Top Things to do in Santa Maria
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The 8 Best Walking Tours in Santa Maria, Ilha do Sal
Powdery sand meets turquoise water in Santa Maria, where morna music pours from beachside bars just a short drive from Ilha do Sal's airport and capital city. Add the sun-and-saltwater resort scene to energetic nightlife, and you get one of Cape Verde’s most popular escapes.
Restaurants in Santa Maria
1. Private tour of the island Sal Expérience
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Certified company and guides, quality and price guarantee. Local guide, knows the island well, its history and culture, gastronomy, music and local restaurants. Join this 7-hour adventure tour around the island and visit places like Espargos, Praia do Kite, Santa Maria, Miragem, Palmeira and Murdeira. Swim in Salt Lake with your group. Have lunch at a local restaurant before heading to the sea to get a closer look at lemon sharks in their natural environment. It makes no difference to us whether you want to emphasize culture, education, history or sport. Our expert will combine these elements with adventure activities to create exciting travel opportunities for you. Get to know the island with a native and certified guide, safely. We can customize the tour according to the client's preference.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Local Guide and Certificate, Private service tailored to your time, Transfer from the hotel, Liability insurance
Exclusions: Lunch, Photos (optional)
Reviewed By 587ariannaz
My boyfriend and I did a tour in Sal start of December. We booked this tour to get a general impression of the island. First of all the tour itinerary has been put together very well - you can see all highlight spots of the island. Second we had a fantastic guide, that can speak very well English and who is very easy going, cheerful and chatty. We enjoyed a lot the time spent together with the tour guide, who ensured we had the best experience on the island. For example he arranged we could taste some local wine and rhum at a bar of a friend. But the most amazing thing was that he arranged a private entrance to the Salinas, which at that time were closed for tourists. This experience has been amazing and we thank him a ton for this unique experience. Last also he was not strict with the time of the excursion at all and i believe we extended the duration of at least 1 hour. Had the best time on the island!!! Thanks a lot!!!
2. Salt: Experience with sea turtles
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
Cape Verde is important in the North Atlantic for sea turtles. Currently populations of 3 species and individuals of 2 others can be found. The yellow or common tortoise (Caretta caretta) is the most common species in Cape Verde. They will have differentiated for more than 10 million years. They are living dinosaurs! Sea turtles reach sexual maturity at 15-30 years of age. Postures almost always occur at night. Every 2-3 years, a female returns to the beach where she hatched to lay her eggs. She digs a well, lays about 60 to 170 eggs, buries the eggs, disguises the area of the well and her body to confuse predators and returns to the sea. The puppies will dig their way into the ocean. We make small group excursions to live this unique and magical experience in the best atmosphere and respecting nature following the guidelines of biologists. We are a group of local professionals trained to provide you with a good experience.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Certified Guide, Round-trip transfer from hotel / accommodation, Liability insurance
Exclusions: Baby seat (0-2 years) mandatory 15 extra
Reviewed By 587ariannaz
My boyfriend and I did a tour in Sal start of December. We booked this tour to get a general impression of the island. First of all the tour itinerary has been put together very well - you can see all highlight spots of the island. Second we had a fantastic guide, that can speak very well English and who is very easy going, cheerful and chatty. We enjoyed a lot the time spent together with the tour guide, who ensured we had the best experience on the island. For example he arranged we could taste some local wine and rhum at a bar of a friend. But the most amazing thing was that he arranged a private entrance to the Salinas, which at that time were closed for tourists. This experience has been amazing and we thank him a ton for this unique experience. Last also he was not strict with the time of the excursion at all and i believe we extended the duration of at least 1 hour. Had the best time on the island!!! Thanks a lot!!!
3. Turtle Watching Adventure
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
Don't lose this incredible opportunity. Discover Sal Island in the most wild way. We do Exclusive turtle Watching Excursions for small groups to live this magic moment with the best athmosphere and to respect the guidelines of Project Biodiversity, the no-profit organisation that works for the conservation of the sea turtles here in Sal Island. Cape Verde is the third largest nesting site in the world for loggerhead sea turtles. It is an amazing experience to witness this wonder of nature in the wild. Be welcome in our beautiful Glamping Tent for a coffee and snacks under the starry african sky next to the beach to listen the briefing that will provide all the information about sea turtles. Enjoy the moon, the stars, the mountains, the ocean and the turtles laying eggs in their natural habitat. An adventure that you can not miss. By chosing Sealife Experience, a small sustainable company, you will be supporting our Beach clean up program, and helping us to protect the turtles.
