Tours & Activities in Sal

Speed demons will rejoice with these adrenaline-pumping buggy tours. Ideal for manoeuvring over sandy terrain, you'll get to see even more of the island as you rev, race and rumble down tracks you never knew existed. There's three tours to choose from – a 2-hour, 4-hour or night-time excursion - the choice is completely yours.

Living in the coastal subtropical waters around Sal, lemon sharks are one of the easiest sharks to spot in their natural habitat. You'll venture out to Shark Bay with a marine biologist to interact and learn about these fascinating creatures on this half-day trip.

The tropical sheltered waters that surround Sal are perfect to learn to scuba dive in. Get the basics under your belt with a swimming pool lesson from an English-speaking instructor, before taking the plunge on a confined water dive with this try scuba experience.With waters so tempting around Sal, you're in just the place to try out scuba diving for the first time. This is the perfect opportunity if you don't quite fancy signing up for a full course, but you've always wanted to know what it's like to breathe underwater.You'll get to grips with the equipment in a swimming pool first, and get comfortable with breathing and moving properly underwater. The, take part in a confined water dive in the pool or in the sea.

This morning on two wheels and two feet is a great way to explore southern Sal. Your adventure takes a scenic route from the salt flats of Santa Maria to Kite Beach and on to Serra Negra. Not only will you get to see some of the island's best bits but you'll also get to stretch those legs.

Sailing the Cuba Libre is a sweet sensation. This single-mast yacht sails out of Santa Maria in southern Sal and specialises in all the ‘ings' – sailing, relaxing, sunbathing, snorkelling, swimming and even fishing. This is what being on holidays is all about – pure, unadulterated fun. Snacks and drinks are included.

Exploring southern Sal just became even more fun. With this morning electric bike tour, your guide will lead you to the best spots as you glide with ease from A to B. So whether you want to spend some quality time with friends or simply have some fun in the sun, this tour guarantees a good time.

For a relatively small island, Sal boasts a wealth of sights. This tour covers nearly every inch of the island, taking in Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Buracona lagoon and the mirage plains of Terra Boa as well as Pedra de Lume salt flats and the towns of Palmeira and Espargos.

Mother Nature might as well have designed the beaches and dunes of Sal for quad biking – because they're ideal for this adrenaline-pumping activity. We'll take you to the world-famous Kite Beach in the southeast of the island for an experience that'll get your races pulsing. You can choose either a two or four-hour quad ride.

The desolate beauty of inland Sal is in stark contrast to the pristine white sands of its coast. On this off-road safari, you'll explore Murdeira Bay, the Buracona lagoon, the ocean-like sands of Terra Boa and the Pedra de Lume salt flats. You'll also discover the town of Palmeira and the island's capital, Espargos.

With miles of white sandy beaches and beautiful coastline, there's so much to discover in Sal. What better way to explore it than with this 4x4 tour of its hidden gems such as Murdeira Bay and Terra Boa, including a tasty beach barbecue as the sun begins to set. It promises plenty of action and some well-deserved chill-out time.

The coast of Sal is ripe for exploring on foot – but even better by Segway™. Save on tired legs and still see all the sights as you zoom around in comfort and ease on these two-wheeled vehicles. Following your guide, you'll call by some of the island's standout spots before rounding off with a well-earned rest on Ponta Preta beach.

If you're a wildlife lover, then watching nesting turtles is a must-do while in Sal. And this evening excursion takes you to beaches on the island where loggerhead turtles come up to the shore and nest so that you can experience up close nature in action.

Adrenaline-fuelled adventure is the name of the game on this thrilling session. If you've never been on a jet ski before, you're in for a real treat. Carve through warm, azure Atlantic waters on your awesomely powerful jet-propelled craft - on what can be either a 30-minute, one or two-hour session.

Sal may be small, but she packs a punch in stunning scenery. This tour takes in Kite Beach, Murdeira Bay, Buracona lagoon and Pedra de Lume salt flats. What's more, there's a three-course lunch in the island capital Esparagos and a free gift to take home.

If holidays for you are all about kicking back and catching up on some chill-out time, then this catamaran cruise around Sal is just what you're looking for. There's nothing on the agenda except cruising, sunbathing, swimming and enjoying the sea breeze. Maria, one of our local guides, says, ‘This is a trip which prioritises relaxation. Getting out onto the water gives you a fresh perspective on the island – Monte Leão is a popular place for birds, so if you like wildlife-watching, bring your binoculars and see if you can spot one of the five species endemic to the Cape Verde archipelago.'Your day of relaxation kicks off with pick-up from your hotel before boarding the brand-new catamaran. Your captain will cruise out from Palmeira, hugging the coastline. It's the perfect moment for you to choose your spot and sit back to soak up some rays. There's plenty of room to relax as well as drinks, snacks and local music to get you into that holiday mood as you enjoy the sensation of gliding through the open water in style.Once we've reached our idyllic spot near Monte Leão, your captain will drop anchor to freshen up with a swim in the open water. When we've stopped, you can also head out on to the nets, where you'll be able to float above the sparkling water and dry off in the sun. Maria adds, ‘Monte Leão sits at the northern end of the Murdeira Bay. The whole bay area is a marine nature reserve because of the important populations of sea turtles and seabirds.'

