Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria
4.5
Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria
By Sal Experience ®, Reis Transporte
About
Sea turtle watching is a unique experience for all nature and wildlife lovers while visiting Cape Verde. Join an exclusive experience for small groups to live a unique moment with the best atmosphere and respecting the guidelines of the biologists of the Biodiversity Project. Professional guides with knowledge and extensive experience, and volunteers in the turtle protection and preservation project.
Enjoy the knowledge of your expert nature guide who will tell you all about the evolution, characteristics, the historical relationship with turtles, and curiosities about turtles.
The guides will ensure an ecologically and environmentally conscious experience for the turtles and the visitors. By choosing Sal Experience, a local sustainable company, you will support our beach cleaning program and efforts to preserve and protect sea turtles.
from per adult
$33.39
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-100, max of 8 per group
Duration: 2h 30m
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Features animals
Live guide: Portuguese, English, French, Spanish
More
- Private transportation
- Expert guide
- Pick-up and Drop-off at the hotel included
- Liability insurance
- infrared illumination
- Departure details
- Traveler pickup is offered.
- From the reception of your hotel or accommodation, airport or other departure point previously agreed with the client. 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 badge, Sal Experience shirt and a yellow sign written Sal Experience.
- Airports:
- Amilcar Cabral Intl Airport, Ilha do Sal Cape Verde
- Ports:
- palmeira
- santa maria
- pedra de lume
- Hotel pickup is offered. View the hotel list on our checkout page to see if yours is included among the pickup points.
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infant seats available
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 120356P5- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travelers can participate
- Ecological tours for small groups.
- Expert guides who will offer you a unique and environmentally conscious experience for the turtles and the visitors.
- Bring dark coloured clothes and comfortable walking shoes.
- We have our own lights so you can take photos and videos. Please note that flash and white light are not allowed for the turtles' well-being.
- Not recommended for children under 3 years old
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- How much is Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria?
- Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria price starts from $33.29. Discover and book Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria on Tripadvisor
- What is the Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria cancellation policy?
- Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria on Tripadvisor
- Which company provides Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria?
- Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria is hosted by Sal Experience ®, Reis Transporte. Read reviews, discover additonal experiences or contact Sal Experience ®, Reis Transporte on Tripadvisor. Discover and book Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria on Tripadvisor
- How much time do I need for Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria?
- On average, this experience will take approximately 2h 30m. Discover and book Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria on Tripadvisor
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 120356P5
Reserve your spot
Similar experiences
About the operator
Sal Experience ®, Reis Transporte
986
Santa Maria, Cape Verde
Joined in May 2019
#1 of 14 Nightlife in Santa Maria
- lesleya78800Sal all day tourExcellent day out with very informative guide who was fluent in many languages, a local from birth..good to be given the reality of how hard life is for the locals as well as all the best picturesque places on the island..good value for your money. If you book bring some extra food or water bottles for the children of the shanti town, you can't give them money as it discourages them from going to school
- 614gaellec00Amazing dayIt was an incredible day. We saw so many things and Chan, the guide, is simply the Best, really kind, really helpful and always smiling. He made the tour unbelievable :) We recommand it !
- eros4900Sal All-in-OneThis is the only way to do the tour around the island. You get a full overview of the island in one day. On other islands, we rented a car and went ourselves. This full day tour leaves you home and relaxed for caipiroskas before dinner at your resort. Lunch restaurant was very good too. Wear a bathing suit and cover up or clothes over and if you have crocs for the sharks, because the beach is quite rocky. Otherwise you can rent them for $2. Our guide was Nany, and he was awesome.
- Felix W00Nice tourVery good tour around the island with some local things that the travel companies tour doesn’t have. Sharks were really cool
- zhibute00Would do that again!Great tour! Amazing experience - would go for it again. A lot of useful information that helped us to understand Sal and Cabo Verde better. If was very entertaining and educational. Only positive vibes. Thank you for everything! (It's impossible (!) to not fall in love with guide Clovis)
- Beth_merlin00Great day out to see everything on SalAmazing day, everything went like clockwork with some bonus out of season turtles showing up too... Nany, what a legend guide!
- dominicj5900Just great. Essential. Brilliant guideJust great. Essential. Brilliant guide, knew the island back to front. Great fun, could not recommend it more. Will do again when I next visit.
