Most Cape Verde excursions start from Sal or Boa Vista, where the package hotels are, while the best hiking is on Fogo and Santo Antão. This page sorts the tours in Cape Verde by type, links to our detailed guides and explains how to pick activities that are worth the money and fair to the wildlife.
Suits first-time visitors who want an overview of Sal with a certified local guide rather than planning each stop. The tour takes about seven hours, so allow most of the day.
from €35 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
Minibus day trip with hotel pickup at 9:00, suited to those wanting an easy overview of Sal. Stops include Terra Boa, a viewpoint, Espargos with a free hour for lunch, and a float in the Pedra de Lume salt pools.
from €30 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A compact option for travellers who want the main natural sights of Sal without giving up a whole day. The tour lasts about four hours and is listed as all-inclusive.
from €45 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A nature outing on Sal for people interested in sea turtle nesting. It is a wildlife trip, so patience is needed, as sightings cannot be guaranteed. Observe quietly and from a respectful distance.
from €30 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A varied half-day on Boa Vista for visitors who like a mix of wildlife, landscapes and a little activity, finishing with a tasting. The tour lasts about four hours.
from €58 per person
Check availabilityvia GetYourGuide
A guided drive around Sal for travellers who prefer an open vehicle to a coach. A local guide covers the island's landscapes, natural sights and everyday culture in Cape Verde.
from €29.99 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Cross Boa Vista on a cobbled track to a nature reserve with a beach and a huge old baobab, then visit a lighthouse and colourful villages. Drive of about 1 hour each way, with photo stops; minimum 3 people.
from €40 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
A coastal walk between volcanic rock and ocean, with a village viewpoint at Fontainhas and a picnic at Praia das Aranhas. Swimming there depends on sea conditions.
from €78 per person
Check availabilityvia Viator
Prices are indicative and may change. The final price is shown by the booking platform. Prices checked: October 22, 2026. We may earn a commission if you book through our links, at no extra cost to you.
Wildlife comes first. From about July to October loggerhead turtles nest on the beaches of Sal, Boa Vista and Maio, and licensed night walks let small groups watch a female lay her eggs: see turtle watching. On Sal, Shark Bay lets you wade among young lemon sharks in knee-deep water, and from roughly March to May humpback whales gather off Boa Vista; our whale watching guide is in preparation.
On land, half- or full-day island tours by minibus or 4x4 visit the salt crater of Pedra de Lume and the Buracona rock pool on Sal, or the Viana desert dunes and Rabil on Boa Vista. Quad, buggy and jeep trips cover similar ground at more speed: see quad, buggy and jeep tours. At sea there are catamaran trips and diving and snorkelling, and from roughly December to May the trade winds make Sal and Boa Vista a kitesurf and windsurf destination.
The best walks are on the mountain islands. On Fogo you can climb Pico do Fogo, at 2,829 m the country's highest point, with a local guide from Chã das Caldeiras inside the crater. On Santo Antão, about an hour by ferry from Mindelo, cobbled paths drop through terraced valleys such as Paul. Neither is a day trip from Sal or Boa Vista: allow a flight, perhaps a ferry and two or three nights; see ferries and flights and our hiking guide, in preparation.
Tour reps, beach sellers in Santa Maria and Sal Rei, and the booking platforms all sell excursions. Compare what the price includes: hotel pick-up, lunch, water shoes and entrance fees such as Pedra de Lume, which are often extra. For wildlife, choose operators that keep groups small and follow the rules: no feeding sharks, no white light with turtles, and boats that do not chase whales.
Cape Verde is generally safe for tourists; the main risks are strong currents and basic medical facilities, and the UK government warns that quad biking is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance. Budget also for the EASE airport fee and the tourist tax charged by hotels, around €2.50 per person per night for up to ten nights: see safety, visa and the EASE fee.
We compare tours from the main booking platforms and favour licensed operators, hotel pick-up, small groups and free cancellation. Ratings and prices come from the platforms, where the booking also happens.
Turtle watching from July to October, Shark Bay and an island tour on Sal, a desert jeep trip on Boa Vista and, from about March to May, whale watching off Boa Vista. Hikers should add Fogo's volcano or the valleys of Santo Antão.
Sal has the widest choice, followed by Boa Vista, because that is where most package hotels are. Hiking tours are based on Santo Antão and Fogo, which take extra flights or ferries to reach.
For turtle walks in August and other popular dates, yes, because groups are small. Many other tours can be booked a day or two ahead, but booking in advance gives you a named operator and a cancellation policy.
It carries real risk: helmets are a legal requirement, medical facilities are basic and the UK government notes that quad biking is unlikely to be covered by travel insurance. Check your policy and choose an operator with well-maintained vehicles.
