Crystal-clear waters of Sal Island let you swim with gentle lemon sharks and watch the mysterious blue eye shimmer beneath the surface. These amazing experiences blend adventure with relaxation in Cape Verde’s best water sports destination.
The island’s pristine waters have something for everyone. You can enjoy classic activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, and jet skiing. Luxury catamaran cruises with prosecco and buffet lunches add an extra touch of elegance to your day. Each spot offers unique water adventures – from Shark Bay’s shallow waters to the stunning Buracona lagoon. Water enthusiasts of all skill levels will feel right at home here.
This complete guide shows you Sal Island’s best water activities and top locations. You’ll learn about water safety tips, equipment rentals, and ways to make your aquatic adventure memorable. We have everything you need to plan an unforgettable experience, whether you want to swim with sharks or explore hidden caves.
Santa Maria Bay: The Water Sports Hub
“Cape Verde is the perfect place for surfing, windsurfing, diving, and all traditional and modern watersports.” — Josh Angulo, 2009 PWA Wave World Champion and Cape Verde windsurfing promoter
Santa Maria Bay is the ultimate spot for water sports on Sal Island. Its pristine shoreline attracts sports lovers from all over the world. The perfect mix of steady trade winds, crystal-clear waters, and great facilities makes this place ideal for everyone – from first-timers to pros.
Beach facilities and access
The beautiful sandy beach at Santa Maria has managed to keep its exceptional cleanliness. A car-free promenade runs along the beach’s edge, lined with hotels and beach pavilions where you’ll find refreshing drinks. The beach is accessible to everyone. Several pavilions have wooden walkways that make it easy to cross the sand.
You can rent beach beds and umbrellas, or just spread your towel on the sand – there’s plenty of room. Safety comes first at Santa Maria Beach. Dedicated lifeguards watch over swimmers, mostly west of the Santa Maria jetty . The beach uses a flag system that works well to keep visitors safe.
The beach never feels crowded. Head west from the jetty and you might find a peaceful spot all to yourself . This area strikes the right balance between easy access and peace, which suits all types of beachgoers.
Available water activities
Santa Maria Bay has tons of exciting water activities:
- Windsurfing and Kitesurfing: The bay’s steady trade winds make it famous for these sports . Kite Beach, part of Costa de Fragata, draws kite surfers and hosts the World Kite Surfing Circuit from November to March.
- Jet Skiing and Water Skiing: Get your adrenaline fix with 30-minute jet ski rides plus water skiing or wakeboarding.
- Snorkeling and Diving: The Santa Maria jetty area is perfect for snorkeling. Fish gather around where fishers leave their offcuts. Santa Maria Dive Center has professional multilingual staff ready to help.
- Stand Up Paddleboarding: A laid-back way to explore the coastline.
- Banana Boat Rides: Enjoy a wild 15-minute ride across the Atlantic Ocean behind a speedboat.
- Dolphin Watching: Tours leave from Santa Maria Bay to spot dolphins in their natural habitat.
Santa Maria ranks among the island’s safest swimming spots. This makes it great for families and less confident swimmers. But remember – sea conditions can change. Waves and currents might get stronger in some areas.
Equipment rental shops
Quality rental shops line the Santa Maria beachfront, offering gear and lessons:
ION CLUB runs two centers on Sal Island that work together based on your skill level. Their Santa Maria center offers kitesurfing lessons and rentals, surfing lessons and rentals, beginner windsurfing lessons, beginner wingfoil lessons, and stand up paddle rentals.
Santa Kite School has patient and friendly teachers. Marlin Kite School works great for beginners. Filu Surf is known for welcoming vibes and patient windsurf instruction.
Most rental shops offer package deals that combine gear rental with lessons. Whatever your experience level, you can try new water sports easily. These shops provide all safety gear with rentals, so you can focus on having fun on the water.
Shark Bay: Swimming with Lemon Sharks
A natural wonder sets Sal Island’s eastern coast apart from typical beach destinations. Shark Bay serves as a natural nursery for lemon sharks and gives visitors a rare chance to watch these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat, not behind aquarium glass.
What to expect during the experience
The shallow, crystal-clear waters of Shark Bay will catch your eye right away. These waters nurture lemon sharks that grow between 2.5 to 3 meters in length, with the largest reaching 3.4 meters . Your guide will share fascinating facts about these remarkable creatures, including their scientific name, Negaprion Brevirostris.
You can choose between two ways to observe sharks: stay on the beach with binoculars or step into the shallow waters for a closer look . The shark encounter lasts about 60 minutes , which gives you plenty of time to watch their graceful movements. These yellow-tinged sharks got their name because light hitting the water sometimes makes them look lemon-colored.
