Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise
Sail down the west coast of Sal and discover the island's shores from a different perspective. Delight in a half-day experience that includes fishing, snorkelin
★ 4.7501 reviews
$68From / person
Destination guide
Catamaran tours in Cape Verde
2 hand-picked catamaran trips on the water in Cape Verde — sunset cruises, snorkel runs, full-day sails — ranked by what real guests say, not by who paid us.
2 TOURS
AVG ★ 4.55
689 VERIFIED REVIEWS
FROM $68 – $76
Catamaran tours in Cape Verde — what to expect
Cape Verde catamaran & boat trips — Sal, Boa Vista, between-island sailing.
— Editorial summary
Cape Verde is the more affordable end of the Atlantic catamaran market — open-bar half-days at competitive pricing on Sal and Boa Vista. Many guests search for 'boat trips' rather than catamaran specifically; the local fleet is a mix of catamarans and motor day-boats. Between-island sailing is the longer-haul option (Sal–Boa Vista, Sal–São Vicente). Turtle nesting season runs June–October off Boa Vista. December–March brings strong wind and kite-surfing crossover.
What you can typically expect on a Cape Verde catamaran: cliff-coast caves · dolphin pods · volcanic black-sand beaches · turtle sightings. Boats are catamarans and large ribs; smaller operations than the caribbean. English standard; Portuguese local. Reef-safe recommended for the south-coast snorkel reefs.
Cape Verde quick reference
- Departure points: Sal, Santa Maria
- Peak season: October – June (warmer water, calmer seas)
- Avoid: December – March (windier; Cape Verde gets kite-surfing crossover)
- Shoulder bargains: April, October
- Water temperature: 21–25°C
- Wind: Trade winds steady; can be brisk in winter
- Currency on board: EUR on Madeira; CVE on Cape Verde; cards generally accepted
Key catamaran spots in Cape Verde
The marinas, reefs and bays that anchor the catamaran scene in Cape Verde. Knowing what each spot is — and what it isn't — helps you read tour itineraries critically.
Santa Maria Bay (Sal)
Day-cruise hub on Sal
Boa Vista turtle beaches
Nesting season Jun–Oct
Santa Monica beach (Boa Vista)
Day-cruise stop
Top 2 picks in Cape Verde
Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran
The Sal coastline is a perfect backdrop for a cruise – and this adults-only catamaran trip makes the very best use of it.
★ 4.4188 reviews
$76From / person
All catamaran tours in Cape Verde compared
Sort by rating, reviews, or price. The same trip can be twice the cost from a different operator — this is where you spot the value.
| Tour | Location | Rating | Reviews | From | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sal: All-Inclusive Half-Day Lounge Catamaran Cruise | Sal, Cape Verde, Republic of | ★ 4.7 | 501 | From $68 | Book |
| Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran | Santa Maria, Cape Verde, Republic of | ★ 4.4 | 188 | From $76 | Book |
Tap any column header to re-sort. Prices and ratings pulled from GetYourGuide on our last refresh.
When to sail in Cape Verde
The Atlantic islands sailing calendar has three windows that matter. The peak is october – june (warmer water, calmer seas). Shoulder months — april, october — beat the peak crowds and the peak pricing. Avoid december – march (windier; cape verde gets kite-surfing crossover).
Peak season ✓
October – June (warmer water, calmer seas). Trade winds are predictable, water clarity is at its best, and operators run at maximum frequency. Book 4–6 weeks ahead.
Shoulder ✓ Bargain
April, October. Smaller crowds, lower prices, mostly the same conditions. The best value window for Cape Verde catamaran tours.
Avoid ⚠
December – March (windier; Cape Verde gets kite-surfing crossover). Operators may pause routes or run reduced schedules. If you must travel in this window, build flexibility and travel-insurance coverage into the plan.
Water temp
21–25°C. Trade winds steady; can be brisk in winter. Catamarans and large RIBs; smaller operations than the Caribbean.
Every catamaran tour in Cape Verde
2 tours shown
Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran
📍 Santa Maria, Cape Verde, Republic of
Practical defaults that keep you welcome in Cape Verde
Tourist-facing catamaran operators in the Atlantic islands have run the same routes year after year, and they remember which guests were a pleasure to host. A few defaults keep you in the welcome column.
