Cape Verde · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Cape Verde

31 tours  ·  from $35

Half of what is worth seeing here is offshore or only reachable by hull. The 15 below run from a two-hour reef hop to a full day under sail with lunch, each priced and honest about how much swimming time you actually get.

Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise - Boarding, hotel transfers, and the first stretch at sea
Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise

1.All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise

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

Cruise Sal’s west coast aboard the Lounge Catamaran Sodade for four hours of sailing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, snacks, and unlimited beer and soft drinks. Guides speak five languages, and the return trip brings local music, drums, and dancing. Choose a family sailing or adults-only departure, with hotel pickup included.

“A fantastic, positive atmosphere from the very beginning, with a crew full of smiles and energy, and a captain who was both professional and had a great sense of humor. Everything was perfectly organized, and the cruise itself was relaxing and unforgettable. The views were breathtaking, the music and drinks made the time even more enjoyable, and the whole day passed far too quickly. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Sal!”

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3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island - Getting from your hotel to Santa Maria Beach
3-Hour Experiences, Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island

2.3-hour Catamaran Adventure on the waters of Sal Island

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

Sail along Sal’s coast with Cape Verde Sailing on a calm 3-hour catamaran trip. Expect a small group, drinks, light snacks, one short swim or snorkel stop, and crew such as Daisy, Wesley, Jair, or Marcio. Wildlife sightings are possible but never promised. Hotel transfers may be included, with departure from Santa Maria Beach or Bikini Beach.

“This activity was fantastic. The guys running the boat were amazing. They helped my 70+ year old mum to get onto the boat and when a young girl became sea sick the crew were so kind to her, rubbing her back, giving her water, providing a bucket. I highly recommend this trip.”

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Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day - Sailing toward Monte Leão
Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day

3.Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day

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

Sail from Palmeira to Murdeira aboard the SODADE catamaran, with hotel pickup, an hour-long swimming stop, snorkel gear, snacks, and unlimited beer, wine, and soft drinks. The crew, including Alina, Rony, and Lucy on some departures, keeps the return trip lively with music, dancing, and Cape Verdean warmth.

“Very friendly crew, good drinks and snacks. The ride was totally enjoyable, we had fun. Choppy seas around Sal aren't a problem for Sodade.”

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Catamaran Half Day - Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean - Swimming and snorkeling off Sal
Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Catamaran Half Day – Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean

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 for about three hours aboard a catamaran limited to 14 people. You can swim, snorkel, sunbathe, and watch for dolphins, turtles, flying fish, and whales. Daisy, Wesley, Daniel, and other crew members are praised for friendly care, though wind may affect how much sailing takes place.

“Had a blast, sailing with the cats on the CATamaran! :) We had the luck to travel along the dolphins for good 10-15 minutes.”

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Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day (Adults Only) - Murdeira Bay and Monte Leao
Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Lounge Catamaran SODADE Half-Day (Adults Only)

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

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

Spend four hours sailing from Palmeira to Murdeira on the adults-only Sodade catamaran. You get hotel pickup, unlimited beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks, live entertainment, snorkeling and fishing gear, plus a floating pool when conditions allow. The boat holds 90 but limits each trip to 60 for more room.

“Great afternoon, lovely and attentive staff. The drinks flowed, and the snacks were good and plentiful… would defo recommend.”

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Santa Maria: Snorkeling Boat Tour - Meeting Nando at Santa Maria Pier
Boat Trips in Sal, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sal Tours, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Sal, Tour Reviews, Tours

Santa Maria: Snorkeling Boat Tour

6.Snorkeling Boat Tour

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

Join Nando Tours for a two-hour boat snorkeling trip from Santa Maria, Sal. Local guide Nando leads you to the Caldeirinha shipwreck, coral reefs, and the underwater Christ statue, with turtles promised as part of the experience. Equipment, boat transport, safety briefing, and multilingual guiding are included.

“Trip was overall good. We showed up half an hour early, just on time would have been sufficient though. Provided equipment looked good, though we just borrowed the fins (brought our own goggles and snorkel). Neoprene -suites were not offered, my kids could have used one though. First stop for snorkeling took us over a reef and the shipwreck. About 1 hour of snorkeling, but no really amazing fish to be seen (saw more or less the same when just starting from the beach somewhere). My kid stopped early, as he was getting cold. The boat was always close by, so no issue with that. Second stop at the Jesus…”

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From Port of Praia: Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers - Meeting your guide at Porto da Praia
Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Santiago Tours, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

From Port of Praia: Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

7.From Port of Praia: Island Tour for Cruise Ship passengers

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

Leave your cruise ship in Praia for a seven-hour Santiago Island tour with a guide such as Juan or Zanthony. Visit mountain villages, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal beach, and a local family home for batuco and morna music, dancing, cooking, and tasting. Transport, port transfers, and swim time are included.

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

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Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran - From your hotel to Palmeira harbor
Boat Trips in Sal, Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran

8.Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran

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

Sail from Palmeira toward Monte Leão on a four-hour, adults-only catamaran cruise. You get hotel pickup, drinks, snacks, towels, music, and a swimming stop. The crew, including energetic guide Claudia on some departures, keeps the mood lively while you relax on deck or on the nets above the water.

“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.”

