Boa Vista: Snorkeling at Gatas Bay & North East Tour

Small groups make this island day personal. This Boa Vista tour combines snorkeling at Praia das Gatas, a traditional Cape Verdean lunch, small northern towns, and a climb to Morro Negro Lighthouse. I like the mix of sea time and local culture, especially the chance to eat dishes such as goat stew, lobster, or buzio after snorkeling. I also like the small vehicle groups, usually six people or fewer, with a maximum of eight.

The main caution is the shark stop. Lemon sharks and nursing sharks are often seen at Shark Bay, but sightings are not guaranteed. One published experience also had the afternoon plan changed, so you should treat the shark visit as a hopeful final stop, not a promise. Tide conditions can also shift the pickup time because snorkeling works only at high tide.

Key points to know before booking

• Praia das Gatas snorkeling lasts about one to one and a half hours: Clear Atlantic water, fish, and coral make this the main water activity.
• The tour uses a pickup truck: You can sit inside the cabin or outside in the open back, depending on your preference and available space.
• Lunch takes place in Fundo das Figueiras: Choose from Cape Verdean dishes including barbecue chicken, lobster, goat stew, tuna steak, shrimp, or buzio.
• Morro Negro Lighthouse requires a short uphill walk: The 10 to 15 minute hike leads to one of Boa Vista’s finest viewpoints.
• Shark Bay is a wildlife search, not a guarantee: Lemon sharks and nursing sharks are the main species you might see.
• Veronique earned special praise as a guide: Her fun, enthusiastic, and helpful manner made a strong impression during one snorkeling trip.

Starting the day in an open pickup truck

Pickup is offered at your hotel, generally around 8:30 in the morning. The exact hour may change because the snorkeling stop depends on high tide. After booking, the team contacts you through WhatsApp to confirm the time, which is useful on an island where the sea, rather than the clock, sets part of the schedule.

Transport is by private pickup truck. You can ride in the cabin or in the back, where you get more open air and a better feel for the road. The back can also mean sun, wind, and a rougher ride, so bring sunscreen and consider a secure way to protect small items.

The drive to Praia das Gatas usually takes about 45 minutes, depending on your hotel. The route follows Route 66, giving the journey a scenic, road-trip character rather than the feel of a standard coach transfer. You are not simply being taken to one beach and returned. The vehicle carries you through several parts of Boa Vista, with the north-east portion of the island forming the main story of the day.

The small group size matters here. Groups can reach eight people, though the team generally tries to keep them at six or fewer. That gives you a better chance to ask questions, get help with your snorkeling gear, and avoid being folded into a large, impersonal excursion.

Snorkeling for 60 to 90 minutes at Praia das Gatas

Praia das Gatas is the first major stop and the reason many people will choose this tour. The bay has clear water, colorful fish, and coral, creating an easy introduction to Boa Vista’s Atlantic coast. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins.

You should expect roughly one to one and a half hours in the water. That is enough time for a relaxed look below the surface without making the whole day about swimming. You can get comfortable with the equipment, watch for fish, and enjoy the setting before returning to dry land.

The experience is not suitable for non-swimmers. That point deserves attention because the tour is more than a shoreline photo stop. You need to be comfortable in the water and able to follow the guide’s safety instructions. Guides speak English, Dutch, Portuguese, or German, depending on who leads your group.

I would bring a towel, swimwear, and strong sunscreen. A beach cover-up is helpful between the water and the truck, but the listed essentials are simple: towel, sunscreen, and beachwear.

The bay is subject to tide conditions. Since snorkeling is possible only at high tide, the start time may be earlier or later than the usual 8:30 pickup. This is a practical tradeoff. You lose some fixed scheduling, but you gain a better chance of having water conditions suitable for the activity.

One of the strongest parts of this tour is the guide service. A guide named Veronique was described as fun, enthusiastic, and helpful, qualities that count for a lot when you are handling snorkeling equipment and entering unfamiliar water. The activity itself is enjoyable, but a warm guide can turn a basic swim into the most memorable part of the day.

