon sharks
• Float in Pedra de Lume salt lake

The experience

The tour picks you up from your hotel at 9:00 AM and heads south across Sal Island, passing the Santa Maria pier and salt flats before crossing the Terra Boa desert, where the landscape can trick the eye with a mirage. After an hour of free time in Espargos, the island's administrative capital, to grab lunch, you climb to a viewpoint for views across the island before moving toward Parda Bay, the natural habitat of lemon sharks.

The real draw is Pedra de Lume salt crater, where the water is 25 times saltier than seawater. Between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM, when the sun is directly overhead, a round shape appears in the water, locals call it the blue eye, and you'll float effortlessly in the hypersaline lagoon. Nearby, you wade into Parda Bay's shallow waters, knee-deep, to move freely alongside lemon sharks in a contained 50-square-meter area. The whole experience sits inside a 6-hour window, so the timing is tight but manageable.

The minibus holds your group together throughout, and your guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French depending on the option you choose. Bring a swimsuit, sunscreen and a towel. The salt water is intense on the skin and eyes, so rinse off afterward if you can. Food and drinks are not provided, though you have time to eat in Espargos.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup by minibus at 9:00 AM.
• transport across Sal Island to all stops.
• a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.
• access to viewpoints overlooking the island and Parda Bay.
• one hour of free time in Espargos for lunch.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 29 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.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by sodadetour

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see the salt flats and Parda Bay on a fixed schedule with other travelers: the 9 AM start and midday timing catch the salt crater and bay at their best, and you skip arranging your own transport.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (under 6).

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 the blue eye at Pedra de Lume and when can I see it?

The blue eye is a round shape that appears in the salt crater's water when the sun is directly overhead, visible between 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM on clear days. It forms due to the angle of sunlight hitting the hypersaline lagoon, and you'll float in the water during this window to witness it.

Will I actually swim with sharks in Parda Bay?

You wade into the shallow water, up to your knees, in a 50-square-meter area where lemon sharks naturally inhabit the bay. You move freely alongside them in this contained zone rather than swimming in open water. The sharks are accustomed to visitors and remain in their habitat.

How salty is the water at Pedra de Lume, and can I really float?

Pedra de Lume's water is 25 times saltier than seawater, so floating is effortless: similar to the Dead Sea. The high salinity makes it nearly impossible to sink, and you'll bob naturally in the lagoon without effort.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay separately?

Hotel pickup, minibus transport, and a live guide are included. Entrance fees to Pedra de Lume salt crater, Parda Bay shark zone, and the blue eye viewing area are not included and must be paid on arrival. Food and drinks are also not provided, though you have an hour free in Espargos to buy lunch.

Is there time to eat during the tour?

Yes. You have one hour of free time in Espargos, the island's capital, where you can buy lunch at local restaurants. No meals are provided as part of the tour package.

What should I bring for this tour?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and sunglasses. The salt water is harsh on skin and eyes, so consider rinsing off after floating in the crater. Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet, as you'll wade in Parda Bay.