Every summer, thousands of loggerhead turtles come ashore on Cape Verde's beaches to lay their eggs, making the islands one of the most important loggerhead nesting sites in the world. From June to October you can watch it on a night tour with a licensed guide, and from August you may see the hatchlings run to the sea.
Book a turtle tour
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Night turtle watching on Sal
- Evening pick-up from Santa Maria
- Walk a nesting beach with a guide
- Best in August and September
Turtle tours on Boa Vista
- Tours from Sal Rei and the resorts
- Most nesting turtles in Cape Verde
- Hatchlings from August
Boat and snorkelling trips
- Turtles at sea, outside nesting season too
- Daytime trips from Santa Maria
- Snorkelling stops included
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Turtle watching in Cape Verde at a glance
| Where | Boa Vista, Sal and Maio |
|---|---|
| How | Evening tours with a licensed guide, on foot on the nesting beach |
| Booking | Through your hotel, a conservation project or online (see below) |
| Rules | No flash, no white light, no touching, stay behind the guide |
| Sightings | Likely in peak season, never guaranteed |
When is turtle season in Cape Verde?
| June | First nesting females; low to fair chances |
|---|---|
| July | Nesting females; good chances |
| August | Peak nesting and the first hatchlings; best month |
| September | Nesting and hatchlings; best month |
| October | Last nesting, many hatchlings |
| November | Late hatchlings; fair chances |
| December–May | No nesting and no tours |
A female lays several clutches in one season, returning every couple of weeks, and the eggs hatch about two months later. That is why hatchlings appear from August, and why late summer is the only time you can see both on one trip.
Late summer is also Cape Verde's rainy season, with more humidity and the occasional downpour. See Cape Verde in August and September for what to expect.
Which turtles live in Cape Verde?
Almost every turtle you will see on a nesting beach is a loggerhead (Caretta caretta): a large sea turtle with a broad head and a reddish-brown shell. Cape Verde's loggerheads form one of the largest nesting populations in the world and the only major one in the eastern Atlantic, which makes the islands vital for the species.
Cape Verde's nesting population is often cited as the third-largest in the world, after Oman and Florida.
Loggerhead nesting in numbers
- A female comes ashore to nest three to five times in one season, about two weeks apart.
- Each nest holds roughly 80 to 120 eggs.
- The eggs hatch after about 60 days.
- Hatchlings that survive take around 20 years or more to mature, and females return to nest on the coast where they hatched.
At sea, snorkellers and boat trips regularly see green turtles and hawksbills feeding along the coast, including on boat and snorkelling trips. Leatherbacks and olive ridleys have also been recorded, but sightings are rare. Of the world's seven sea turtle species, five have been seen in Cape Verde's waters.
Which island is best for turtle watching?
Boa Vista: the most turtles
Boa Vista's long, dark, undeveloped beaches make it the heart of Cape Verde's loggerhead population and one of the most important nesting sites in the Atlantic. It has the widest choice of tours, running from Sal Rei and from the resorts. Details: turtle watching on Boa Vista.
See turtle tours on Boa Vista ↗
Sal: easiest with a beach holiday
Turtles nest on several beaches on Sal, and conservation teams guard them through the season. Evening tours pick up from hotels in and around Santa Maria, so it is easy to fit one into a week of beach days. In Santa Maria, local conservation groups also run a beach hatchery during the season, where you can learn about the project and, later in the summer, sometimes see hatchlings released.
Maio: quiet and community-run
On Maio, local conservation teams patrol the beaches every night of the season and run community hatcheries. There are few organised tours; you join through the local project. It suits travellers who want the experience without the crowds. See sea turtles on Maio.
Other islands
Smaller numbers of loggerheads nest wherever there is sand, including on Santiago. Organised tours, however, are almost entirely found on Boa Vista, Sal and Maio.
Turtle tours compared by island
| Island | Tours start from | Best for | Book |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boa Vista | Sal Rei and resorts | Highest chance of nesting turtles | View tours ↗ |
| Sal | Santa Maria hotels | Combining with a beach holiday | View tours ↗ |
| Maio | Vila do Maio (local project) | Quiet, community-led experience | How to join |
Links marked ↗ go to GetYourGuide. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. How this works.
How a turtle tour works
Most tours follow the same pattern. You are collected from your hotel in the evening and driven to a nesting beach, often on a sandy track. A guide from the conservation project explains the rules and the turtles' life cycle, and then the waiting begins.
Spotters walk the beach looking for fresh tracks. When they find a female who has started to lay, the group is called over and watches quietly from behind her while she fills the nest. Laying can take around an hour, and in this phase the turtle is far less easily disturbed, which is when researchers measure and tag her. You then watch her cover the nest and drag herself back to the sea.
From August, you may also see hatchlings. Many projects move threatened nests to protected hatcheries and release the young turtles at night, when the beach is dark and cool.
Most operators run tours from July to mid-October, with hotel pick-up and return late in the evening, often around midnight. Private tours are available if you prefer a smaller group.
Expect a late night and a lot of patience. Some nights a turtle appears within minutes; on others the group walks and waits for hours.
Turtle hatching season in Cape Verde
Loggerhead eggs hatch about two months after they are laid. The first hatchlings appear in August, September and October are usually the busiest months, and the last nests hatch in November.