Lunch and local life in Fundo das Figueiras

After snorkeling, the truck continues to Fundo das Figueiras, a picturesque town where you have time to look around and shop for souvenirs. This stop helps break up the day. You get a glimpse of inland Boa Vista rather than seeing the island only through beaches and resort roads.

The town visit is not presented as a long guided historical walk. Think of it as a chance to wander, take in the local setting, and browse for something small to take home. Keep your expectations in the right place: the appeal is the simple change of pace and the local atmosphere.

Lunch is served here, and the menu gives you a useful taste of Cape Verdean cooking. You can choose among:

• Barbecue chicken
• Lobster
• Goat stew
• Tuna steak
• Shrimp
• Buzio

The side dishes are French fries, lentil stew, salad, steamed vegetables, and rice. That is a generous plate, and it gives you several ways to try local flavors without being locked into one unfamiliar dish.

Buzio is an especially interesting option for anyone who enjoys seafood and wants to try something tied to the island’s coastal food culture. Goat stew offers a hearty alternative, while tuna, shrimp, and lobster suit people who prefer seafood. If you are traveling with different tastes, the range of main courses makes the meal easier to manage.

Food and drinks are not included in the $100 tour price, so plan for that extra cost. The tour includes the stop and the meal choice, but the meal itself is listed separately from the included services. This is one detail I would clarify when booking, especially if you are carefully managing your holiday budget.

The lunch stop also gives you a practical break after the morning in the water. You can dry off, eat properly, and settle into the land-based part of the trip. The day feels more varied because of this pause. You are not rushing from one lookout to another with only a snack in hand.

A short climb to Morro Negro Lighthouse

After lunch, the route continues to Cabeça dos Tarafes, described as the last town in the north. From there, you walk uphill for about 10 to 15 minutes to Morro Negro Lighthouse.

This is not a long hike, but it is still a climb. Wear footwear that can handle an uneven mountain path, and remember that the sun can make a short walk feel harder than it looks. The tour information does not describe the trail as difficult, but anyone with limited mobility should consider the uphill section before booking.

The reward is the view. Morro Negro Lighthouse is presented as one of the finest viewpoints on Boa Vista, and this stop gives you a broad look across the island’s northern scenery. The lighthouse adds a strong sense of place, too. You are not stopping at an anonymous roadside lookout. You are walking to a marked landmark with a clear visual connection to the coast.

This may be the best stop for photographs, but do not reduce it to a picture break. The view helps you understand Boa Vista as a large, open island with small settlements, long stretches of natural scenery, and a coast shaped by Atlantic conditions. After the close-up scale of fish and coral, Morro Negro gives you the wider view.

The timing is also well judged. A 10 to 15 minute walk is enough to stretch your legs after lunch without turning the tour into a strenuous hike. Still, bring water and sun protection. Drinks are not included, and the tour spends much of the day outdoors.

Searching for lemon and nursing sharks

The final planned stop is Shark Bay on the north of Boa Vista. Here, the guides look for lemon sharks and nursing sharks in their natural habitat.

The wording matters: you are looking for sharks, not guaranteed to see them. Wildlife does not follow a tour schedule, and the experience provider clearly states that there is no 100 percent guarantee. One person had a pleasant day but missed the sharks after a change to the afternoon program. That is the key risk attached to this tour.

If seeing a shark is the single reason you want to book, you may find the uncertainty frustrating. If you see the stop as one part of a broader day that already includes snorkeling, lunch, towns, and a lighthouse, the risk is easier to accept.

The shark visit also gives the day a different kind of wildlife experience from the morning snorkeling. At Praia das Gatas, the focus is colorful fish and coral in clear water. At Shark Bay, the attraction is the possibility of seeing larger animals in their natural setting. The two stops complement each other, but they are not interchangeable.

