The 10 Turtle Watching in Sal That Earn Their Price

1.Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 446 reviews · from $41Our pick

Leave Santa Maria after dark for Sal’s nesting beaches, usually between 7:30 and 10:30 PM. Guides such as Nany and Chan explain turtle behavior, then lead small groups to watch egg-laying by infrared light. Wear dark clothes and comfortable shoes. Sightings are highly likely but never guaranteed.

“absolutly amazing experience! Guides was very kind And they know a lots of infomation about turtles. We can recomemnd to everybody!”

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2.Sal Island Sea Turtle Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 256 reviews · 3 hours · from $37Best value

Join a small evening group from Santa Maria for a guided visit to Sal’s nesting beaches. You’ll learn from local guides, including guides such as Sousa and Johnny Cash, then wait quietly for turtles to lay eggs or hatch. Hotel pickup, an air-conditioned transfer, and multilingual guiding are included.

“It was an unforgettable experience. We saw how a turtle lays eggs, hides them and goes back to the ocean. Our guide told us some interesting facts about turtles. Thank you 😊”

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3.Turtle Watching Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 98 reviews · from $45Top rated

Join guides such as Marta, Jay, and Kenny for a three-hour evening turtle watch from Santa Maria. After pickup, you receive a conservation briefing in an open glamping tent, then walk the beach under red light to watch loggerhead turtles lay eggs. Groups are limited to 10.

“Buena excursión, las tortugas preciosas y el guía lo hizo muy bien. Solo destacar que en el grupo en el que nos tocó vino una mujer borracha a la cual se debería haber echado de dicho tour. Molestó muchísimo, encendiendo el móvil, el flash, hablando alto y hasta acercándose demasiado a la tortuga. Se deberían tomar medidas más estrictas frente a este tipo de personas expulsándolas de la actividad, por respeto q las tortugas y por que estas pueden sufrir un estrés innecesario.”

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4.4h Turtle Watching with SSV Buggy Night 4WD

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · from $185

You’ll drive a guided SSV buggy caravan from Santa Maria across salt flats, dunes, valleys, Kite Beach, and Serra Negra. The summer focus is Loggerhead Turtle watching, with guides such as Valdir explaining the nesting process. Hotel transfers, fuel, water, helmets, suits, belts, and glasses are included. A valid license and closed shoes are required.

“La possibilità di poter visitare il deserto di notte con delle guide esperte e competenti e di guidare dei nuovi mezzi mai provati”

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5.Turtle Nesting with professional local guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 18 reviews · from $54

Meet your local guide after hotel pickup and head to Sal’s beach at night. Learn how to behave near nesting Loggerhead turtles, then wait quietly under the stars as a female digs, lays 65 to 100 eggs, covers the nest, and returns to sea. Guides speak English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Guide Esmael has earned special praise for his explanations.

“The turtle laying eggs and going back to the sea is something incredible. The organization could be better.”

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6.Watch Sea Turtles Nesting – Night Tour in Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 14 reviews · from $46

Join a small evening group from Santa Maria to watch loggerhead turtles nest on a protected Sal beach. A local guide explains turtle biology and conservation before you walk quietly onto the sand with red or infrared lights. Choose a shared, private, or deluxe option, with sightings reported in nearly every recent nesting season.

“Was amazing seeing the turtle lay eggs and then cover them before making her way back to the sea. The trip was a lot shorter than expected. Was picked up at 2030 and was back at hotel by 2200”

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7.Private Turtle Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $110

From Santa Maria, you’ll ride to a nesting beach, settle into a private glamping tent, and learn about loggerhead turtles before watching them lay eggs under the stars. Guides such as Leo, Luna, Marta, and Alex have led guests through this careful, no-touch encounter. Red lights, snacks, drinks, transport, and beach-cleanup support are included.

“Amazing experience, well organised with very knowledgeable guide, extremely good service and a fantastic experience to see loggerhead turtle eggs laid! Beautiful night on Sal beach 5*****”

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8.Sea Turtle Watching Experience on Sal Island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 9 reviews · 4 hours · from $41

Join a small nighttime excursion from Santa Maria to Kite Beach, where trained local guides explain Cape Verde’s loggerhead turtles and nesting cycle. After an air-conditioned transfer, you walk quietly along the sand and may watch a turtle lay eggs or return to the sea. The experience lasts about four hours and runs in several languages.

“We stonden meer dan een uur te wachten aan de ophaallocatie, en zagen niemand. We waren zeer ontgoocheld, en kregen tot op heden nog geen reactie van jullie organisatie! 👎🏻”

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9.Turtle Watching Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 5 reviews · from $46

Join No-Limits Adventure for an evening eco tour from Santa Maria to protected beaches where Caretta Caretta loggerhead turtles lay eggs. Your multilingual guide explains the turtles’ habits, then takes you to Kite Beach and Serra Negra. Small groups, hotel pickup, and strict no-flash rules keep the visit calm and respectful.

“incredible experience small group and our guide was amazing. quick responses on the online chat as well for any questions.”

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10.Turtle Experience in Sal island

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 5 reviews · from $82

Join Spot Travel Tours for a three-hour evening visit from Santa Maria to watch a turtle choose a nesting site, dig, lay its eggs, cover the nest, and return to the sea. Pickup begins at 8:00 p.m. The guide explains turtle behavior and the rules for watching quietly. Patience is essential, and groups are limited to 16 people.

“Very nice and pleasant guide. Lucky to see a Tutle first time. Nice to see people are protecting them .”

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