Swim with turtles at São Pedro on São Vicente island

Swimming with Turtles at São Pedro: A Responsible Guide

How the São Pedro turtle encounters work, the truth about feeding, how to choose an operator, and how to behave in the water.

Off the beach at São Pedro, on São Vicente's southwest coast, green sea turtles swim close to the fishing boats, and visitors can slip into the water to snorkel alongside them. For many travellers it's a highlight of their trip to Cape Verde. It's also an experience with a complicated story behind it, and knowing that story is the best way to make sure your visit does more good than harm.

At a Glance: Quick Overview

Where: São Pedro, a fishing village on São Vicente's southwest coast, next to the airport and around 15 minutes from Mindelo.

The Turtles: Wild green sea turtles, a protected species.

How It Works: A short boat ride from the beach with a local fisherman or a tour, then snorkelling near the turtles.

Cost: Roughly €15–€25 per person with a fisherman on the beach; more with an organised tour including transport.

The Catch: Many encounters depend on feeding the turtles. Read Section 3 before you go.

The Golden Rules: Don't touch, don't feed, don't chase, and give them space.

Section 1: The São Pedro Experience

What to expect.

São Pedro is a small fishing village beside a long beach, close to Cesária Évora International Airport, with volcanic hills behind and the open Atlantic in front. The turtles that gather offshore are green turtles; Cape Verde is better known as one of the world's great nesting grounds for the loggerhead, but it's the greens you'll swim with here.

The trip itself is short. It's only a few minutes' boat ride from the shore to where the turtles gather, and you'll typically spend around 45 minutes to an hour in the water. Seeing a turtle glide past below you in clear water is genuinely moving, and it's easy to see why the experience has become so popular.

Section 2: Getting There & What It Costs

Practical details.

By Aluguer. Shared minibuses run from Mindelo, typically from around Praça Estrela, to São Pedro for around 120 CVE each way.

By Taxi. Around 10–15 minutes from central Mindelo. Agree the fare before setting off.

Booking Directly on the Beach. As soon as you arrive in São Pedro, fishermen are likely to approach you offering boat trips to swim with the turtles, typically for around €15–€25 per person. Snorkelling gear and life jackets are usually provided, but check before you set off.

Organised Tours. Tour companies in Mindelo offer the trip with hotel pickup, a guide, and equipment, at a higher price. Some combine it with a walk to the Farol de Dona Amélia lighthouse and lunch in the village.

Payment. Bring cash in Escudos or Euros if you're booking on the beach.

Section 3: The Feeding Question

The part most tour descriptions leave out.

Why the Turtles Are There. The turtles at São Pedro didn't gather by chance. According to one tour operator's own description, the encounters exist because local fishermen began feeding the turtles in the past, creating a relationship between the turtles and people. Some operators present this positively, arguing that the fishermen's protection and food have helped the turtle population.

Why "Guaranteed" Is a Clue. Many tours advertise that sightings are 100% guaranteed year-round. With wild animals, a guarantee usually means they've learned to expect food. By contrast, an operator that doesn't feed the turtles is more likely to say honestly that their presence isn't guaranteed and depends on sea, weather, and wildlife conditions.

Why It Matters. Conservation guidance for sea turtles is consistent: don't touch them, don't feed them, and don't block their path. Feeding changes their natural behaviour, makes them used to people and dependent on humans, and can draw them close to boats, where propellers are a real danger. Some visitors only discover the feeding once they're in the water; one reviewer wrote that had they known the turtles were fed, they wouldn't have booked.

The Other Side. The fishermen of São Pedro are part of this story too. Tourism brings income to a small village, and fishermen often help injured or stranded turtles, supporting their recovery before they're released back into the ocean. The issue isn't the fishermen themselves, but a practice that has become part of the attraction.

Your Choice. Knowing all this, some travellers decide not to go. Others choose an operator that explicitly doesn't feed the turtles, accepting that sightings aren't guaranteed. Whichever you choose, ask directly before booking: "Do you feed the turtles?" The answer tells you a great deal.

Section 4: How to Behave in the Water

Simple rules that protect the turtles, and you.

Don't Touch. Never touch, hold, or grab a turtle's shell or flippers, however close it comes. Touching stresses the animals and can transfer bacteria in both directions. Swim with your hands close to your body so you don't accidentally make contact.

Keep Your Distance. Stay at least a couple of metres away, and never crowd or surround a turtle as a group.

Keep the Way Up Clear. Turtles need to surface to breathe. Never swim above a turtle that's rising or block its path to the surface.

Don't Chase. Let the turtles come and go as they please. If one swims away, let it go.

Don't Feed. Never feed the turtles yourself, and don't ask your guide to.

No Flash. Avoid flash photography underwater.

Mind the Boats. Good operators cut or idle their engines near the turtles. If yours doesn't, say so.

Keep It Short. Limit your time near the turtles. Some operators keep sessions to around 25 minutes.

Section 5: Safety

The sea at São Pedro can be rough.

Conditions. São Pedro is an exposed Atlantic beach with strong trade winds, shore break, and choppy water, especially from roughly January to April.

Don't Swim Out Alone. Swimming or snorkelling out to the turtles from the beach on your own isn't safe, given the currents, swells, and boat traffic. Go with a boat.

Best Time of Day. Mornings usually bring calmer seas and better visibility, before the wind picks up.

Life Jackets. Use one if you're not a confident swimmer. Small children may find turtles up close intimidating, so consider carefully whether the trip suits younger kids.

Practicalities. There are few or no changing facilities at the beach, so wear your swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel.

Belongings. Don't leave valuables unattended on the beach, and bring only what you need.

Section 6: Turtle Conservation on São Vicente

The bigger picture.

Protected Species. Sea turtles are protected by law in Cape Verde. Never buy turtle products or eggs.

Nesting. Loggerhead turtles come ashore to nest on beaches across the islands, roughly from July to November. During that time, avoid walking on dunes where nests may be buried, keep lights off on beaches at night, and never disturb nesting turtles or hatchlings.

Threats. