Top Activities on the Ground in Santa Maria

Known for its long stretches of white-sand beaches and year-round sunshine, the island of Sal in Cape Verde is best explored off the main roads. Get out for an adventurous sightseeing tour on this 4-hour off-roading trip from Santa Maria, which lets you access beaches, salt flats, and more wilderness inaccessible by cars.

Experienced riders and beginners alike will find their match on this Sal Island horseback riding tour. Choose between a 1-, 1.5-, or 2-hour ride and set off in a small group with a maximum of eight participants. You’ll ride along white-sand beaches and through the salt flats of Sal, with the opportunity to continue to Kite Beach and beyond. Helmets, round-trip hotel transport, and safety briefing all included.

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.

Get out for an adventurous sightseeing tour that’s perfect to discover the desert, the beaches, the hidden treasures of this popular destination and more wilderness. This trip will take you to salt flats of Santa Maria and riding on its surrounding sand dunes before continuing to the white sands of Kite Beach. Get to know Pedra Lume Salt Caldera an extinct volcano filled with salty seawater (The Lake is the second saltiest lake after the Dead Sea, so you really do float much better than any normal sea or lake). In Palmeira at the Pier there are always locals doing fun jumps into the ocean. The fisherman will place the fish on the floor which you can buy. Enjoy a full day island tour and visit places like Shark bay, Salinas salt lake, Espargos city, Buracona Blue Eye, Kite Beach, Santa Maria, Miragem, Palmeira fisherman village and Murdeira bay. Swim in Salt Lake with your group, and have lunch at a local restaurant before going into the sea to see some lemon sharks.

Enjoy a private tour and discover the city of Espargos and the relaxed way of life of the capital of Sal island. Explore its streets and go on the hunt for fascinating street art. Meet the locals and experience the Morabeza, the hospitality of Sal. Learn more about Sal island with your expert local guide and taste the typical tapas - local flavors.