11 Turtle Watching in São Vicente to Build a Day Around

1.São Vicente’s Enchanting Sea Turtle Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 153 reviews · 1h 30m · from $70Our pick

Meet your guide in São Pedro, collect snorkeling gear, learn basic safety, then take a short boat ride to a turtle area for time in the water. Pickup and drop-off are included from Mindelo port or your accommodation. Guides speak English, Portuguese, Spanish, and French. Soraya and Eddie have earned special praise for their patient help.

“Alles super, aber vor Ort bekommt man das Schnorcheln für 15€ p. Person.”

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2.Snorkel with Sea Turtles Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 1 hour · from $70

Travel from your hotel or port to São Pedro, learn the basics from a multilingual guide, then take a short boat ride to a turtle-filled bay. You get about an hour in the water with snorkeling gear and a life jacket. Guide Elder has earned praise for his calm, friendly help, especially with nervous swimmers.

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3.Snorkel and Swim with Sea Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 58 reviews · 1 hour · from $68

From Mindelo, drive to São Pedro, then join guide Diego or another marine professional for a short boat ride and a guided swim with sea turtles. Groups are limited to nine, and your time in the water is capped at 20 minutes to protect the animals. Transport, life jackets, masks, tubes, and insurance are included.

“We highly recommend this tour! 💯👍 A very smart driver picked us up at our hotel in Mindelo. We drove approx. 15 minutes to the beach in Sao Petro. Diego, our tour guide was already there and started immediately to prepare the boot. He gave us security instructions also life jackets. My wife stayed in the boot while I went snorkeling. It was amazing to see the sea turtles and fishes too. Four big ones surrounded me while swimming and snorkeling. After a while even a bigger one showed up. On board again Diego told us about the wildlife and fishing activities in this area. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ka and Andi”

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4.Swimming and Snorkeling Tour with Sea Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 44 reviews · 1h 30m · from $67

From Mindelo, you’ll ride to São Pedro, board a local fishermen’s boat, and snorkel with sea turtles in clear coastal water. The tour takes up to 12 people, includes gear, lifejackets, transfers, and guides in English, Portuguese, or French. Turtle sightings are guaranteed year-round, with water time limited by local rules.

“Het was magisch, en heel respectvol naar de dieren toe! dank jullie wel!”

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5.Live Snorkeling & Swimming with Sea Turtles in the Atlantic

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 29 reviews · 1 hour · from $57Best value

Meet your guide in Mindelo, ride to São Pedro, and take a short fishing boat trip into the bay. After turtles approach the boat, you enter the Atlantic for guided snorkeling. Hernani, André, Diego, or Lulu may assist, with English, French, or Portuguese available. Touching turtles is not allowed.

“Ver a las tortugas en su hábitat fue una maravilla el guía fue muy explicativo y agradable, la única pega que pongo es que considero que los grupos deberían ser reducidos en nuestra excursión solo íbamos 4 y había algún grupo más pequeño pero llegó un grupo como de 14 personas y nadaban en la misma zona por lo tanto ya se volvió todo agobiante para nada y no estar todo el tiempo chocando con las personas y ya se escondieron más las tortugas asique creo que eso es algo a mirar porque hizo que la experiencia dejará de ser agradable”

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6.Spectacular experience with sea turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 20 reviews · from $61

Travel from Mindelo to São Pedro, board a small fishing boat, and snorkel near young sea turtles in the bay. A guide gives a safety briefing and controls the encounter, with no touching allowed. Pickup from your hotel or Porto Grande pier is offered, and groups are limited to 12 people.

“It was a great experience. As promised we saw sea Turtles, approximately 4 of them. The guide was able to interact and play with them. It was shorter than the hour promised but the tides were strong that day so very understandable. We alwRead more”

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7.Snorkeling with Turtles Breathtaking Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 6 reviews · 2 hours · from $88

From your hotel, you’ll travel to São Pedro, receive a safety briefing and snorkeling gear, then ride a local fishermen’s boat to a Green turtle site. The group is limited to eight. French, English, and Portuguese are offered, but guide communication has varied, so confirm language support before booking.

“Le guide ne nous a pas accompagné, il nous a laissé seul avec le monsieur du bateau qui ne parlait ni français ni anglais. Nous sommes restés 3/4 h au lieu de 2h00. Et comme nous logions à 15 minutes à pied, le guide nous a proposé de rentrer à pied et n’est pas revenu. Nous avons vraiment l’impression de nous faire voler…. Autrement, les tortues sont magnifiques !”

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8.Private Snorkel Experience with Sea Turtle for Cruisers

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 4 reviews · 1 hour · from $117

Meet your guide at Port of Mindelo, transfer to São Pedro, and receive equipment, safety instructions, and snorkel guidance before a short boat ride to a turtle site. This private one-hour outing includes fins, mask, life jacket, insurance, and return transport. English, Portuguese, and French support is available.

“All went smoothly and it was a great experience. Efficient and friendly staff.”

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9.Snorkeling with Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 4 reviews · 2h 30m · from $82

From Mindelo, Zion Tours Cabo Verde takes you to São Pedro for a guided Atlantic swim with turtles, fish, and reef life. Your 150-minute outing includes transfers, snorkeling gear, a boat ride, free time, a local snack, and a multilingual guide. Bring swimwear, towel, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Drinks cost extra.

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10.Snorkeling with turtles at Sao Pedro’s Beach

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 3 reviews · from $88

Travel by car and boat to São Pedro Beach, where a professional guide and local fishermen lead you to marine turtles in clear water. Nelson, José, and fisherman Pumba are among the team named for this experience. Gear and safety guidance are included, but bring water, sunscreen, swimwear, and a dry change of clothes.

“Our tour guide or driver was called José. He was very friendly and nice. He gets 5 stars for the review. You get 3 stars for the bad snorkeling equipment. The mask and mouthpiece were very poorly fitted and didn't stay in place in the water. The mouthpiece kept popping out of her mouth. My girlfriend panicked in the water and couldn't snorkel for long because she had swallowed a lot of sea water. The mask and mouthpiece with tube were not good. You couldn't attach it to the mask (mouthpiece) either. If the equipment had been better, we would have been able to photograph and see the turtles even…”

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11.São Pedro experience (hiking & snorkeling with turtles)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $123Top rated

Cabo Mundo takes you from Mindelo to São Pedro for a half-day of coastal walking, lighthouse views, beach time, and swimming with sea turtles. You’ll visit a small fishing village, eat the catch of the day at a beach restaurant, and travel in a group limited to eight people. Pickup is offered, and the tour starts at 10:00 am.

“Awestruck and guide. The hike to the lighthouse is amazing, the local food and drink is great and the swimming with turtles magical. You just need to book this one.”

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