Sal Island: Shark Bay Shark Watching Experience from Santa Maria

Overview

Available languages

German

Portuguese

English

French

Spanish

2 hours

Mobile ticket

A native and professional tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and after an informative transfer trip of approximately 25 minutes you will arrive at the eastern part of the island, on the beach with the natural nursery rife of the lemon sharks, which is a brown shark. clear, sand-colored, in its natural environment. These sharks pose no threat to humans. To enter the water you must wear water shoes or crocs for walking on rocky surfaces.

The Lemon Shark is medium to large in size and its scientific name is Negaprion Brevirostris.

After spending 40 minutes learning all about sharks, you will be taken back to your accommodation or hotel where you were picked up. Water shoes suitable for the surface of the place included for your safety and comfort.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Don't forget to bring: GoPro/Camera, Swimsuits and Towel

Please wear water shoes suitable for rocky surfaces. If you do not have them, they will be provided free of charge on site.

All-inclusive package at no extra cost!

People under the influence of alcohol cannot participate.

It is necessary to be physically fit to walk.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Water shoes and all equipment included for your safety and to make traveling easier.

Child seat from 0 to 3 years old (on request)

Liability insurance

Transfer from the hotel

Guide

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Join this adventurous experience and observe lemon sharks in their natural habitat. Visit the eastern part of the island on a beach that boasts a natural colony of lemon sharks, slightly brown or sand-colored when in its natural environment. Choose to stay on the beach and watch the sharks with binoculars or go into the water to see them up close. The lemon shark is medium to large and is not a threat to people, but it can be a danger to other animals in the ocean. Its scientific name is Negaprion Brevirostris. The average length of a lemon shark is about two and a half to three meters. Some of the largest lemon sharks measure about 3.4 meters. These sharks grow about 50 centimeters a year. After spending 60 minutes swimming with the sharks and learning everything about them, you will be taken back to your hotel or hostel where you were picked up. Learn all about sharks and their habitat with the help of a professional guide.

Options

English speaking guide

Pickup included

Spanish speaking guide

Pickup included

French speaking guide

Pickup included

Portuguese speaking guide

Pickup included

Reviews

4.60

102 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Baby shark
NathalieR2580,
Nov 19, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00
Easy to book with TripAdvisor even the day before. Our shark bay tour with Luxair was cancelled the day before....fortunately TripAdvisor was there to save us. 😁
Lots of sharks to see ❤️
Clive P,
Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Great experience saw lots of sharks swimming between our legs some quite big ones 😳 Loved it and seeing them in their natural environment was awesome we would recommend.
COULD NOT UNDERSTAND GUIDE.
kevinrP6413WJ,
Sep 4, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00
Boring, only tiny shakes, not as advertised. Guide was not English, hard to understand on a trip that we only booked as it was supposed to be in English. Not worth the money
Lemon sharks in Sal
Quest14275927771,
Jul 6, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We went on our own at 8.30 in the morning so were the first people there. One of the locals approached us, which we had become vary wary of with the amount you get harassed everywhere you go on the island, but he was very friendly and helpful. We paid €5 each and in return he let me use some of the sea shoes they have (basically crocs) which they had many sizes of and were all clean. He then took us out to where the sharks were and used fish bait to entice them over. The sharks were completely harmless and occasionally bumped into our legs. He then told us a bit of information about them and stayed with us for a good half an hour.
Great experience!
Andres FGG,
Apr 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience with such nice guides, both to the location and when we met the sharks. Would fully recommend booking a trip with them!
Highly recommended
findeoin,
Mar 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We were picked up outside our hotel and returned within 3 hours. Safely driven minibus with well informed guide who was a marine biologist. We booked through TUI, and would recommend that route to booking. The beach area is very underdeveloped so have a few euro coins to use the toilet! We hired crocs for 3euro to walk safely in the water. This trip is not over subscribed, so there was plenty space between groups. And all visitors were respectful of the staff and wildlife! And of course we saw plenty lemon sharks! 🦈 Amazing life experience!
Shark excursion
N908DXpatricias,
Mar 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great experience! The guides were top we saw plenty of sharks big and small. If you don’t have the right shoes, they’ll lend you shoes so you can go in the water
Nice excursion
M9157MOfrancoisl,
Feb 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Punctual, very nice and the sharks were there! Tip, call the day before to confirm to avoid unpleasant surprises, the team responds very quickly by watsapp.
Lemon Shark trip
Sharon W,
Feb 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
Well organised. Fun. Collected from the hotel. The lemon sharks were fascinating. Enjoyable all round.
Very good
Nico S,
Jan 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Fantastic guide in Kiki and driver George. Would recommend to anyone going for a great Sharks Bay and Salinas visit in Cabo Verde.