The 13 Best Cabo Santa Maria Shipwreck Tours in Boa Vista

1.Boa Vista Jeep Expedition: Shipwreck & Viana Desert (4-Hour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 134 reviews · 4 hours · from $64Our pick

Ride a Toyota Landcruiser across northern Boa Vista with a local guide such as Vagner, Hendrick, Fabrizio, or Silvano. You’ll stop at Ponta do Sol, the 1968 Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, Bofareira Bay, Espingueira, Viana Desert, and the Chimney of Praia de Chaves. Water, hotel transport, and a refreshment are included.

“Our guide Hendrick Lima was absolutely brilliant. He was courteous, friendly and helpful. He went out of his way to ensure we all had a great time. We met local people, who were really friendly and welcoming. I would recommend this trip if you want to see another side of the island.”

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2.Boa Vista Quad Tour: Shipwreck & Viana Desert (2-Hour)

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 121 reviews · 2 hours

Take a guided quad ride from Sal Rei to Cabo Santa Maria’s 1968 shipwreck, then cross the white dunes of Viana Desert. No-Limits Adventure provides fuel, equipment, water, hotel pickup, and safety guidance. Guides including Vagner, Fabrice, Fabricio, and Mauru have helped beginners gain confidence, though the short tour leaves limited time for desert riding and detailed explanations.

“Excellent from start to finish our tour guide was Fabricio and he was Great, knowledgeable and took some good pictures for us, highly recommend I would do it again!”

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3.Sal Rei, Santa Monica Beach, Caves, Dunes & Shipwreck Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 67 reviews · 6 hours · from $94

Travel across Boa Vista in an air-conditioned, certified vehicle with a local guide such as Nicole, stopping at Varandinha Cave, Santa Monica Beach, the Viana Desert, and the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck. You’ll have time for photos, a beach walk, and Sal Rei, with several languages and private or small-group options available.

“Unser Tourguide Nicole hat uns perfekt durch den Tag geführt. Genau die richtige Mischung aus atemberaubender Landschaft , Kultur und jeder Menge Spass! Defnitiv zu empfehlen!!”

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4.Boa Vista Tour: Santa Mónica, Desert & Shipwreck

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 58 reviews · from $91

See Boa Vista’s wild side on a six-hour small-group 4x4 tour from Sal Rei. Visit Morro de Areia, Varandinha’s sea caves, Santa Monica Beach, Viana Desert, and the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck. Guides such as Lory, Clayton, Alex, Momo, and Amandio share local stories. Bring swimwear, sunscreen, and patience for bumpy roads.

“Great way to explore and experience some of the wonders Boa Vista has to offer! Our guide was very informative, so friendly and gave us a great insight into the island and life here. Would highly recommend, can't praise enough! As an FYI most of this tour is off road and a bit bumpy going, completely fine for us but worth knowing!”

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5.Boa Vista Island: 4-Hour Rabil, Viana Desert & Shipwreck Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 31 reviews · from $52Top rated

Join a small group of up to eight for a 3 to 4-hour 4x4 tour from Sal Rei. Meet Rabil artisans, walk the Sahara-shaped dunes of Viana Desert, visit the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, relax on Santa Maria Beach, and see Fatima Chapel. Guides such as Jason, Jamal, and Eddy are noted for clear stories and friendly service.

“Private tour is really recommended. The guide has shown us all the nice spots and was very friendly.”

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6.Shipwreck Cabo Santa Maria

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 24 reviews · from $58

Start at 9:00 am with pickup for a small-group tour of Boa Vista. Walk through Sal Rei, visit the 1968 Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, try sand sledding in Deserto de Viana, and watch handmade pottery being made in Rabil. Guides such as Anita and Emanuel lead a relaxed 4 to 5 hour outing.

“We didn't have an experience as the guide never turned up.We were given a telephone number to call but nobody answered.”

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7.Shipwreck, Viana Desert & Sal Rei Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 4 hours · from $47Best value

See the Cabo Santa Maria Shipwreck, sandboard across Viana Desert, visit Rabil’s craft makers and walk through Sal Rei. Guides such as Vera and Fabian offer commentary in several languages, while drivers handle Boa Vista’s rough desert tracks. The tour suits anyone wanting a compact introduction to the island.