- 556antw00Enjoyable and interestingBooked literally an hour before with helpful staff via WhatsApp. Picked up and driven to all these interesting places with the fun and informative guide Nani. It was just right time wise, back in time for lunch at the hotel. Great thank you
- Rhian S00Fantastic trio not to be missedOne of the best trips we have ever been on. We had to cancel the initial date we booked due to myself becoming poorly, I was able to message the company who were sympathetic and offered advice on what to take. They were under no obligation to offer any sort of refund or change the date due to it being last minute but very kindly they offered the trip again at half price. They kept in touch over the coming days to ask if we still wanted to go which we did. Our guide for the day was chan and I have nothing but praise for him, from being friendly, to informative and genuinely wanting everyone to enjoy the day. He was such a lovely genuine person and it was a pleasure to see that island with him being our guide. Definitely a trip I would recommend and even sorted a Christmas present as our daughter and her family visit next year so we have bought them this as part of their Christmas present. We have made the best memories today and again a big shout out to Chan for everything and not forgetting his photography skills as well 🤣,
- lyndat57200Great shark experienceWow, this was a fantastic experience all round. Our guide was a marine biologist with so much knowledge. He took the time to explain why authorised tours were important, some.locals offer the trip cheaper but they feed the sharks to bring them over which you shouldn't do as they don't learn the skills to survive as they get older. Highly recommended this tour with the enquisive lemon sharks. .
- duukv00Super Tour!Very nice tour to explore the main highlights of Sal. Nani did a great job driving us around and with great humour. The Minivan had airconditioning and even though we had to go off-road a couple of times it was comfortable. On the night before I got a WhatsApp message with a pack list for the day which was really helpful. Would absolutely recommend the tour!!
- A6074QYkirstym00Amazing experienceBrilliant trip guided by Nanni at Sal Experiences, way more included than explained here, Nanni went above and beyond to make us all feel comfortable at every point, laughing and joking along the way with some superb local native knowledge! 100% recommend, could not recommend enough in fact to get to know this beautiful island and community.
- deborar52300Nice experienceThis excurtion was very nice, our guide Nany was fun and easygoing. He drove us all around the island and we enjoyed beautiful moments together.
- Karen M00Amazing experience and great companyAmazing experience, we were picked up from our hotel bang on time, and we were in a small group with just six of us and our tour guide was really informative. We had so many lemon sharks swimming round our feet and our guide even went and found a sea urchin which we all got to hold. Highly recommend this company and experience… would have given 10* if I could have.
- Till S00Do this tour!Amazing tour! We met one of the Guides one day before at the turtle experience tour (Do this. It's unbelievable good). He is so nice and do everything he can to give everyone a nice and comfortable tour. He did soo many pictures and videos of us and had the best creative ideas for them. It seemed like he knew everything and everyone on this Island. We had 2 guides, later 3 Guides. The last one was speaking German, so it was possible for really everyone to speak in his mother language if wanted. There was a great vibe between them and the tourists. It was like you were experiencing this Island with old friends. Just do this tour. Its very interesting and funny. Cheers, Till
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
62 reviews
Excellent
53
Very good
5
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Miriam D
5 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
This was simply amazing! Since the booking process, to the tour guide (we got Chan and we totally recommend him), to the experience itself.
We saw 3 turtles nesting in the 1/5hours we were there and it was breathtaking. Chan explained us the whole nesting process and how turtles live and breed, and we could actually feel the love and respect they have with this animals. To actually see it with our eyes was amazing and we totally recommend this experience if you are in sal!
We saw 3 turtles nesting in the 1/5hours we were there and it was breathtaking. Chan explained us the whole nesting process and how turtles live and breed, and we could actually feel the love and respect they have with this animals. To actually see it with our eyes was amazing and we totally recommend this experience if you are in sal!
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sal_Experience
Thank you for recommending us Miriam, it was a pleasure to give you this experience and we are happy to hear that you are satisfied. Kind regards
Written January 13, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Tim B
Crook, UK75 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Picked up from hotel and driven to a nearby beach. It was very surreal, lights out on the vehicles, guides and turtle patrol all had red lamps and very quiet whilst our guide explained about the turtles and their lives. Then we were suddenly bundled into the transport and driven 500-600 metres to see a turtle lay her eggs, Very very humbling watching this huge turtle flip sand over the nest and us, before skirting back into the sea.
Yes there were other groups there and it was a bit chaotic with people trying to take pictures but the guides were very calm and rotated groups of people through so we all got to see what was happening.
A great night and something I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the islands.
Yes there were other groups there and it was a bit chaotic with people trying to take pictures but the guides were very calm and rotated groups of people through so we all got to see what was happening.
A great night and something I would definitely recommend to anyone visiting the islands.
Written October 14, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sara
Pegoes, Portugal2 contributions
Amazing guide, very well informed, very professional, and always taking care of everybody in the group.
Also, i really appreciated his calm. There were a lot of other groups on the beach looking for the turtles and some of those guides were very agressive and stupid and our guide never lost the calm.
Thank you.
Also, i really appreciated his calm. There were a lot of other groups on the beach looking for the turtles and some of those guides were very agressive and stupid and our guide never lost the calm.
Thank you.
