Sal Tours

Cape Verde's east coast is the go-to spot for standout scenery. See it all with a side order of action as you tear across the salt flats of Santa Maria, Kite Beach, and through the canyons of Serra Negra by quad bike. Then, for another angle on the island, hit the heights for a zip-line adventure above Sal's rocky, coastal clifftops.

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. Leave the navigating to your guide and follow along admiring the views over the sun-soaked plains and sea. You'll have plenty of opportunities for photos and with an e-bike you'll not even break a sweat as you cover ground. A great way to discover beautiful Cape Verdean landscapes.

The Sal coastline is a perfect backdrop for a cruise – and this adults-only catamaran trip makes the very best use of it. After pick-up from your hotel, you'll hop aboard a brand-new catamaran and set sail along the west coast. Alongside plenty of room to relax, there's drinks, snacks and local music on offer too, to really get those holiday vibes going. Once we've reached our idyllic spot near Monte Leão, we'll drop anchor to freshen up with a swim and some snorkelling. 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.

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. After getting to know how to operate your roller in Santa Maria, you'll follow a guide to start your adventure. Both on and off-road, you'll admire plenty of seafront scenery and feel the wind in your hair as you zoom down the Vila Verde coastal path. Gliding along with ease, you'll take in all the points of interest and still have time to relax on the sands of Ponta Preta beach before heading back to base.

The compact beaches and dramatic salt pans of Sal are ideal for horseback riding. A variety of different tours of differing lengths are available – and there is even a tailor-made romantic package for couples. 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 take in the unspoilt scenery of Sal. This horse riding tour on Sal is great for families and groups, with experiences ranging from one to two hours.

With miles of white sandy beaches and beautiful coastline, there's so much to discover in Sal. Kick off this afternoon tour with a thrilling 4x4 ride along the coast and countryside of Sal. First up is Murdeira and its sweeping natural bay on the west coast. Then, we'll continue rumbling along coastal tracks towards Terra Boa, where on sunny days you'll witness a mirage. You'll soon reach Salinas where you can float in the salt lakes, then we're on our way to the one and only Kite Beach. We'll tuck into a beach barbecue just as the sun dips into the ocean.

Living in the coastal subtropical waters around Sal, lemon sharks are one of the easiest sharks to spot in their natural habitat. After pick-up from your hotel, you'll drive to Shark Bay where your experience will begin. Wade out into the water with a marine biologist and you'll be taught all about this incredible species. Spot their yellow-tinted skin – ideal for camouflage in the sandy shores – and watch them as they go about their business, twisting and turning, and looking for fish just a few feet away. You'll see their fins cutting through the surface of the water and get to know these sharks closer than you could imagine.

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. You can choose either a two or four-hour quad ride. Once you've sped past Serra Negra mountains and the white salt flats, you won't be far from Kite Beach. This beach gets its name from the legions of kitesurfers who come here for the huge swells and high winds. This excursion is almost a whistle-stop tour of the island – with a rip-roaring bit of fun in a quad being the icing on the cake.

The desolate beauty of inland Sal is in stark contrast to the white sands of its coast. After a stop at Murdeira Bay, you'll trundle off-road to Palmeira on the west coast. Its palm-lined streets are dotted with mural-painted cafés and tiny shops. Then it's on to the Buracona lagoon. Next, witness the ocean-like sands of Terra Boa before enjoying an elevated view of Espargos, the capital. Wind down with a natural spa treatment – by floating in the salty waters of Pedra de Lume. By choosing a TUI Collection excursion, you are contributing to local projects supported by the TUI Care Foundation – thank you for your help.

As the name suggests, lobster is the word at LobStar – though wow runs it a close second. You'll be saying it when you set eyes upon it, when you see the views from the terrace and when you are served your Cape Verdean speciality lobster meal – you can choose either lunch or dinner. The restaurant is in a beautiful, rustic stone hut at the foot of the pier where fishermen daily land their catch. LobStar's chefs source their seafood from here – so it's a case of straight off the boat and on to your plate. Wine and live music are included. Meat and vegetarian menus are also available.

The tropical sheltered waters that surround Sal are perfect to learn to scuba dive in. With waters so tempting, you're in just the place to try out scuba diving for the first time. This is the ideal opportunity if you don't 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, then get comfortable with breathing and moving properly underwater. After this swimming pool instruction and quick theory lesson, you'll be whisked off to the nearby coast where you'll get to put your newly acquired skills into practice on a short sea dive.

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.

A Cape Verde adventure that combines a speedboat ride around Sal's coast with a pulse-pounding survival experience. Set sail into Santa Maria Bay with a specialist in biodiversity to learn about the island's incredible marine life and coastal habitats. Then, plunge into the open water to find out what it would take to survive if you were lost at sea.

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. You'll receive a crash course in how to use this fancy bit of kit at Santa Maria beach. Like a little handheld jet-ski, all you do is grab on and you'll be propelled across the waves. It's just as effective underwater, so pack your goggles and you can coast along the coral reef. You'll have about an hour's use of your Seadoo Seascooter.

Horseback riding along the beaches of Cape Verde is the ideal way to make some magical holiday memories – and on this trip, you'll keep them forever with a professional photoshoot. Heading to Sal's premier ranch, you'll be paired with your friendly mount for a 30-minute beach ride. Clip clopping in convoy, you'll set off down long stretches of sandy beach as your professional photographer snaps a selection of your best shots - whether it's individually, as a couple or even a family.

Sal boasts a wealth of sights. Start off with a trip to the world-renowned Kite Beach. Then it's down the coast to have a brief stroll at Murdeira Bay. The palm-lined streets and bright mural walls of the village of Palmeira await next, before moving inland to the Buracona lagoon and the mirage plains of Terra Boa. After lunch, explore the capital, Espargos, before heading to Pedra de Lume salt flats for a float. By choosing a TUI Collection excursion, you are contributing to local projects supported by the TUI Care Foundation – thank you for your help.

Ramp up the romance levels with this couple's horse riding experience. Side by side with your significant other, you'll ride along the sands of a Sal beach. After an hour of soaking up the scenery atop your trusty steed, a classy seafront setup awaits. There'll be plush pillows, prosecco on ice and complete privacy for you and your partner to sit and watch the sun go down.

This exclusive half-day tour sees you explore the stark contrast between Sal's desolate inland areas to the white sands of its coast. After a brief stop at Murdeira Bay, you'll set off in a 4x4 to the fishing village of Palmeira. Its palm tree-lined streets are dotted with mural-painted cafes and tiny shops. Then it's on to the Buracona lagoon and the ocean-like sands of Terra Boa before enjoying an elevated view of Espargos, the island's capital. We wind the morning down with a natural spa treatment – by floating in the Dead Sea-like waters of Pedra de Lume.

This full day adventure dishes up Sal's highlights by land and sea. It all kicks off once you're strapped in our 4x4. Set off along the west coast of the island, passing the rugged coastline around Murdeira and Buracona lagoon before reaching the port town of Palmeira. Head inland and you'll see the desert mirage sands at Terra Boa, before visiting the salt lake at Pedra de Lume to float in the Dead Sea-like water. After lunch at a local restaurant, we catch the dinghy out to the catamaran, which will be waiting to take you away on a leisurely afternoon sail. Music, snacks and drinks complete the line-up too.

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. Your crew will attend to your needs and get the show on the road. With luck, you'll spot flying fish and turtles. And if you don't, there's always the snorkelling and swimming – crewmembers have their favourite spots for both activities. Cruises are available as either half-day – morning or afternoon – or full day.