Turtle Watching
65 € per person | children up to 11 years 40 €
for children 4 years
Unforgettable magic under the starry sky
The loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) is a sea turtle & a relic from the dinosaur age and of course it always fascinates our guests. They can grow up to 160 cm long and weigh up to 110 kilos. During the nesting season from July to October, it comes to the beaches of Boavista (the world’s largest population) to build its nest and lay its eggs.
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Experience something special - a unique natural spectaclel
You will be picked up at your accommodation between 6.15 and 7 pm. We will be travelling in the usual pick-ups here. We cover part of the route on a tarmac road before heading off-road into the nature reserve with red lights only. Once there, we first settle down on the beach and you receive the first information about the turtles from your English-speaking guide. During this time, the rangers will be out and about on the beach looking for the animals. If a turtle is spotted, we will be notified by radio so that we can walk straight there (so you don’t have to walk up and down the beach). As soon as the turtle has started to lay its eggs, we can approach it from behind to observe the spectacle at close quarters. The whole process up to the return to the sea can take about 1.5 to 2 hours. This gives you plenty of time to get all your questions answered. You will then return to your accommodation.
Good to know
From the end of August, you have a good chance of seeing baby turtles in addition to the egg-laying.
From mid-October, the chances of observing the egg-laying diminish, and then we can usually only see baby turtles.
On the beach, the guide and rangers only use a red light, as bright light disturbs the turtles.
Due to the time of day, the tour is only partially recommended for small children – please make your own assessment regarding your children.
The journey to/from Turtle Camp is very bumpy. We therefore advise guests with back problems and pregnant women not to do the tour.
You must be physically fit enough to walk a certain distance along the beach.
Sometimes a turtle lays eggs during the day, but this is rare.
Active support
By booking a turtle tour with Boa Vista Tours, you are also supporting the protection of these fascinating animals, as part of the proceeds go to the local conservation organisations. We are in possession of the legally required licence, which is only issued by the Cape Verdean Ministry of the Environment to companies that are also licensed by the Cape Verdean Tourism Institute. On site, the rangers strictly monitor compliance with the legally applicable rules.
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Meeting point & pick-up times
The meeting point for RIU Karamboa, RIU Palace, RIU Touareg, VOI Hotel, Occidental Hotel, Barcelo Marine Boavista, Vilas de Chaves is always at the barrier at the entrance to the resort. For all other accommodations, the meeting point is directly in front. The pick-up time is stated on the confirmation next to your accommodation.
- Duration approx. 5 hours
- Certified English-speaking guide
- free cancellation
- Transfer from / to the hotel included
- Torches & cameras are prohibited
- Comfortable, insensitive & dark clothing | closed shoes are recommended | jacket or jumper
- Mosquito repellent | drinking water | extra cash for tips
Terms of payment
To guarantee your reservation, we ask for a deposit of 15 euros per person. If you are unable to pay online, simply contact us. You have the following options for paying the difference:
- On the day of the tour in cash in euros or escudos (conversion 1 euro = 110 escudos)
- IN ADVANCE (please no later than the day before the tour) via PayPal or credit card using the button in your confirmation
Cancellation policy
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your tour – your payment will be refunded immediately.
Cancellation up to 12 hours before your tour: 50% of the tour price must be paid
Cancellation less than 12 hours before your tour: 100% of the tour price must be paid
experience even more ...
mid February
till end May
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Here you will find answers to frequently asked questions. If you have any further questions, please feel free to send us an e-mail or contact us via WhatsApp.
How can I book a trip?
Once you have decided on a tour, you can reserve your seats online via our booking system. It is very easy and intuitive to use. You assign a password during the booking process. This allows you to log in to our website at any time and easily make changes, payments or, if necessary, cancellations. For most tours, you will immediately receive a booking confirmation by e-mail. For some tours, your booking is initially only an „enquiry“. As soon as the minimum number of participants has been reached, you will also automatically receive your confirmation. For the Big Game Fishing Tour as well as for the Quad and Buggy Tours, simply fill out the form on our website – we will respond very quickly.
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What about payment?
To guarantee your reservation, a deposit of 15 euros per person and tour is required. This can be done online via PayPal or credit card. If you do not have either of these payment options, please contact us via WhatsApp or email. The balance can either be paid in cash on the day of the tour or online before the tour via PayPal or credit card.
What is the cancellation policy?
You can cancel your tour(s) at any time up to 24 hours before the start of the tour without giving a reason. You can easily do this online by logging in to our website. For cancellations up to 12 hours before the start of the tour, a cancellation fee of 50% will be charged. This fee is waived if we are able to resell the seats. Cancellations made less than 12 hours before the tour will incur a 100% cancellation fee – less the cost of any included services such as food or drinks. This fee will be waived if we are able to resell the seats.
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What happens to my payment if I cancel a tour?
We will of course refund any payments already made (minus any cancellation fees). The refund will be made in the same way as you made the payment (i.e. by PayPal, credit card or bank transfer).
What should I bear in mind on the boat trips?
In principle, you should be seaworthy for the boat tours. If you are not sure, it is best to take a travel tablet against seasickness before the tour. We also have tablets on board the yacht. The wind can often be fresher at sea than on land. It is therefore advisable to take a jacket or jumper with you. There are days when we have to cancel excursions due to the conditions at sea (very strong winds and/or waves that are too high). Sometimes this can happen at very short notice, as the weather forecasts are not always reliable and we can only make decisions based on the actual conditions. For this reason, we ask you to always check whether you have received a message from us by e-mail or WhatsApp before your boat trip.
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Are the tours guided in English?
Yes, the trips are all guided in English.
What do I wear - what do I need to bring?
We have a list of clothing recommendations for all tour descriptions. With each tour description you will also find a list of things you should bring with you.