Ask about the exact afternoon plan when the team confirms your pickup time. The schedule may be affected by local conditions, and an earlier experience had the program changed without a clear explanation. That does not make the tour a poor choice, but it is a reason to stay flexible.

Do not book this tour expecting a controlled aquarium-style encounter. The best attitude is simple: enjoy the search, value the natural setting, and count a shark sighting as a bonus. If sharks appear, the final stop could become the day’s highlight. If they do not, you still have the snorkeling and north-east route.

What the $100 price really includes

At $100 per person, this is not just a transfer to a beach. The price covers hotel pickup and return, a private vehicle, a driver, a multilingual guide, snorkeling equipment, and a full route through several parts of the island.

You are paying for a small-group day with a lot of moving parts. The tour combines water activity, transport, a town visit, lunch time, a viewpoint, and a wildlife stop. Booking separate taxis and activities would take more planning and could make it harder to fit the same route into one day.

The value is strongest if you want to see more of Boa Vista beyond your hotel area. I would be less enthusiastic about the price if you want only a short snorkeling session, since you would spend much of the day on the road and at other stops.

Remember the extra cost of lunch and drinks. The meal sounds substantial, but it is not part of the listed inclusions. The price also does not buy a shark sighting, so judge the tour by the whole day rather than that one hoped-for moment.

Hotel pickup and drop-off add real value. You do not need to arrange transport to a meeting point, and the team handles the route. The option to sit inside or outside the pickup truck also lets you choose between more shelter and a more open ride, subject to what is available.

Who should book this Boa Vista tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad introduction to Boa Vista in one day. It suits people who enjoy a mixture of snorkeling, scenery, local food, small-town stops, and wildlife searching. The small groups and friendly guides are especially useful if you prefer a personal outing over a large bus tour.

It is also a good match for confident swimmers who want guided time in the water but do not want to organize equipment themselves. The guide support, supplied gear, and 60 to 90 minute snorkeling period make the morning straightforward.

You may want another option if you are a non-swimmer, dislike open pickup trucks, or need a rigid timetable. The tide can change the pickup hour, and the afternoon plan may not unfold exactly as expected.

I would also think twice if you need a guaranteed shark encounter. No wildlife tour can honestly promise that, and this one does not. The right reason to book is the complete north-east experience, with sharks as an exciting possibility.

Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms give you some useful flexibility, particularly when tide conditions or other island plans are still being arranged.

My final take on the Gatas Bay and North East Tour

This is a well-rounded Boa Vista day with an appealing mix of sea, food, scenery, and local places. The best parts are the clear-water snorkeling at Praia das Gatas, the generous choice of Cape Verdean lunch dishes, and the short walk to Morro Negro Lighthouse. The positive guide experience, including Veronique’s helpful and lively style, adds warmth to what could otherwise be a standard sightseeing route.

The weak point is predictability. Tide-dependent snorkeling can shift the start time, and the shark stop may not happen as planned or may produce no sighting. Still, I think the $100 price is fair if you want a small-group overview of the north-east and understand that the wildlife portion is uncertain.

Book it if you want more than a beach day and are happy to let the island set part of the schedule. Skip it if you need guaranteed sharks, a fixed departure time, or a tour built only around snorkeling.

FAQ

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour price.

Is the tour suitable for non-swimmers?

No. The tour is not suitable for non-swimmers because snorkeling is a central part of the experience.

How long do you snorkel at Praia das Gatas?

You can expect about one to one and a half hours of snorkeling at Praia das Gatas.

Can the pickup time change?

Yes. The tour generally starts around 8:30, but the time can be earlier or later because snorkeling is possible only at high tide. The team contacts you through WhatsApp to confirm the pickup time.

Are sharks guaranteed?

No. Lemon sharks and nursing sharks are commonly sought at Shark Bay, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Is lunch included in the $100 price?

No. Food and beverages are not included. You can choose from several main courses at the traditional Cape Verdean lunch stop, but you should budget separately for the meal and drinks.