High Reef-safe sunscreen
Reef-safe recommended for the south-coast snorkel reefs. Buy a tube before you board; operators don't always sell it on board, and the captive-sale price stings if they do.
High Tipping the crew
10 % cash. The crew runs hard in the sun all day for tip income. EUR on Madeira; CVE on Cape Verde; cards generally accepted.
Medium Drinking and the sun
Open-bar cruises serve at a pace that's easy to underestimate. The wind and sun hide intoxication. Drink water between drinks, eat what the crew puts out, and never enter the water if you're unsteady.
Low Language & bookings
English standard; Portuguese local. GetYourGuide handles the booking and customer support layer; most operators reply in English even when the local language is something else.
What recent guests said
★★★★★
"What an amazing afternoon to celebrate my birthday. From the transportation to the actual catamaran itself, everything was spot on. We had snacks, live entertainment and even had a surprise birthday cake and song added to the day. Massive thanks to the team for an amazing…"
on Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran
★★★★★
"The cruise was just perfect. The crew was great, very attentive and kind. They entertained us the best way possible. Snacks were excellent, the unlimited drinks made us happy. The music was amazing. AAAA+"
★★★★★
"We enjoyed every moment. The guide was excellent and made the trip very enjoyable. The Catamaran crew were amazing. I would definately recommend."
on Santa Maria: Sal Island All-inclusive Adults-only Catamaran
★★★★★
"It was fun, friendly, comfortable & interesting, had a GREAT day! Thank you"
Cape Verde catamaran tours — practical questions
Yes for short hops within Sal-Boa Vista or Sal-São Vicente, typically as part of a multi-day sailing charter rather than a daily ferry — the inter-island ferries are operated separately. Bareboat / skippered charters out of Mindelo (São Vicente) cover the inter-island route.
Mostly — locals and operators use 'boat trip' loosely. Some 'boat trips' use motor RIBs, others use sailing catamarans. Check the offer page for the boat type and capacity before booking.
Late season — September and October. Conservation projects do organised viewings with rangers; rogue operators don't always brief properly. Pick the tour that mentions a ranger-led component.
October – June (warmer water, calmer seas). Shoulder months (april, october) are the best-value window — smaller crowds, lower prices, mostly the same conditions. Avoid december – march (windier; cape verde gets kite-surfing crossover).
10 % cash. Service is sometimes included on private charters — check the booking confirmation. Cash is preferred.
Reef-safe recommended for the south-coast snorkel reefs. Bring a mineral (zinc-oxide) sunscreen from home if possible; operator-bought is usually marked up significantly.
English standard; Portuguese local. If you have a specific question or need (allergies, mobility, kids), message the operator through GetYourGuide before booking — they almost always reply within hours.
Catamarans and large RIBs; smaller operations than the Caribbean. Shared day-charters usually carry 12–25 guests; private charters scale 2–12 typically.
Yes on almost every shared day-charter — most operators take all ages with no minimum. Open-bar adults-only sunset cruises usually have a minimum age (8 or 12). Check the offer card before booking.
Most GetYourGuide catamaran tours offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Look for the cancellation policy on the tour page. Travel insurance with weather coverage is the right backstop for non-refundable shoulder bookings.
How travelers search for Cape Verde catamaran tours
Search demand for Cape Verde catamarans uses 'boat' and 'catamaran' interchangeably — the Cape Verde catamaran trip and Cape Verde boat trips queries land on roughly the same shared day-charter category out of Sal or Boa Vista. The Cape Verde boat tour search returns sail-and-snorkel listings, while the Cape Verde catamaran query is broader and picks up sunset cruises and party slots as well.
For groups, the Cape Verde boat hire and Cape Verde boat charter searches both point to the whole-boat private option, and the Cape Verde boat party query is the evening open-bar variant. The Cape Verde boat between islands search refers to longer-haul sailing trips — typically multi-day skippered charters between Sal, Boa Vista, and São Vicente, which is a separate market from the daily day-trip product. The plain Cape Verde boat search returns all of these mixed together.