Written October 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise J
1 contribution
We heard wonderful things about this tour from other families at the hotel. On the evening we were booked to go rain was forecast and rather than take us in the rain the tour operator was honest with us that this is most likely to mean we would miss the turtles and offered to fully refund or book us in on a other evening. The communication was excellent on what’s app.
Written August 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas B
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We webt and saw the turtles on 01 July 2023.
Chan, our guide was funny and knowledgeable.
He showed us where the turtles had been the previous night and gave us lots of facts before we we’re fortunate enough to see a turtle lay eggs and turned around to see another turtle come up right behind us to lay it’s eggs. BRILLIANT experience. Lasted about 3.5/4.0 hours in total.
Chan, our guide was funny and knowledgeable.
He showed us where the turtles had been the previous night and gave us lots of facts before we we’re fortunate enough to see a turtle lay eggs and turned around to see another turtle come up right behind us to lay it’s eggs. BRILLIANT experience. Lasted about 3.5/4.0 hours in total.
Written July 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jukaka
Cornwall, UK69 contributions
An experience that will live with us forever! Great value for money and only a 15 minute journey from the hotel. You are taken to a secluded beach (our slot was 8pm) and then you navigate your way through the dark to the beach where you hope to see a turtle.
Sitting and waiting in the dark was the only downside, luckily the guides/ marine biologists know their stuff and we were able to experience exactly what we paid for; laying of eggs from a turtle coming to the beach to nest.
Downside; I stubbed my toe on a rock because it’s very dark and torches are not permitted.
Sitting and waiting in the dark was the only downside, luckily the guides/ marine biologists know their stuff and we were able to experience exactly what we paid for; laying of eggs from a turtle coming to the beach to nest.
Downside; I stubbed my toe on a rock because it’s very dark and torches are not permitted.
Written August 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sal_Experience
We thank you for your comment however I can tell you that the trip you made was not with our company because our clients live an experience.
The nesting beaches are dark because turtles do not lay eggs on beaches with light pollution or noise. We are prepared to take you there safely and recommend that visitors bring dark clothing and appropriate lights to walk safely without disturbing the tranquility of the beach, we have never had any type of accident as you described in our activity, we work with small groups and have qualified staff with appropriate lights to take with all safety and with the same lights visitors take pictures and videos as you can see in the comments and illustrative photos of previous customers. We do this work for many years with much love to give our customers an unforgettable experience respecting the turtles, we will be happy to take you with us.
Written September 19, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emma W
16 contributions
Oct 2023 • Friends
This experience was amazing!
We seen baby sea turtles hatch and go into the sea.
Sea turtle laying eggs and go back to see.
Sat watching the sea in the moonlight.
Just a lovely experience
We seen baby sea turtles hatch and go into the sea.
Sea turtle laying eggs and go back to see.
Sat watching the sea in the moonlight.
Just a lovely experience
Written October 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karen H
1 contribution
Jul 2023 • Couples
Amazing intimate experience in a small group. We saw three turtles go through the whole process which was incredible. Highly recommend. This is a non-invasive tour that does not harm or interfere with the turtles in any way.
Written July 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ellen
The Netherlands1 contribution
Magical evening of seeing a turtle lay eggs from close by. All done in a responsible and professional way. The guide and driver was helpful, very knowledgable and spoke english well. An absolute trip tip !
Written October 1, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cameron S
2 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
This was a great experience. It was really refreshing to go on a trip which was natural and not over commercialised. We were able to watch the turtles and watch the process from start to end. The guide was great.
Written July 18, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andrea B
Royan, France10 contributions
Bonjour il y a déjà plus de place pour janvier 2023 ? Merci à vous
Boa tarde,
Estou a planear ir de ferias para a ilha do Sal em Marco ou Abril deste ano com a familia, uma crinca de 5 anos.
Gostaria muito de lhe ofercer a experiencia de ver as tartarugas como eu ja tive ha un bons anos.
Mas percebi que a desova não é nesta altura.
Pode-me aconselhar outro tipo de passeio em que possa mostrar animanis ao meu filho, uma vez que ele é apaixonado pela vida selvagem.
Muito obrigada!
Hi! I am going to Sal from 10th to 15th of November and I would like to do this tour. Would this be possible?
Sal Experience with chan
Ilha do Sal, Cape Verde16 contributions
Hello, thank you for your contact. The spawning season is from june to october (inclusive) but you may be lucky to find it at this time. Please contact us when you are closer to your trip, and we will tell you how it is. But keep in mind that in November you will be also able to see the hatchlings dig their way out to the ocean.
Buy it with
Top rated
Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria provided by Sal Experience ®, Reis Transporte
Product Overview: Sal Island: Sea Turtles Experience from Santa Maria
Prices From | $37 |
---|---|
Number of Reviews | 62 |
Number of Photos | 75 |
Duration | 150 minutes |