Sal secrets by minibus
Excursions & day trips

Sal secrets by minibus

4.5/5

Excellent
25 reviews
from
£40.00
Free cancellation
Language: English
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: from 2 hours to 4 hours
Why you’ll love this…
  • You'll journey through Sal's unique landscapes and visit the communities of Palmeiras and Espargos
  • At Buracona Lagoon you'll witness the natural wonder of the 'blue eye'
  • There's a rare chance to swim in the lake of a volcano crater and feel like you've had a spa experience
What to expect

If you're looking for the hidden gems of Sal, then this half-day tour will tick all the boxes, taking in colourful fishing villages, an enchanting lagoon and even a dip in an extinct volcano's crater lake.

You'll take a ride in a comfy minibus as an expert guide shows off the best of this island. Your drive will take you to the quaint village of Palmeiras, full of cutsie shops and cozy cafes, where you'll get time to stroll its narrow streets and soak up the ambiance of this coastal community. Then on the way to the livelier village of Espargos, there's a stop at Buracona Lagoon where you'll see its ‘blue eye' – a natural phenomenon where the sunlight casts an ethereal glow over the water's surface.

Round off the day with a trip to an extinct volcano crater, where you'll have the rare chance to swim in its saltwater lake – like a natural spa experience. The mineral-rich waters mean you'll be floating effortlessly and heading back to your hotel feeling refreshed and invigorated.

Read more
What's included
  • check Transport
  • check Guide
  • check Guided tour
  • check Exclusive TUI itinerary
What to remember
  • Viewing of the Buracona ‘blue eye' cannot be guaranteed, as the optical illusion depends on the sun's position on the day
  • Bring bathing gear and sunblock
  • Bring a towel
  • Bring money for extras or gratuities
  • This experience doesn't follow our general cancellation policy. If you need to cancel, you must do so at least 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
  • Not suitable for those with reduced mobility due to uneven paths or steps
  • Not suitable for those with reduced mobility due to moderate walking distance during tour
Read more
Provider
TUI CAPE VERDE
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

Excellent

4.5 /5

Based on 25 reviews from verified customers


Review categories

Value for money

4.4/5

Safety

4.7/5

Staff

4.7/5

Service

4.7/5


68%
20%
8%
0%
4%

Sort by:

  • R

    Rita and Dave

    Verified booking

    4.2

    20 September 2025

    Travelled as a couple


    Experience of guided tour informative, kept safe by crossing roads . Interesting, saw many historic places. Learnt about individual areas. Fishing town Palmeria. Loyalty figs to the fisherman owners. How schools have emerged in the local areas. Saw a private school. See poverty,in a few areas people generally seem to be coping with life .

  • S

    Sharon

    Verified booking

    5

    19 September 2025

    Solo traveller


    Unfortunately the weather turned bad so we were unable to go and look at the blue eye, it had been closed off for safety reasons as the area was very wet and hazardous. Instead our lovely tour guide took us on a tour of one of the local villages, he was very informative and great fun to be with. The salt lake was fabulous, I've never experienced anything like it before. It was very relaxing floating without any effort. Overall a very nice trip, had a lovely time :)

  • S

    Suzanne

    Verified booking

    5

    6 September 2025

    Travelled with family


    A great little half day tour to see a bit of the island & island life if you don’t wish to spend a whole day on a bus getting off & on this is the one for you & is great in a wee minibus only 8 of us. Our driver & Stefan our TUI guide were excellent. Stefan was so helpful & informative with the history & knowledge of the island. He looked after us well. Was definitely worth doing & great value.

  • A

    AFMWalsh

    Verified booking

    5

    7 August 2025

    Travelled with family


    Guide amazing and very informative all through experience. Enjoyed by us sll

  • M

    Manda

    Verified booking

    5

    14 May 2025

    Travelled with family


    Excellent Excursion both staff Ronaldo and driver pleasant and professional. Well done guys from England ????

  • I

    Ian Morgan

    Verified booking

    4.6

    26 April 2025

    Travelled with family


    Loved the variety of stops. Glad we only opted for 1/2 day version - I think the full day would have been too much

You might also like

Sal lemon shark experience
Activities

Sal lemon shark experience

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.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, fr, nl 

Secrets of Sal Island 4x4 Tour with Pedra da Lume Salt Lake
Activities

Secrets of Sal Island 4x4 Tour with Pedra da Lume Salt Lake

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.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Cuba Libre Sailboat Cruise
Activities

Cuba Libre Sailboat Cruise

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.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Wellness, relaxation and mindfulness experience with singing bowls
Activities

Wellness, relaxation and mindfulness experience with singing bowls

Embark on a mindfulness journey on Sal Island. Experience virtual reality, breathing exercises, and sound baths for ultimate relaxation.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, pt 

Professional beach photoshoot
Activities

Professional beach photoshoot

Capture your finest moments with a professional beach photoshoot in Sal Island.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, pt 

Family-friendly off-road buggy tour of Cape Verde’s Sal
Activities

Family-friendly off-road buggy tour of Cape Verde’s Sal

Sal's white sands are regulars on the ‘best beach' lists, and you'll see plenty of them and more on this off-road four-seater buggy tour. Take the driving seat, or let an experienced guide drive so you can focus on taking the pics. You'll visit the moon-like landscapes of the Santa Maria salt flats and roar up the rugged Serra Negra – the highest hill in the south of the island - for views of the Atlantic Ocean. Visit Kite Beach, Palha Verde and Ponta Preta, or on the four-hour tour you'll see coastal treasures like the fishing village of Palmeira and look for lemon sharks in Shark Bay.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Monster truck ride from Sal in Cape Verde
Activities

Monster truck ride from Sal in Cape Verde

Sky-high adrenaline, humongous 1.7-meter tyres and a massive 1,000 horsepower – yep, everything comes super-sized on this Cape Verde monster truck experience. You'll be collected from your hotel and taken to a desert obstacle course. You'll spend around eight minutes riding high in the back of a monster truck, climbing dirt hills and crushing cars around the track. As well as plenty of photo ops, there's table football, a small playground and mini electric cars to keep the kids entertained, plus drinks and snacks are available in the shade.

free cancellation
Instant Confirmation
Romantic Sunset Escape At Ponta Preta Beach
Activities

Romantic Sunset Escape At Ponta Preta Beach

Book your spot now for a romantic evening on Ponta Preta Beach! Perfect for special occasions or quality time!

free cancellation
Available in:

en, it, fr, es 

Four-hour Quad Tour - Island Adventure
Activities

Four-hour Quad Tour - Island Adventure

If you want a break from the beaches on your holiday to Sal, in Cape Verde, this quad bike outing is perfect for getting your adrenaline pumping. You'll be picked up from your hotel and driven to where your quad's waiting. After a safety briefing, you'll throw on the supplied helmet and safety equipment. Then, the fun starts. Whizz around Sal to some of its main landmarks, like the salt flats, Shark Bay and Kite Beach – plus many, many more. You'll follow your guide the whole way, and you'll have plenty of opportunities to open up the throttle and get some speed up.

free cancellation
Guided Tour
2-hour desert adventure quad tour
Activities

2-hour desert adventure quad tour

Want to check out a few of Sal's top locations during your Cape Verde beach holiday? This quad bike tour ticks off a lot of the island's heaviest hitters, including Kite Beach – famous for its watersports scene – the Santa Maria Salt Flats and many more. You'll be picked up and dropped off at your hotel, and you'll have about two hours behind the controls of your quad. You'll be given a safety briefing and all the necessary safety gear. Plus, you'll follow a guide the whole way.

free cancellation
Guided Tour