BEST VALUE small group island tour w/SHARK experience & salt lake
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Our local and certified guide will take you on the most amazing visit to the island of Sal. More then the touristic points you will see also how the locals live, work, eat and get insight on tales and carachters of the island. Our certified guide will surprise you with his knowledge about the history of Cape Verde and Santa Maria, the tails from popular believe and insight about the future of this esquisite island. The tour includes Shark Bay where you can see the shark lemons in their natural environment. and the thermal volcanic waters of Pedra De Lume Salinas - one of Cape Verde seven wonders and UNESCO listed heritage.The tour starts at 9am.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Please bring a bottle of water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, swimsuit, water shoes (if you have one) and towels
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Hotel pick up and Drop off
Native and certified Guide
Baby and toddler Seat
Liability insurance
Observe sharks in their natural environment; float in the salt pans and swim at natural pool
Tips (optional)
Lunch
Pictures (optional)
Entrance to Buracona (3€) and Salinas (6€)
Buracona - Olho Azul
Salinas
Snacks and Drinks are not included
Water shoe at shark bay if you do not have (optional)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
What To Expect
Ilha do Sal
Sal (Portuguese for "salt") is an island in Cape Verde. Sal is a tourist destination with white sandy beaches and over 350 days of sunshine a year. It is one of the three sandy eastern islands of the 10 island Republic of Cabo Verde in the central Atlantic Ocean, 350 miles off the west coast of Africa. Cabo Verde is known for excellent year-round kiteboarding, for the large reserve of Caretta Turtles which hatch July - September, and for its multi-cultural heritage and beautiful music.
Santa Maria
We will drive you through the back streets of Santa Maria whilste sharing the history of this city that has transformed from a village which exploited salt to the biggest tourist city in Cape Verd. You will have a perception of town and local living outside of the main commercial streets and coastal area of the city.
Options
Off the beaten track island tour with a local and certified guied
Private tour possible: This tour can be made in a Private car with snorkeling and wi fi included. Please enquire. Also can be tailor made.
Pickup included
Reviews
59 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Jam packed day of fun and facts
MonkeyDennis,
Nov 24, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked the small group full day tour, and were picked up at the hotel at 9.30. A small group.of 8, us 2 Brits, Italian couple, Swiss/Brazil couple and 2 ladies from another CP Verde island. A wonderful mix! Patrick our guide was fantastic and multi-lingual, and shared lots of information. We visited the Salt mine, lemon shark Bay, the blue eye cave (a long wait for not a lot to see), fishing village Paleira and main town of Espargos, kite beach, and finished the day with a swim/float in salt pool! We also drove through the shanty town, which is an important part of the island to understand. Tourism helps bring money into the economy so its important to not just live in your hotel whilst here, and contribute to local businesses if you can. Lunch was OK, but very basic, and was an extra 10 to 14 euro. I don't know if it's on every tour, but Patrick took fantastic photos of us all day on his professional camera and showed us on his laptop. It was 20 euro for a download of approx 50+ photos, separated by couple, and worth every penny. A brilliant addition, and a chance for photos as a couple. We were drooped off at the hotel at 5pm, and reflected on a fabulous day!! We immediately recommended the tour to others at the bar too!
Our Best Trip: Cape Verde, Cliff, Fábio and A Yes to the Sunset
Trail663933,
Nov 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our trip to Cape Verde was simply unforgettable, and much of that magic is due to Carlos Cruz Tours, a truly phenomenal company. One of the days of our stay we decided to contract their services and we were accompanied by guides Cliff and Fábio, two extraordinary professionals who turned the tour into a unique experience. During the day, we visited all the most iconic sights, always with interesting explanations, good disposition and that human warmth so characteristic of Cape Verde. Cliff has always been super friendly, attentive and genuinely interested in providing us with the best day possible. Fabius... was simply the best guide ever! Your energy, knowledge and care with us made everything even more special. But nothing could prepare us for the moment that came at the end of the day: a magical sunset in Murdeira, right in front of the iconic Bar dos Piratas, where I was surprised with a wedding request that I never imagined. The combination of the stunning scenery, the thrill of the moment and the way everything went naturally made this experience absolutely memorable. We ended the day celebrating with a cocktail and a delicious dinner, still absorbing the happiness of this beautiful chapter of our lives. I highly recommend Carlos Cruz Tours — not just for their professionalism, but for how they make a simple walk into a history that we will keep forever. Cape Verde was already special... but with Fabio and Cliff it became extraordinary.
