Sal Island: Shark Bay Shark Watching Experience from Santa Maria
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Santa Maria, Cape Verde
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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What's Included
- Private transportation
- Guide
- Transfer from the hotel
- Liability insurance
- Water shoes and all equipment included for your safety and to make traveling easier.
- Child seat from 0 to 3 years old (on request)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
From the reception of your hotel or accommodation, airport or other departure point previously agreed with the customer. If you cannot find your hotel or accommodation in the list above, send us your address and we will pick you up there. The guide will be fully identified with a badge, company shirt and a yellow sign with Sal Experience written on it. It's a yellow car.
Operating hours.2:30 pm
What To Expect
1
Shark Bay
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 14 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Grant_G
Amazing from start to finish. Our tour guide Chan was fantastic. Highly advise this operator above all others.
Other operators were making people get out after 20mins, Chan said we could have as long as we wanted. We had 40mins with the sharks. Amazing experience.
Reviews
4.6
based on 106 reviews
Becky_H, Feb 2026
Great experience! So amazing to be so close to these incredible creatures in their own environment. Would highly recommend.
The shore is very rocky so sensible water shoes is a must and do take care when walking. It was windy when we went so lots of waves. The sharks are just beautiful though - worth it! 💙
Clive_P, Oct 2025
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.
Sharon_W, Feb 2025
Well organised. Fun. Collected from the hotel. The lemon sharks were fascinating. Enjoyable all round.
Joanne_E, Jan 2025
Really enjoyed this trip. Weird having sharks brushing past you. So glad I bought a waterproof case for my phone so I could video them under water
Martta_H, Jan 2025
Very nice experience but not for person who has troubles to move/use legs. I didn’t realise that we are in so deep water-> maybe dry pants would be nice😀
beverley_k, Jul 2024
Great trip need good water shoes. The shark just swim around around got amazing photos. The tour guide has good local knowledge of the area.
Darren_S, Jul 2024
Great time observing lemon sharks in Thier natural environment with great guides .
Very knowledgeable and friendly safe sea to walk in.
Vikaash_B, Sep 2023
Nice experience but unfortunately in a Portuguese group and guide in at the site spoke Portuguese while we specifically pointed out that we wanted an English guide which was an option. Looked like we were put in a different group because we switched cars halfway there. That was disappointing
Jenny_W, Sep 2023
Fantastic must do experience, excellent guide Nanny made a wonderful experience even better.. thank you.
Helga_S, Aug 2023
Everything was excellent
The staff the sharks
Recommended 100%
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Excellent adventure
Worth trying it
Natalia_K, Feb 2023
Great experience, nice team, all went well. The weather was not the best (low tide) but guys were very supportive and brought positive vibes. Thanks
Christina_A, Aug 2022
The experience was incredible. From the moment the drivers picked us up right till they dropped us off. We got some useful information whilst on the drive there and back about the island and things to do. Once we got to shark bay, we were given shoes which was included in the price ( otherwise they have to be rented). We had a lovely guy who led us out in to the sea and gave us a lot of information! The water was so clear and the lemon sharks were easily seen and so many of them. We even spotted a bigger shark further out! Being able to see them in their natural habitat was amazing for such a small price too!
Response from Host, Sep 2022
Thank you for recomming us Christina, our mission is to offer you a unique experience and make sure you enjoy in the best way your vacation and we are glad that you are satisfied. We will be pleased to welcome you again on Sal island and show you more Sal highlights. Have a great day.
Nicola_F, Aug 2022
Great service from start to finish. Quite an experience to paddle with the sharks. We didn't have to wade too far out and the sharks just swam around our legs. Definitely need water shoes, these were all sorted through the booking. Fab experience. Chan the guide was so friendly.
Only negative and this is nothing to do with the tour operators but when we arrived it really upset us that one of the locals had a monkey on a chain!! Not acceptable in this day and age.
Hugo_S, Jul 2022
It is so nice to see the litlle lemonsharks surround you woensdag tot stand unto your kees deep in the warm waters of the rock ocean floor. I had planned to swim with thebigger ones but they are verry shy so you would have to go much further
intoo the bay which was not recommended by our guide..