Hatchlings emerge at night, when the sand is cool, and head for the brightest horizon, which should be the sea. That is why light on nesting beaches is so dangerous: a single torch or beach bar can pull them inland. Many projects move vulnerable nests to fenced hatcheries and release the young turtles under supervision; some tours include a release when one is due.
Best time for hatchlings: September and October. Best time for nesting and hatchlings together: late August and September.
Swimming and snorkelling with turtles
You do not have to wait for the nesting season to see turtles. Green and hawksbill turtles feed along the coasts all year, and snorkelling and boat trips regularly find them. The most popular trips leave from Santa Maria on Sal; on São Vicente, snorkelling trips near Mindelo are known for turtles in the bay.
The same rules apply in the water: keep a few metres away, never touch or chase a turtle, and do not feed them. Feeding changes their behaviour and makes them vulnerable to boats and fishing lines.
Why Cape Verde's turtles need protection
A loggerhead's life is dangerous from the start. Eggs are dug up by dogs, crabs and other predators, and hatchlings are taken by birds and fish on their way to open water. Only a small fraction survive to adulthood.
People add to the pressure. Turtles drown in fishing nets, swallow plastic, and in the past were widely killed for meat, eggs and shell. Light from hotels and roads disorients hatchlings, and sand extraction and building destroy nesting beaches. Sea turtles are now protected by law in Cape Verde, and the recovery of recent years is largely thanks to local projects that guard the beaches every night of the season.
How to choose a responsible turtle tour
Loggerheads are an endangered population in the eastern Atlantic, and Cape Verde's recovery depends on local projects guarding the beaches. A good tour supports that work. A bad one harms the animals it sells.
- Choose a licensed tour that works with a recognised conservation project. Ask who the guides are and where the fee goes.
- Small groups only. Large groups on a nesting beach mean noise, light and stress.
- No touching turtles, eggs or hatchlings, whatever anyone offers.
- No white light and no flash. Light makes females abandon their nests and sends hatchlings inland instead of to the sea.
- Stay off nesting beaches at night without a guide, and never drive quads or 4x4s on them; tyres crush nests and leave ruts hatchlings cannot climb out of.
- Never buy turtle shell or turtle products. The trade is illegal and fuels poaching.
Several organisations lead this work, including Project Biodiversity on Sal, the Turtle Foundation and Bios.CV on Boa Vista, and the Maio Biodiversity Foundation. Many accept donations or offer nest adoptions if you want to contribute beyond a tour.
Tips for your turtle tour
- Wear dark clothing and closed shoes; you will walk on sand in the dark.
- Bring a light jacket. Beaches can be windy and cool at night, even in summer.
- Leave the torch and flash off. Your guide will use a red light when needed.
- Book early in August and September. Group sizes are limited and peak dates fill up.
- Plan a quiet next morning. Most tours end late at night.
- Tell the operator about children when booking; long waits in the dark are not for every child. See Cape Verde with kids.
More wildlife excursions in Cape Verde
Turtles are only part of the story. Between March and May, humpback whales gather off Boa Vista; see whale watching in Cape Verde. On Sal, you can wade with harmless lemon sharks at Shark Bay, and snorkelling and boat trips run all year. On boat trips and snorkelling tours you may also see turtles feeding at sea.
Frequently asked questions
When is turtle season in Cape Verde?
Loggerhead turtles nest from around June to October, with the peak in August and September. Hatchlings emerge from about August into November. Outside these months there are no turtle tours.
What is the best month to see turtles in Cape Verde?
August and September. Nesting is at its peak, and the first hatchlings start to appear, so you have the best chance of seeing both on a single trip. July is good for nesting females; October and November are best for hatchlings.
Which island is best for turtle watching in Cape Verde?
Boa Vista has the largest nesting numbers and the most tours. Sal is the easiest to combine with a beach holiday, with evening tours from Santa Maria. Maio is quieter, with small local conservation patrols.
Can you see baby turtles in Cape Verde?
Yes, from about August into November. Hatchlings emerge at night about two months after the eggs are laid, and several conservation projects run hatcheries where you may see a release. Timing is never guaranteed.
Are turtle tours in Cape Verde guaranteed to see turtles?
No. Tours take place on real nesting beaches, and the turtles come ashore when they choose. In peak season the chances are good, but a responsible operator will never promise a sighting.
Can you take photos on a turtle tour?
Usually not. White light and flash can make a female abandon her nest and disorient hatchlings, so most projects ban photography of nesting turtles or allow it only under the guide's red light.
What kind of turtles are in Cape Verde?
The loggerhead is by far the most common and the only species that nests in large numbers. Green and hawksbill turtles are regularly seen at sea, and leatherback and olive ridley turtles have also been recorded around the islands.
When is turtle hatching season in Cape Verde?
From about August into November. The eggs hatch roughly two months after they are laid, so the first hatchlings appear in August and the last in November, with September and October usually the busiest months.
Can you swim with turtles in Cape Verde?
Yes. Green and hawksbill turtles feed along the coasts all year and are often seen on snorkelling and boat trips, especially from Santa Maria on Sal and near Mindelo on São Vicente. Keep your distance and never touch or feed them.
How many eggs does a loggerhead turtle lay?
Roughly 80 to 120 eggs per nest, and a female nests three to five times in one season, about two weeks apart. The eggs hatch after about 60 days.
How long does a turtle tour take?
Most night tours last a few hours, with hotel pick-up in the evening and a return late at night. Much of the time is spent waiting quietly on the beach while spotters look for tracks.