Carlos Cruz and his team - the best ever!
Cruiser19200433783,
Nov 8, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We made the tour of the island in private with Carlos Cruz together with his team (Fábio) and it was one of the best experiences we had, everything very organized 🙏 talk about them is to talk about the people of Cape Verde, welcoming, sympathetic, empathic, nostalgic, polite and very conversational 💙 even ending the connection of what moved us, always worried if we were well and if we needed something 🙏 we recommend to 100% the Carlos Cruz and team ♫ thank you and no stress ♫
Excellent Tour of Chincoteague & Assateague, VA
JMcD202003,
Oct 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked a tour (not a private one) with Salt Water Pony Tours. The tour was on time and was excellent. Both the Captain of the pontoon boat, and the guide on-board were excellent. The provided considerable information about the history of Chincoteague, as well as the separate island of Assateague. They also provided information and history of the general area (including Wallops Island (NASA), as well as the pony herd. My wife and I were pleasantly surprised with how well this tour went. We got to see the area by boat (very comfortable) along with approximately eight (8) other guests. We spotted a number of bald eagles, and ponies in the distance. Then, the Captain took us to a place where we got within 20 feet of a group of ponies grazing close to the water's edge. On our way back, we encontered a playful pod of dolphins (including some babies). This was a 2-hour tour and we thoroughly enjoyed it. If you had a question, you got an answer from someone who really know the area. This tour exceeded our expectations.
Passeios no Sal, Carlos Cruz Tours.
Getaway20546525618,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Excellent professionalism and super efficient! I highly recommend for a rich experience of moments, to remember later
Buggy
Relax39756391248,
Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We did the round of buggy 2h, very good! Ride mt soft but the companions of the other buggys were tied hands......
Best guide in the Salt
W3077YMsarab,
Sep 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We decided to do all the activities on the island of Sal with Carlos and could not be more satisfied. We chose the tour of the island, which was absolutely amazing, our guide Fábio was tireless in addition to taking beautiful photographs. We also did snorkeling, the night visit to the turtles and ride a buggy, all with Carlos. We recommend this excellent professional, always very helpful and attentive. Thank you for providing us with the best memories.
Disappointment, lies
Odyssey723892,
May 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00The sites were beautiful. The experiences would be wonderful if they weren't running. We didn't see the whole tour. There were 3 missing... all the experiences were running. There were a lot of lies.
I recommend 100%
sanphil34,
Apr 30, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We met Carlos during a walk by the beach, and among all the locals or pseudo locals who had approached us, he appeared to us as the most serious and professional. He introduced us all to the panel of activities that could organize us and told us to think leaving us are nmr whatsapp. We were right to trust him and went with him around the island by pick-up (8 people), then a few days later a catamaran outing (12 people). Both exits were extradited. The superb organization, guides and attendants with little care. We will come back and take it back for other activities. The rates charged are correct and much cheaper than on operatours or proposals of local hotels. Frankly on top Sandrine and Philip April 2025.
Grateful and super satisfied
280ariadnev,
Apr 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Carlos has arranged all trips for us well before the holiday. From advice, to schedules and the bookings. Due to personal circumstances we could not do one thing and then his wife took us to some small local special sights. Totally selfless. We felt really special and are very grateful for what Carlos and his wife have done and means to us.
From €40.00
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