“I went with my mum, the main reason for the tour was to see the shipwreck and the city. It was a brilliant tour and our tour guide, Fabian, was brilliant, excellent English and very knowledgeable. Our driver was also brilliant, negotiating the bumpy ‘roads’ across the desert and down to the shipwreck! Definitely something I wouldn’t have been able to see if it wasn’t for the tour!”

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8.Rabil, Shipwreck, City, Snacks & Drinks – 4×4 Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 17 reviews · 4 - 5 hours · from $76

Spend 4 to 5 hours exploring northern Boa Vista in a comfortable 4x4 with a local guide. Visit Rabil’s pottery school, the Santa María shipwreck, Fatima’s Chapel, and Sal Rei, then enjoy Cape Verdean snacks and drinks at Sodade Restaurant. Guides may include Cristian, Cristiano, Julie, or Tatiana.

“Bellissima esperienza insieme a Tatiana e Christian! Bravissimi.. tutto bello e buono da assaggiare…”

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9.Turtles, Sharks, City of Sal Rei, Santa Monica Beach, Shipwreck …

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $84

Spend a full day exploring Boa Vista with an English-speaking guide such as José, Josy, or Nicole. Visit Rabil pottery school, sandboard in the Viana Desert, see the Santa Maria shipwreck, stop in Sal Rei, watch turtles at Turtle Bay, explore Varandinha caves, and finish at Santa Monica Beach.

“The tour was awesome, the tour guide spoke great German. An absolutely perfect day And everything according to the motto of Boa Vista "No Stress" I (we) can only recommend.”

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10.4h Shipwreck, Desert, Fatima Chapel & Pottery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 5 reviews · 4 hours · from $64

Travel across Boa Vista in a private or small group with a local guide, hotel pickup, and stops at Rabil pottery workshops, Viana Desert, the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, Fatima Chapel, and Sal Rei market. You’ll hear island stories, meet local artisans, and see the north side without spending a full day on the road.

“Die Sehenswürdigkeiten waren top! Leider hat unserer Fahrer jedoch den Besuch der Fatima-Kapelle ausgelassen. Was auch gestört hat war, dass selbst in der tiefsten Wüste Souvenir-Verkäufer von Decken aus ihre Kleinigkeiten verkauft haben und der Local Guide steuert natürlich genau auf deren Standpunkte drauf zu. Man muss dann echt viel diskutieren um die Verkäufer wieder loszuwerden. Viana-Wüste und das Schiffswrack sind jedoch absolut sehenswert. Evtl kann man diese Highlights etwas einfacher auf einer Quad-Tour ansteuern.”

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11.Postcards of Boa Vista 4×4 Tour with Shipwreck & Local Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 4 reviews · 8 hours · from $96

Spend eight hours exploring Boa Vista with an English-speaking local guide, visiting Rabil, Cabo Santa Maria, Bofareira, Fundo das Figueiras, a goat farm, soap project and biodiversity centre. You’ll taste Cape Verdean food, eat a family-made lunch and hear the shipwreck story from guides such as Stephane and Paulo.

“it was all very good and out girld was excellent”

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12.Shipwreck, 4×4 Ride & Caves Day Tour with Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $100

Spend a full day touring Boa Vista by 4x4 with a multilingual guide. Visit the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, a pottery school, Chaves Bay, Santa Monica Beach, and Varandinha caves, then enjoy a sea-view lunch and free time in Sal Rei. Guide Fabian is praised for thoughtful, flexible service.

“It was great, we had fantastic weather and amazing conditions. We saw turtles, a shark, and much more. I can only recommend it. And lunch at the German restaurant was fantastic.”

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13.Shipwreck, Viana Desert & Rabil Pottery

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · 4 hours · from $64

Spend four hours exploring Boa Vista beyond its resort beaches. Visit Rabil’s pottery community, walk the white dunes of Viana Desert, see the Cabo de Santa Maria shipwreck, and tour Sal Rei with a certified guide in English, Portuguese, French, Italian, or Spanish. Groups are limited to five.

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