Quad & buggy tours

Boa Vista: dunes and shipwreck

Boa Vista is the best island for it. Typical routes cross the Viana desert, stop at the Cabo Santa Maria shipwreck, take in inland villages such as Rabil and often finish along a stretch of empty coast. Half-day tours run around three to four hours.

Sal: salt crater and north coast

On Sal, quad routes typically head for the north-west coast around Buracona, the salt crater at Pedra de Lume and the fishing village of Palmeira, linking the island's main sights in one loop.

Cost, licences and what to expect

Expect roughly €50–90 per quad for a half-day, often with two people sharing. A full driving licence is normally required for the driver, and helmets should be provided — insist on one. Tours are guided in convoy, which is both safer and more fun than going alone.

• Wear closed shoes, long sleeves and sunglasses — there is a lot of dust.
• Take a buff or scarf for your face.
• Sunscreen before you set off; you will not stop to reapply.
• Confirm insurance and what happens in a breakdown.

Riding responsibly

Dune and desert environments are fragile, and the same beaches used by quads are used by nesting turtles in summer. Stick to established tracks, never ride on nesting beaches at night, keep speed down near villages and give way to people and animals. Good operators brief on all of this.