The 15 Cruises & Boat Tours in Cape Verde That Earn Their Price

1.All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 486 reviews · 4 hours · from $81Our pick

Sail Sal’s west coast aboard the Lounge Catamaran Sodade for four hours of swimming, snorkeling, fishing, snacks, unlimited beer and soft drinks, and live Cape Verdean music. Guides including Alina, Rony, Kenni, Keila, Bellany, and Willy help create a friendly, lively trip. Choose a family sailing or adults-only departure.

“It was fun, friendly, comfortable & interesting, had a GREAT day! Thank you”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 349 reviews · 3 hours · from $69

Join Cape Verde Sailing for a calm three-hour catamaran cruise from Santa Maria or Bikini Beach. You’ll sail with a small group, enjoy snacks and drinks, and stop once for swimming or snorkeling. Crew members such as Daisy, Wesley, Marcio, Jair, and Anna are known for friendly service, with dolphins, turtles, and flying fish possible but never promised.

“Loved the relaxed atmosphere, snorkelling could be better, could have dropped us where Jesus was to see that as no fish. Apart from that, so relaxing and amazing. Thank you :)”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 295 reviews · from $71Top rated

Sail from Palmeira to Murdeira aboard the SODADE catamaran for about four hours. You’ll have hotel pickup, open beer, wine, and soft drinks, snacks, music, a swimming stop, and masks for optional snorkeling. Crew members including Alina, Rony, and Lucy are known for keeping the return sail lively.

“Transfert de l’hôtel au bateau parfait à l’heure rien à dire. Équipage au TOP vraiment INCROYABLE, très serviable avec le sourire. Beau paysage avec la possibilité de se baigner, pêcher, tuba et masque à dispo. On ne ressent pas le mal de mer car le catamaran est grand. Retour sur le port en musique et en dansant ce qui anime la demie journée Petit bémol : les « meilleures places » sur le bateau sont prises et plus possibilité d’y accéder après . Et je trouve que le buffet était un peu limite pas assez de choses à manger et trop rapide mais sinon c’était super top je recommande”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Catamaran Half Day – Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 260 reviews · from $68

Sail from Santa Maria along Sal’s southwest coast aboard a catamaran limited to 14 people. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and watch for dolphins, turtles, whales, and flying fish while Daisy, Wesley, or another crew member serves drinks, local snacks, and plenty of friendly help.

“Great boat, crew and place. Much more than I expected! Hope to see you again for a much longer trip!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day (Adults Only)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 232 reviews · from $79

Set sail from Palmeira for a four-hour adults-only afternoon near Sal. You’ll cruise toward Murdeira Bay and Monte Leão, with beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, live entertainment, snorkeling gear, fishing gear, and a floating pool when conditions allow. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

“Fantastic experience, the crew lead the party. Dancing, drinking snorkeling and fishing. On time pickup with great vibes from start to finish.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Snorkeling Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 213 reviews · 2 hours · from $44

Join Nando, a local guide born and raised in Santa Maria, for two hours of boat-based snorkeling near the Caldeirinha shipwreck and underwater Christ statue. Equipment, skipper, guide, safety briefing, and hotel transfer are offered. Turtles are the headline sight, with fish, coral, and optional photos or videos.

“A really nice and friendly team who genuinely cared for all participants. The water was a bit wavy, but the team looked after us very well throughout. The views were absolutely stunning, and seeing the shipwreck, the large variety of fish species, and the turtles truly made our day. Thank you to the whole team for such a fantastic experience!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 190 reviews · 7 hours · from $82

Spend seven hours touring Santiago Island from the Port of Praia in a small group of up to 10. Visit Serra Malagueta, swim at Tarrafal, stop in mountain villages, and share music, dancing, and local food with a Cape Verdean family. Guides may include Zanthony or Juan.

“gut , länger als geplant ,hätte es für uns nicht gebraucht”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 163 reviews · 4 hours · from $81

Sail Sal’s west coast for four hours on a new adults-only catamaran, with hotel pickup, snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, cava, music, and a swim near Monte Leão. Maria helps set the relaxed tone, while the crew handles the details. Bring sunscreen, swimwear, and shoes for the transfer.

