Sal Island: Sea Turtle Experience from Santa Maria
Overview
Available languages
2 hours
Mobile ticket
Join an exclusive experience for small groups to live a unique moment with the best atmosphere and respecting the guidelines of the Biodiversity Project biologists. Professional guides with knowledge and extensive experience, and volunteers in the turtle protection and preservation project.
Enjoy the knowledge of a guide specialized in nature tours who will tell you everything about their evolution, characteristics, the historical relationship with turtles and interesting facts about turtles.
The guides will ensure an ecological and environmentally conscious experience for the turtles and visitors. Sea turtle watching is a unique experience for all nature and wildlife lovers while visiting Cape Verde. By choosing Sal Experience, a local sustainable company, you will support our beach cleaning program and sea turtle preservation and protection efforts.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Specialized infant seats are available
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Wear dark colored clothes and comfortable walking shoes.
Expert guides who will offer you a unique and environmentally conscious experience for turtles and visitors alike.
The observation of nesting depends on environmental factors and is not guaranteed. However, in the last 5 years, the success rate has been 100%.
It is necessary to be physically fit to walk.
We provide lights that allow you to take photos and make videos. Photos/videos with flash and white lights are not allowed.
People under the effect of alcohol cannot participate in order not to disturb the natural habitat of sea turtles.
To ensure a safe and respectful experience for both you and the turtles, remember to wear dark clothes and comfortable, closed shoes when observing them, especially at night. Why dark clothes? Light or bright colors can scare and disorient turtles, especially puppies. When wearing black, dark brown, dark green, dark blue, dark gray or other dark shades, it helps us minimize disturbances and mix with the environment.
Thank you for choosing our turtle observation experience! To ensure the safety and well-being of the turtles, in accordance with the new guidelines of the Ministry of the Environment, the activity time is variable and can occur between 19:30 and 22:30 depending on the conditions of the day and the regulations. Transport time will be confirmed on the morning of the event day.
Turtle experience is not recommended for people with reduced mobility and children under 3 years of age.
Not recommended for people with nictophobia
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Don't miss this incredible experience. Watching sea turtles is a unique experience for nature and wildlife lovers while visiting Cape Verde. Join a unique experience with the best atmosphere and respecting the guidelines of the Biodiversity Project biologists. Transfer from your hotel at 8:30 pm and arrive at one of the island's beautiful beaches in less than thirty minutes. Be welcomed by your professional guides with extensive experience, and volunteers in the turtle protection and preservation project, who will ensure an ecological and environmentally conscious experience for turtles and visitors. Cape Verde is home to populations of 3 species of turtles. The Caretta caretta turtle (common turtle) is the most common species in Cape Verde. Cape Verde's sandy beaches are one of the most important nesting sites for loggerhead turtles. Enjoy the knowledge of an expert guide and an ecological tour that respects turtles and their habitat. By choosing Sal Experience, a local sustainable company, you will support our beach cleaning program and sea turtle preservation and protection efforts.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Specialized nature guide
Liability insurance
infrared lighting
Hotel Pick-up and Drop-off service included
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Options
English speaking guide
Pickup included
Spanish speaking guide
Pickup included
French speaking guide
Pickup included
Portuguese speaking guide
Pickup included
Reviews
141 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
October is no longer the perfect month to see the Turtles!
JorgeS654,,Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00I expected more from this nightly visit to the turtles. You travel a lot on foot, with little light or red light. And it was very hard to find a turtle. Long Waiting time and I finally managed to see one in the distance. The guides only let the turtles approach groups of 9 to 10 people at a time. So the first group was still nearby, but then the Turtle left. I was only able to see a few pups . According to me October is no longer the ideal time to see the desova (it seems the best months are until September) and maybe that is why some of my disillusionment.
Fantastic turtles
Shaun S,,Oct 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Need the wear dark clothing and enclosed sed shoes if you have them and no white light and no strong scents should he worn
Inspirational Turtle Tour
Rita1996RE,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was special and beautiful to watch, but also sad that the baby turtles may not survive. The crew were fantastic and knowledgeable b
Turtle that
Kim v,,Oct 10, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00It was a top experience to see! Only they arrived 20 min late with pick up which was a shame but otherwise it was good
Incredible Experience
dstrafling,,Oct 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Absolutely incredible experience, completely eco-respectful, the Loggerhead Turtle laying her eggs, covering them then heading back out to sea for 4 years genuinely moved us to tears 🥰
Bad experience not as it shows. This trip had no warnings at all of how it would be. Do NOT book if mobility problems.
Lexi G,,Sep 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00We were so excited to be seeing the turtles in thier own habitat. On arrival we were es ported out the mini bus and it was all a bit jumbled as there was three different languages spoken amongst the group. We were told to follow the guide and then had to walk in the pitch dark with no light as he said it startled turtles. We walked like this for a very long time. It’s was rough terrain and the group of mostly 20 somethings walked at a fast pace. We eventually go to where a turtle was and the guide told us a little bit of information for about 2 mins. He did this in three languages which was confusing and he spoke quietly so not to disturb turtle but we just couldn’t hear any of it. We watched the turtle lay her eggs, cover them up and then return to the sea. But the whole time we stood. We were close to the sea and the tide was fast approaching. This trip is NOT suitable if you cannot walk fast and a long way or have any mobility problems. Walking in pitch dark was terrifying as I feared falling. Also standing watching turtle lay eggs was for a very long time. And the guide just sat behind us not saying anything about turtles. It felt almost intrusive watching the turtle and nothing about it was eco friendly or in keeping with natural environment.
Amazing turke watching
Simon T,,Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Anazing experience with Chan, our guide who took us to a mother turtle laying eggs and we saw how she covered over the nest carefully and made her way back to the sea. It was an incredible experience
Super Chouette
antoine s,,Sep 13, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00We saw a turtle laying eggs. It was the best part of our holiday. Realistic. We had been hesitant to do that and we would have been really dumb to miss out on that. The guide seemed like a nice person also very funny.
Great experience but advice below
Dani C,,Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
3.00We booked this Turtle experience as we liked the idea of seeing turtles in the wild. It was a pleasant experience however, if you have poor vision and not confident walking on sand, this isn’t for you. Although we were in 2 small groups, it was very busy with other groups there. Our guide was very friendly and knowledgable but we were told to ‘hurry’ as he’d found one laying eggs Unfortunately, it’s hard to walk on sand, let alone run! Plus the darkness made it near enough impossible to see where we were walking. Would recommend but only if you’re confident. Make sure to wear sensible footwear and an all black outfit
Bien
YERAY C,,Sep 3, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00Well, it's respectful of turtles even though it doesn't meet the total number of people who can get close to the turtle.
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