Inclusions: Snacks, Bottled water, Soda/Pop, Private transportation, red lights
Exclusions:
Reviewed By bridg609
Absolutely loved it very good service and great to see these beautiful creatures. Saw the loggerhead turtle and rescued some baby ones which had just hatched up through the sand and got their heads stuck in a plastic bag , untangled them and popped them back on the sand and off they went into the ocean to hopefully return in 17 years to lay their eggs. Marta and her staff were very informative and what I liked was she only took out small groups . Would definitely recommend ????
4. Sal Experience Tour with a Native and Certified Guide
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 313 reviews
Company and guide certificates, quality and price assurance . Local guide, knows the island well, its history and culture, food, music and local restaurants. Join to this adventurous 6 hour island tour and visit places like Espargos, Kite Beach, Santa Maria, Miragem, Palmeira and Murdeira. Swim in Salt Lake with your group. Have a lunch at a local restaurant before going into the sea to see the lemon sharks in their natural surroundings up close. It doesn’t make a difference for us if you want to emphasize culture, education, history or sport. Our expert will combine these elements with adventure activities to create exciting travel opportunities for you. Know the Island with a native and certificate guide, with safety.
Inclusions: Private transportation, Native Guide and Certificate, Hotel Pick up and drop off , Stop for a swim in a natural pool, Shark bay, Liability insurance
Exclusions: Lunch, Photos (optional), Baby seat (0-2 years) required - 15 extra
Reviewed By Dan1799v2
We went on the full day Sal island tour and can highly recommend this company. Chan was our guide and he was friendly, funny and informative. I think each stop was timed well so we didn’t spend too long in each place. I particularly enjoyed swimming in the blue isle place so make sure you bring a swimming costume!
5. Drive & Fly
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
An adrenaline filled activity where you go from off-roading to flying in the sky while discovering the south east coast of Sal with its sand dunes, the most beautiful beaches and the breathtaking panorama from Serra Negra. The zipline descent has a length of 1000mt starting from a height of 100mts.
Inclusions: All local taxes, fees and handling charges, Hotel pickup and drop-off, Professional driver/guide, Fuel surcharge, Bottled water
Exclusions:
Reviewed By Jakub K
Nothing to add. Those buggies are awesome! Thank you guys :) the 2h is more than enough to enjoy all the adrenaline. Chips our guide ;)
6. Island Tour - Full day
Overall Ratings
1.7 based on 3 reviews
Visiting Sal with Kryol Operators is a chance you don't want to miss out on. Quality tour and guides offer you an authentic view of Sal combined with great local food.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle
Exclusions: Lunch, GST (Goods and Services Tax)
7. Private Turtle Experience in Cape Verde
after pickup the customrs at the hotel at 20.00 p.m the group go heads towards the beach. upon arrival at the beach where you will see the turtle, the guide gives an indroduction about the turtles, what you will see and how the procedure will be on the beach. you have to wait, because the turtle have afraid of everything, if she doesn't fell safe she will never come to the beach. you will see the turtle going up the beach, looking for the best place to lay the eggs, prepare the ground and start digging. whem making the hole, if the floor is not good, the turtle looks for a another place to make the hole. when the hole is ready, the turtle starts laying eggs (betwen 65 to a 100), when finish laying eggs the turtle closes the hole does the camouflage its goes back to the sea. then you go back to the hotel.
Inclusions: Professional Guide
Exclusions:
8. Essence Of Sal Island - Beach & Discovery 4 Days
Discover the wonders of Sal and feel the African vibes of local music, drums and dance. Walk up close with the lemon sharks, float in the second saltiest water in the world and enjoy an all-inclusive “No Stress” catamaran trip.
Inclusions: Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Lunch, Custom and Private Roundtrip Airport Transfers
Exclusions: International Flights;, Tourist tax (Paid locally: 2 Euros/Person/Night);, Travel insurance;