“esperienza da 5 stelle ma mi sento costretta a darne 4 in quanto le informazioni riguardo al servizio di transfer erano carenti. siamo stati informati tempestivamente del luogo e orario di pick up ma non ci è stato detto chi sarebbe passato o come avremmo a riconoscere il transfer. per fortuna all’ultimo secondo abbiamo chiesto informazioni ad un pullman che era li scoprendo che avremmo dovuto prendere proprio quel pullman. ci teniamo inoltre a precisare che con largo anticipo abbiamo provato a contattare sia via chat che chiamando direttamente ma non abbiamo mai ricevuto risposta. speriamo venga presa come critica costruttiva.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Sailing yacht half day- with Cape Verde Sailing

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 138 reviews · from $68

Spend three hours aboard Lucy, a sailing yacht limited to eight people, along Sal’s southwest coast. You can swim, sunbathe, and snorkel when sea conditions allow, with snacks, an open bar, Wi-Fi, and equipment included. Crew members such as Ricardo, Bruno, Daniel, and Reuben have been praised for friendly, attentive service, though wildlife sightings and calm water are never guaranteed.

“We’ve changed the boat to catamaran sailing (same provider) and no regret it at all. Capitan Ricardo make you feel very welcomed from first to last second of the trip. Fantastic experience either for those who want chill out on board, or have good fun and swim. We didn’t expect that it will be so amazing. Recommend it. No doubt.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Island tour with German-speaking guide for cruise guests

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 91 reviews · 5 hours · from $88

Spend five hours touring Santiago Island with a German-speaking local guide such as Luisa or Louisa, depending on the assigned guide. You will visit Picos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, Calheta, Santa Cruz, and Praia, with a Batuque dance session and port pickup included. Food and drinks cost extra.

“Hervorragende Insel-Tourguide Louisa (deutsch) - informativ, lustig, offener Umgang”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Full day Sailing yacht – Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · from $150

Spend about 6.5 hours aboard Lucy, a comfortable sailing yacht from Santa Maria. With no more than 8 people, you’ll sail Sal’s southwest coast, enjoy lunch, snacks, an open bar, WiFi, and optional snorkeling. Wildlife may include dolphins, turtles, flying fish, rays, or whales.

“Journée magique !… des dizaines de dauphins… un équipage adorable et aux petits soins…. Très bon repas Un bémol, cela manque d’explications pour tirer la chasse d’eau dans les toilettes”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Boa Vista Adults-Only Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 49 reviews · from $97

Sail from Sal Rei Harbour aboard the wooden Gelidonya for about three hours along Boa Vista’s beaches. Expect swimming, snorkeling options, water games, music, photo stops, homemade snacks, beer, wine, soft drinks, and shaded or sunny seating. Yasmin is named as a friendly host. Confirm pickup details before booking.

“We thought this boat trip was great, sun, sea, nice snacks and unlimited drinks made the experience totally worth doing. Also, Yasmin our guide was so friendly and a great host, so would highly recommend.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 45 reviews · 7 hours · from $129

Travel from Praia to Ribeira da Barca, then take a traditional fishing boat along Santiago’s volcanic coast. You’ll visit Pilon de Achada Leite, swim or snorkel in Águas Belas cave if conditions allow, and eat a fish barbecue on a black-sand beach. Guides may include Cátia, Dany, or KID, with English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish available.

“Très belle sortie avec le guide KID juste exceptionnel, ainsi qu’aux pêcheurs navigateur qui ont su manœuvré et nous faire découvrir de magnifiques côtes malgré la force de la mer Seul point négatif le repas pas au niveau de la description il n’y avait aucune boisson Bravo pour le reste et surtout les lieux visités”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Snorkeling Experience in Santa Maria Bay by boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 34 reviews · from $34Best value

At 2 pm, Atlantic Star takes you by Zodiac to selected snorkeling spots in Santa Maria Bay. A professional guide explains how to use your mask, snorkel, and fins before you enter the water. The approximately 40-minute outing is limited to eight people and may include tropical fish and sea turtles. Hotel pickup is available.

“Great trip pick you up and drop you back to the hotel. Need to be a strong swimmer. But the instructors very helpful and knowledgeable and always there to help.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Boat Trip to Aguas Belas Cave+Barbecue

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 4 hours · from $141

From your accommodation, a guide such as Edmilson or Kevin takes you to Ribeira da Barca for a colorful fishing-boat ride to Aguas Belas Cave. You can swim inside the cave, then eat barbecue on a quiet black-sand beach. The private four-hour tour includes transport, guide, boat, life jacket, and lunch, but not drinks.

“Everything was great. The tour, the boat trip, swimming in the cave, the barbecue... The tour guide, Edmilson, was really nice. He stopped at interesting spots for us to take pictures and talk about the places. He went out of his way to make everything as pleasant as possible. Just ask him anything, and if he can do it, he will!”

Check availability →Read our full review