Best times for shark spotting
The best shark watching happens , when Shark Bay’s waters buzz with activity between November and May[8]. Early morning hours provide better visibility and more shark activity. Tour times change based on sea tides [9], so keeping a flexible schedule helps.
Adult lemon sharks swim at a distance during certain seasons. Baby sharks and juveniles measuring 50cm to over 1m prefer the shallow reef. Young sharks pick this spot to stay safe from predators.
Safety considerations
Lemon sharks pose no danger to humans , but safety rules matter:
- Keep a respectful distance and never touch the sharks – they might react aggressively
- Listen to your guide’s instructions
- Stay calm and quiet to avoid startling the sharks
- Protect your feet with water shoes on the rocky ground (rentals cost about €3)
- Swimming and snorkeling are off-limits due to safety concerns
Remember these sharks live wild and free in their natural habitat . The focus stays on watching them respectfully rather than interacting.
Guided tour options
Local companies run guided tours to Shark Bay that include:
- Santa Maria hotel pickup and drop-off
- Guides who speak multiple languages
- Transportation both ways
- Water shoe rental
- Educational talks about lemon sharks
A full tour takes 2-2.5 hours, with an hour spent watching sharks . Tour prices start around €25 per person . Some trips combine shark watching with visits to other spots like the Pedra de Lume salt lakes.
Conservation efforts have pushed guides to learn more about shark biology and share this knowledge with visitors. Their steadfast dedication helps protect these fascinating marine creatures for future generations.
Olho Azul de Buracona: Além da Superfície
A icônica gruta Blue Eye fica na costa noroeste da Ilha do Sal. Buracona cativa os visitantes com a sua maravilha natural, onde a luz do sol e a água do mar criam uma ilusão de ótica hipnotizante. Este local extraordinário tornou-se parada obrigatória em qualquer excursão detalhada pela Ilha do Sal. A experiência aqui não chega nem perto de um simples passeio turístico.
The mysterious underwater cave
The Blue Eye (Olho Azul) features a with an entrance 25 meters deep natural hole about 9 meters in diameter[2]. The cave becomes truly special when sunlight hits the underwater cave at the perfect angle. The sun’s rays stream through a crack straight down between 11 am and 1 pm, particularly in summer months. This light illuminates the azure water below and creates what looks like a giant blue eye.
A natural tunnel lets seawater flow into this enchanting cave. The cave’s unique geological formations create a mesmerizing visual spectacle that attracts photography enthusiasts and nature lovers alike . The Blue Eye isn’t as visible during autumn and winter months, which can leave some travelers disappointed.
Oportunidades de natação e mergulho
You’ll find a naturally formed swimming pool next to the Blue Eye. This spot gives you a refreshing break from the Cape Verdean sun. The natural lava pool’s crystal-clear waters look calm and inviting at first glance. Many visitors enjoy a cool dip here, but they should watch out for changing tide and wind conditions .
Buracona gives experienced divers an extraordinary cave diving adventure. The cave has two level entries – the top entrance sits 15 meters deep while the deepest entry reaches 28 meters. Divers spend most of their time inside the cave. They can see sun rays pierce the underwater world from a completely different viewpoint. You’ll need at least an Advanced Open Water certification to explore this underwater marvel.
Photography tips for the Blue Eye
To get the perfect Blue Eye shot:
- Timing is everything – Visit between 11 am and 1 pm during summer months (especially June) when the sun’s rays fall almost vertically through the rock crevice
- Weather awareness – Choose a sunny day without clouds to ensure optimal light conditions
- Early arrival – Beat the tour groups by arriving early morning to avoid crowds in your photographs
- Calçado adequado – Use sapatos resistentes que ofereçam boa aderência em pedras potencialmente escorregadias
- Preparação do equipamento – Traga uma lanterna subaquática se planeja fotografar dentro da caverna
A entrada custa cerca de 3 euros . Esta maravilha natural acrescenta um valor extraordinário ao seu roteiro turístico pela ilha do Sal. Não se esqueça de levar roupa de banho para aproveitar as piscinas naturais que tornam esta notável formação geológica ainda mais especial
.
Pedra de Lume Salt Flats: Floating in Nature’s Spa
The Pedra de Lume Salt Flats sits in an extinct volcano crater on Sal Island’s northeastern coast. This natural wonder gives visitors a surreal spa experience you won’t find anywhere else in Cabo Verde. Its mix of history and healing powers makes it a must-see spot on any Sal island tour.
The unique floating experience
The salt pans at Pedra de Lume pack quite a punch – the water has than regular seawater saline concentration 27 times higher. You’ll float without any effort thanks to this incredible concentration. Even people who can’t swim can safely enjoy this weightless sensation.