Vanessa_T, Jun 2022
Great tour of the island! Seeing baby sharks in Shark bay, swimming in the salt lake, the blue eye buracona - best day of the holiday so far!
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Thank you for recomming us Vanessa, our mission is to offer you a unique experience and make sure you enjoy it in the best way and we are glad that you are satisfied. We will be pleased to welcome you again on Sal island and show you more Sal highlights. Best regards
BertJan_V, Jun 2022
Great trip, well arranged by Sal Experience team from the booking and onwards. Updates via whatsapp and also quick response in case of questions
Grant_G, Jun 2022
Amazing from start to finish. Our tour guide Chan was fantastic. Highly advise this operator above all others.
Other operators were making people get out after 20mins, Chan said we could have as long as we wanted. We had 40mins with the sharks. Amazing experience.
Emma_I, Mar 2022
Great communication, lovely guides, fab experience! Would 100% recommend this company and tour to any visitors to the island.
Christopher_T, Jan 2022
Great experience,amazing to see these sharks in their natural habitat.our guide chan was brilliant,highly recommend this tour
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Hi Christopher, thank you for taking the time to rate our service, we are very happy you enjoyed the day and had a great experience, that is our mission! Shark experience is a must do for all wildlife lovers visiting Sal island, Cape Verde and Chan is really a great guide, passionate and very knowledgeable. Thank you!
Eva_V, Nov 2021
Really beautifull to see the baby sharks! Chan was very friendly and helpfull. We will book another tour to see more of the island with them.
Response from Host, Jan 2022
Hello Eva, thank you very much for taking the time to rate our service, we are very happy that you enjoyed your day and had a great experience, that is our mission! Chan is a really great guide, passionate and very knowledgeable. It was a great pleasure to welcome you here and provide you with this experience, a must do for a nature and wildlife lover visiting Sal island, Cape Verde, Thank you!
Michael_T, Nov 2019
We had a slight issue with response to emails regarding timings etc but this turned out to be just the way that our guide worked. He was early to pick us up from the hotel and in fact the time we got to the bay was perfect just as our guide said as it was alot quieter. We got amazing videos or the sharks and the look on my girlfriends face when we saw them so close made the day and our holiday.A great trip and would happily recommend this to anyone.
Response from Host, Mar 2022
Thank you for recomming us Michael, our mission is to offer you a unique experience and make sure you enjoy it in the best way and we are glad that you are satisfied. We will be pleased to welcome you again on Sal island and show you more Sal Experiences highlights. Best regards
Camilla_W, Mar 2026
That they picked up earlier than it said on the ticket was a minus we had to rush. Got a message 10 minutes after we were supposed to meet the bus. Even so, it was cool to experience. Awesome when the sharks swam between their legs. You should have good balance to be able to go out to the sharks because there are rocks and corals on the bottom and long way out until you get to your knees. Recommend seeing sharks in their natural habitat.
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Andre_M, Apr 2024
Die Haie waren beeindruckend und in grosser Zahl anwesend. Die Fahrt pünktlich und der Begleiter mehrsprachig und sehr freundlich. Es gab keine aufdringlichen Verkäufer was den Ausflug uns entspannt geniessen liess.
Response from Host, May 2024
Vielen Dank, dass Sie uns empfohlen haben, Andre! Unser Ziel ist es, Ihnen ein einzigartiges Erlebnis zu bieten und sicherzustellen, dass Sie das Beste aus Ihrem Urlaub machen, wir freuen uns, dass Sie zufrieden sind. Besuchen Sie uns regelmäßig, wir freuen uns, Sie begrüßen zu dürfen und Ihnen weitere Highlights der Insel Sal zu zeigen. Beste grüße
Peter_Z, Sep 2023
Leuke ervaring en heel goed te zien en goed te doen voor iedereen voorzichtig lopen in warm water en je ogen uitkijken naar de baby’s
Steven_B, Jul 2023
Très belle aventure et expérience 🤩
Suite au contact avec l’organisateur, nous avons rajouté l’excursion à la saline dans le cratère de Pedra de Lume.
Le guide parle parfaitement français et anglais.
From $35.68
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Sal Island: Shark Bay Shark Watching Experience from Santa Maria
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