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Sailing yacht half day- with Cape Verde Sailing - Swimming and snorkeling when conditions allow
Boat Trips in Sal, Cruises & Boat Tours, Half-Day, Sailing, Sal Tours, Tour Reviews

Sailing yacht half day- with Cape Verde Sailing

9.Sailing yacht half day- with Cape Verde Sailing

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

Join Cape Verde Sailing for a three-hour cruise from Santa Maria with up to eight people aboard Lucy. Crew members such as Daniel, Bruno, Ricardo, and Reuben handle the sailing, drinks, snacks, and safety. Choose morning or afternoon, then swim, sunbathe, snorkel when conditions allow, and watch for flying fish, turtles, dolphins, or whales.

“Not sure what the trip was like. I am sure it is usually good. However, the weather was raining when we should have done it. The issue was we had to get a dinghy to the yacht and were told they would do 2 trips. This was then changed to just 1 trip. The dinghy was so low in the water with 6 guests and 2 staff that with our combined weight of 25 stone we did not dare to board.”

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Island tour with German-speaking guide for cruise guests - Meeting Louisa or Luise at Praia Port
Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Guided, Santiago Tours, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Island tour with German-speaking guide for cruise guests

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

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

Spend five hours touring Santiago Island from Praia Port with a German-speaking guide such as Louisa or Luise. You will visit Picos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, Calheta, Santa Cruz, and Praia, with a Batuque dance session and scenic stops along the way. Transport, port pickup, and drop-off are included, but food and drinks are not.

“Rund um hat es meine Erwartungen sehr gut erfüllt.”

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Full day Sailing yacht - Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean - From Santa Maria pier to the southwest coast
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Full day Sailing yacht – Beautiful day on the Atlantic Ocean

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

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

Spend about six and a half hours aboard Lucy, a spacious sailing yacht from Santa Maria. With a maximum of eight people, you get room to relax, snorkel, and watch for dolphins, turtles, flying fish, and whales. Lunch, snacks, drinks, WiFi, and equipment are included, with guides such as Bruno, Marcio, Alica, and Delphi caring for the details.

“Sehr schöner Ausflug. Leider musste ich einen Stern abziehen, da der Rücktransfer ins Hotel nicht funktionierte und man stand auf einmal alleine am Pier.”

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Boa Vista Adults-Only Cruise - The swim stop and onboard activities
Boa Vista Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews

Boa Vista Adults-Only Cruise

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 music, drinks, homemade finger food, swimming, water games, photo stops, shaded seating, and cushioned sunbeds. Yasmin may host the trip. Snorkeling and massages cost extra, and hotel pickup details need careful checking.

“No transport arrived to collect me i waited over an hour not altogether a surprise as had had no contact whatsoever about pickups I asked them no réponse so I could only go by the provisional information printed on ticket. Impossible to cRead more”

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From Praia: Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach - The 30-minute fishing boat ride
BBQ, Boat Trips in Santiago, Cave Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Santiago Tours, Snorkeling, Tour Reviews

From Praia: Boat Trip, Snorkeling, Cave & BBQ on the Beach

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

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

From Praia, travel to Ribeira da Barca for a traditional fishing boat ride along Santiago’s volcanic coast. You’ll visit Pilon de Achada Leite, swim or snorkel in Águas Belas cave when conditions allow, and eat a fish BBQ on a black-sand beach. Guides may include KID, Cátia, or Dany. The boat costs an extra 25 EUR per person locally.

“Our driver and guide were great. Activity said snorkeling but there were 6 people and 3 snorkels. The swimming and snorkeling were over the side of the boat in the cave we only stayed for about 15 mins. The current was a bit rough and it was only large rocks to see. BBQ was tasty but beach is very rocky (recommend water shoes) and dirty with no good place to sit. Does seem typical. Overall trip was great but felt expensive.”

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Praia: Day trip by minibus for cruise passengers - Meeting your guide at Porto da Praia
1-Day Tours, Boat Trips in Santiago, Cruises & Boat Tours, Santiago Tours, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews

Praia: Day trip by minibus for cruise passengers

14.Day trip by minibus for cruise passengers

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 38 reviews · 8 hours · from $82

Join Kapverden Tours for an 8-hour minibus trip across Santiago Island. Meet your guide at Praia cruise terminal, then visit Picos, Assomada, Serra Malagueta, Tarrafal Beach, and the east coast. Guides speak English, French, Spanish, Italian, or German. Ricardo is one guide praised for his friendly, clear explanations.

“Interesting overview of Santiago Island. our Guide Ricardo was very friendly and informative, giving lots of background information, and we felt safe with our driver.”

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Snorkeling Experience in Santa Maria Bay by boat - Preparing your mask, snorkel, and fins
Boat Trips in Sal, Cruises & Boat Tours, Sal Tours, Snorkeling, Snorkeling Trips in Sal, Tour Reviews

Snorkeling Experience in Santa Maria Bay by boat

15.Snorkeling Experience in Santa Maria Bay by boat

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

At 2:00 pm, Atlantic Star takes you by Zodiac into Santa Maria Bay for an easy surface snorkeling session with mask, snorkel, and fins. A professional guide helps you prepare, then leads you to spots where you might see tropical fish and sea turtles. Hotel pickup may be available, and groups are limited to eight.

“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.”

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