Picture yourself lying back in shallow lakes barely a meter deep, where your body naturally floats to the surface. The experience matches floating in the Dead Sea, but here you’re inside an ancient volcano crater. Visitors often call it “magical” and “unforgettable” as they drift in these warm, mineral-rich waters.
The pink and white salt pans create a beautiful contrast against the mountain backdrop. Your senses will thank you for the peaceful setting and gentle nature sounds that surround you.
Health benefits of salt water
These waters do more than just help you relax. Scientists have shown they have . The mineral-rich waters provide several healing benefits cicatrizing, detoxifying, and metabolic-stimulating powers.
The high mineral content helps:
- Make your skin better through natural exfoliation
- Boost blood flow throughout your body
- Relax tense muscles
- Leave your skin feeling fresh and clean
The mix of volcanic minerals and salt creates what many people call a natural open-air spa. Local residents believe these waters have even more healing power than science has proven.
Practical visitor information
Here’s what you need to know before you go:
You’ll pay about 5-6 euros per person to enter the crater and swim in the salt pans . Kids under 5 shouldn’t swim because of the very high salt concentration. The site welcomes visitors daily from 9:00 AM to 5:45 PM.
Remember to pack:
- Swimwear and flip-flops/water shoes
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- A towel
- Bottle of water
- Dinheiro para taxas de entrada
Cuidado com a água salgada nos olhos, pois pode irritá-los. Você pode se enxaguar nos chuveiros de água doce do local após o mergulho (cerca de 1 euro por 30 segundos). Um pequeno restaurante está à sua disposição com refrescos após a flutuação.
Os melhores horários para visitar são no início da manhã ou no final da tarde, quando o clima é mais fresco e menos movimentado. A luz do sol torna essas salinas coloridas verdadeiramente mágicas.
Murdeira Bay: Secluded Water Adventures
“Cape Verde boasts some of the richest waters on the globe, as far as underwater fauna is concerned.” — Josh Angulo, 2009 PWA Wave World Champion and Cape Verde windsurfing promoter
Murdeira Bay sits quietly away from Sal Island’s tourist hotspots and provides a peaceful escape for anyone looking for untouched marine adventures. The bay’s wide crescent shape decorates Sal’s southwest coast. Natural beauty meets ecological significance here, making it a must-see stop on any Sal island tour.
Protected marine reserve highlights
Murdeira Bay enjoys official protection as a marine nature reserve. The protected area spans an impressive , including the Ilhéu Rabo de Junco 182 hectares of land and 5,925 hectares of sea. This status helps keep the bay’s rich biodiversity and pristine environment intact.
The bay is a vital nesting ground for sea turtles and seabirds . Loggerhead sea turtles swim these waters to feed and nest between May and October. The waters also welcome endangered rorqual whales from March to May, which are globally important for conservation.
Snorkeling in pristine waters
Cape Verde’s best snorkeling spots include Murdeira Bay . Mount Lion shields the bay’s natural harbor from currents, creating calm waters that stay warmer than other spots around the island.
These perfect conditions help create thriving underwater sea life and a small coral reef . Snorkelers can explore crystal-clear turquoise waters full of colorful fish and marine creatures. The bay stays protected from common winds and gives excellent visibility even for snorkeling beginners.
Lesser-known water activities
Murdeira Bay offers several unique water-based experiences beyond swimming and snorkeling:
- Turtle observation: Summer months let you watch turtles in their natural habitat—a gentler option compared to shark encounters elsewhere on the island
- Fishing trips: Protected waters create perfect conditions for fishing enthusiast
- Beach exploration: You can find unique sand sculptures and fascinating rock pools shaped by coastal rocks, wind, and waves
The bay lets you try scuba diving, hike coastal paths, and play beach volleyball. A small bar/restaurant near the parking area serves refreshments to make your water adventures more comfortable. Clear waters meet golden sand beaches in this secluded spot that’s perfect for escaping the busy water sports centers.
Conclusion
Sal Island is Cape Verde’s premier destination for water sports that delivers exceptional adventures and serene natural experiences. The pristine Santa Maria Bay beckons wave riders, while Pedra de Lume’s salt-rich waters provide a unique floating experience. Buracona’s mysterious Blue Eye adds to the island’s natural wonders.
Visitors initially drawn to traditional water sports discover much more than they expect. They swim alongside docile lemon sharks and spot sea turtles gliding through Murdeira Bay’s clear waters. The island’s expert instructors are a great way to get guidance for newcomers to water sports. These distinctive features set Sal Island apart from typical beach destinations.
The best experiences depend on timing your visits well. Shark watching works best during morning hours, while the Blue Eye shows its magic at midday. Salt flat floating is ideal during early morning or late afternoon. With good planning and the right gear, your water adventures on Sal Island will create lasting memories of this Atlantic gem.
