Shark Bay, Salt Lake & Blue Eye Half-Day Tour Sal Island

Pedra de Lume salt lake

The morning begins on the east coast at Pedra de Lume, where a salt lake fills the floor of an extinct volcanic crater. Sea water filters through the rock, the sun evaporates it, and the brine that remains is so dense that you float without effort, much like in the Dead Sea. Salt from this crater was exported for more than two centuries; you enter through the tunnel dug through the crater wall in the early 1800s and pass the rusted pylons of the old cableway that carried salt down to the port.

About 40 minutes are planned for a guided walk, a float and a rinse under the showers. Your Pedra de Lume salt lake ticket is included, so there is no queue at the entrance. Keep the water away from your eyes and from fresh cuts, and avoid shaving the day before. The white salt pans are especially striking in the soft morning light, and the views from the crater rim are a bonus.

Shark Bay and its lemon sharks

A short drive along the east coast brings you to Shark Bay, a shallow, sheltered stretch of rocky shore where juvenile lemon sharks spend the first years of their lives. Named for the yellowish tint of their skin, they gather in water only knee-deep, safe from larger predators. After a safety briefing you wade in, stand still and let them circle around you; they are curious but timid and harmless when left alone.

Allow around 30 minutes here. Water shoes are important because the sea floor is rocky; bring your own or rent a pair on site. The access track is unpaved, which adds a little off-road fun. Many people ask whether visiting lemon sharks in Cape Verde is ethical: here the animals are wild and free, and the guide asks everyone not to touch, chase or feed them.

Buracona and the Blue Eye

Crossing to the northwest coast, you reach Buracona, a landscape of black lava cliffs and natural pools beaten by Atlantic waves. Its famous Blue Eye (Olho Azul) is a small opening in the rock above a flooded cave: when sunlight enters through an underwater passage, the water glows a vivid, almost electric blue. The effect depends on the sun, the sea and the season, and is usually at its best from late morning to early afternoon on clear days.

This is the longest stop, about 50 minutes, with your Buracona Blue Eye ticket already included. There is time to queue for the viewpoint, walk the volcanic shore, have a snack at the small café and, when the sea is calm and safety allows, swim in the sheltered natural pool. Bring swimwear under your clothes and grippy sandals for the rocks.

The Miragem at Terra Boa

On the way back across the island you pass Terra Boa, a wide, flat plain of stones and sand in the middle of Sal. On warm days the hot air above the ground bends the light, and you clearly see what looks like a lake glittering on the horizon. As you drive closer, the water disappears: this is the Miragem, one of the island's most unusual sights and a favourite photo stop.

The stop lasts about 10 minutes, and your guide explains why the illusion appears and how the island's dry climate, with very little rain, shapes the land. The plain also gives a good view of Sal's volcanic hills. From here it is around 30 minutes to your accommodation, arriving in time for lunch and an afternoon by the pool or on the beach.