Catamaran Makaira Half Day Tour
Description
Enjoy a 3-hour tour on your beautiful Catamaran Makaira. Meet us at Porto de Palmeira, where your team will greet you. We offer hotel transfers to the departure point. After a quick check-in, we’ll transport you to the Catamaran Makaira using a dinghy. Onboard, find your perfect spot to relax in comfort. Your team will start with a safety briefing at the Porto de Palmeira. Sail along the west coast towards Monte Leão. Look out for sea turtles and, with luck, dolphins. We’ll stop for a swim in crystal-clear waters and snorkeling to explore marine life. Dolphins may also be spotted along the way. Enjoy good music, snacks, and drinks throughout the trip. We return to Porto de Palmeira at the end of the tour.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This 3-hour cruise aboard the Catamaran Makaira departs at various times depending on the season. From June to September, join us for a Sunset Cruise to enjoy the colorful sky over Sal Island’s coast. Meet us at the Port of Palmeira, where your team will welcome you. Transfers from your hotel to the port is ncluded. After a quick check-in, you'll be transported to the Catamaran by a boat. Once on board, you can find a comfortable spot to relax. A safety briefing will be provided before we set sail. As we head towards Monte Leão along the west coast, you may spot sea turtles and, with luck, dolphins. At Monte Leão, we’ll pause 1 hour for snorkeling in crystal-clear waters. Enjoy onboard music. The cruise ends with a return to the Port of Palmeira.
Discover the beauty of Sal’s coastline by sea Your catamaran adventure begins with a comfortable hotel pick-up by bus, taking you directly to Palmeira – a charming fishing village on the northwest coast of Sal. Palmeira – Authentic Cape Verdean Fishing Village Palmeira is known for its colorful houses, laid-back atmosphere, and lively harbor. This is where you’ll experience real local life: Watch the fishermen bring in their daily catch, sort and process the fish right on the spot. You may even see some vibrant tropical fish along the quay – a small preview of the underwater world to come. From the harbor, a dinghy (small boat) will transfer you safely to your catamaran Makaira, where your ocean journey begins.
Wildlife Around Sal- Nature’s Wonders Await You in the Atlantic The waters and coastal areas around the island of Sal are full of life – a paradise not only for marine animals but also for bird lovers. During your tour aboard the Makaira, you may be lucky enough to spot: Dolphins – playful and often swimming near the catamaran Sea turtles – especially visible during the nesting season in calm bays Humpback whales – passing through during migration (seasonal) Sperm whales – the deep-diving giants of the sea Orcas – rare but occasionally seen in Cape Verdean waters Seabirds & coastal birds – such as frigatebirds, shearwaters, terns, egrets, and herons, especially near Murdeira and protected areas Whether you're a nature lover, a photographer, or just curious, Sal offers unforgettable encounters with wildlife – both above and below the waterline. Tip: Bring your camera or binoculars – there’s always something to discover in the skies or the waves!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(41)
Good trip. I have done this kind of trip lots of time and unfortunately the staff were not attentive. Normally they come around talking to the customer asking where you are from etc.
The catamaran tour was very cool and the staff on board very friendly, but I would try to find a better place for the snorkeling stop.
Nearly an hour late to the pick up, but apologetic. The catamaran was ok but limited space to relax or get shade. The drinks were very lack lustre and only 1 person there making them. The snacks were awful deep fried breaded chicken and similar. There was very annoying loud music playing the whole trip that we couldn't escape and there was no 'guide' telling us anything about the scenery and landmarks. Not worth the money. The staff were all friendly and sweet, but that doesn't make up for the cost for a very average trip.
Staff was quiet and aloof, no conversation or atmosphere provided. Concretely, the staff was there to work and nothing else, which is a shame compared to the promises of the activity. Furthermore, 3/4 of the snorkeling equipment was broken and unusable, not to mention the fact that the spot chosen for swimming was uninteresting. Drinks and snacks were offered as advertised. Overall, avoid this activity and find another one if you have the possibility.
The boat time is fine, with music, drinks, some food, ... The route and the place they take you to swim are not a big deal either, nothing spectacular or especially pretty. They give you goggles for snorkeling but it is an area where there is nothing to observe. We did see some dolphins on the way.
Trip was booked for a 10am collection but they arrived at 8.45am. Kindly they let me grab breakfast and came back after 10 mins. Collection from the other hotels took a while with more confusion with 1 couple. Arrived at the fishing port for the small boat transfer to the catamaran. Again, felt a little chaotic as we were in the middle of the fishermen gutting fish. Once on the boat which was full but not over packed, the journey out took around 50 mins, we had another 50 mins docked at the big rock to swim or snorkle. No kayaks or sups to use which would have been nice. Snacks were basic but ok, great coconut donut and drinks were included but I was only offered 1 drink. Journey back to port was rough but fun, once arrived and back on dry land there was a 30 min wait for the bus to collect us and we were left sat in the midday sun. Staff did check in on people and overall it was ok, just lots of things that could have been better.
Thank you very much for taking the time to share your feedback. We’re sorry that parts of the experience didn’t meet your expectations. We would just like to clarify one point: our tour starts from Palmeira Harbour at 10:00 a.m. To ensure all guests arrive on time, hotel pick-ups begin between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., depending on the hotel location and the number of scheduled pick-ups. This information is provided with the booking confirmation. We truly appreciate your comments, as they help us improve our service. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you on board again in the future.
...a wonderful tour...many beautiful moments...local crew😁...great snorkeling...thank you for having us on board...Stephanie and Karsten
Liebe Stephanie, lieber Karsten, herzlichen Dank für eure lieben Worte! 😊 Es freut uns sehr, dass euch die Tour, die vielen schönen Momente, das Schnorcheln und die Zeit mit unserer einheimischen Crew so gut gefallen haben. Es war uns eine Freude, euch an Bord begrüßen zu dürfen. Vielleicht dürfen wir euch ja eines Tages wieder auf einer unserer Touren willkommen heißen. Liebe Grüße und alles Gute!
Excellent, the best activity of the week, the crew is super nice, there is music on the catamaran with beautiful scenery and unlimited drinks. I recommend it without hesitation
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such a great time with us. It means a lot that you enjoyed the crew, the music, the scenery, and the drinks. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back on board again soon!
Excellent welcome, attentive staff and meeting expectations
Merci beaucoup. Nous sommes ravis que vous ayez apprécié l’accueil et notre équipe à l’écoute. Au plaisir de vous revoir à bord.
Complete the booking was very straightforward and well organized.
Thank you very much for your kind review. We’re happy to hear that the booking process was easy and well organized for you. We hope to welcome you on board soon for an unforgettable experience in Sal.