This full day adventure dishes up Sal's highlights by land and sea. You'll start the morning with an off-road drive, ticking off places like Palmeira and the salt lake at Pedra de Lume. Then after lunch, you'll swap the 4x4 for a catamaran to cruise the shores in style.

The Sal coastline is a perfect backdrop for a cruise – and this adults-only catamaran trip makes the very best use of it. Sailing leisurely through the azure seas between Palmeira and Monte Leão, you'll sunbathe, sip on cocktails and enjoy a stop for swimming and snorkelling too.

The freedom and exhilaration of flying top-speed through the air is an experience that's hard to beat. And you can do it in the tropical setting of Sal island, with hilltop views to boot.You'll be picked up from your hotel and taken to the base where your arrival will be welcomed with a refreshing drink to get you started. There will be a quick safety briefing and introduction to ziplining, then once you're ready, you'll drive up to the hilltop, followed by a short, but no less spectacular, walk.There are two platforms to launch yourself from, with the highest point at a towering 103m. You'll reach speeds of up to a 100km per hour as you hurtle down the steel ropes, which extend over 1000m. And if you can open your eyes for just a second, you'll catch flashes of Sal's idyllic landscape before you reach the end of the line.

This exclusive half-day tour sees you explore the stark contrast between Sal's desolate inland areas to the white sands of its coast. On an off-road safari, you'll explore Murdeira Bay, the Buracona lagoon, the ocean-like sands of Terra Boa and Pedra de Lume. You'll also discover Palmeira and Espargos.

Want to try watersports while you're on holiday? Get a dose of wet and wild action with a water-skiing or wakeboarding lesson. Whisked to Sal's south coast, you'll learn all the basics before being pulled along by a powerful motorboat to see how long you can skim the surface for. No previous experience is required, but maximum fun is guaranteed.

It's the sort of thing you'd see in James Bond movies – and now you can try your hand at it yourself here in Sal. The Seadoo Seascooter is a lighweight underwater propeller that allows you to explore coral and shoals of fish without expanding any energy.

Want to try watersports while you're on holiday? Get a dose of wet and wild action with a beginner water-skiing or wakeboarding lesson. Whisked to Sal's south coast, you'll learn all the basics before being pulled along by a powerful motorboat to see how long you can skim the surface for. No previous experience required, but maximum fun is guaranteed.

Make a splash in Sal with a wet and wild banana boat experience. Hop on one of these fun inflatables for a fast-paced 15-minute ride across the water. Pulled along by a speedboat, you'll tear over the Atlantic Ocean to see just how long you can hang on for. Guaranteed to be better fun than your bog standard bucket and spade day by the beach.

The compact beaches and dramatic salt pans of Sal are ideal for horseback riding. Take in the beautiful scenery from the back of your well-kept and tame mount on a mellow horse riding excursion. A variety of different tours of differing lengths are available for beginners and advanced riders alike.Head to one of Sal's premier riding schools, where you'll be paired up with your trusty steed, given your helmet and taken to either the expanses of the salt pans or a wide sweeping beach. Let the fresh air fill your nostrils as you settle into the soothing rhythm of well-trained horse – taking in the unspoilt scenery as you amble along.This horse riding tour on Sal is great for families and groups of all levels of experience. Choose from three options ranging from a shorter beginners ride to a longer advanced ride.

With its diverse marine life, tropical coral reefs and volcanic rocks, the underwater world of Sal is waiting to be explored. After a safety briefing with your fully qualified instructor, you'll dive straight in to spot snappers, moray eel, turtles and even sting rays. There's a range of different dives to suit all abilities.

There's a double bill of exhilarating activities packed into one morning on this tour. First, you'll hop on a quad bike and speed along the eastern shores of Sal. Then, switch to your bathing gear for some snorkelling off the coast of Monte Leao, before kicking up more clouds of dust as you quad bike back to base.

With its diverse marine life, tropical coral reefs and volcanic rocks, the underwater world of Sal is waiting to be explored. After a safety briefing with your fully qualified instructor, you'll dive straight in to spot snappers, moray eel, turtles and even sting rays. There's a range of different dives to suit all abilities.

Intensive but fun, this PADI Advanced Open Water Diving course will take your scuba skills to the next level. After a quick refresh on the basics, you'll take to the water for a deep dive, navigation dive as well as three adventure dives of your choice. Choose from activities such as nighttime and wreck diving to complete your qualification, with a certified instructor to keep you on track.

If you've always wanted to take scuba diving lessons and see the world beneath the waves, then this PADI Open Water Diver course is a great start. You'll learn the basic theory behind diving before putting it into practice in the pool. Then, head out to a local dive site where you'll complete four open water dives under the watchful eye of a PADI certified instructor.

Fishing fans will be hooked on this surf casting experience in Sal. You'll be taken to one of two prime surf casting spots on the island, Ponta de Sino or Ponta Preta. After a short equipment briefing, you'll cast off for four-hours of fishing in the early evening sun. Grab a photo souvenir with your catch-of-the-day before heading back to your hotel just as the night draws in.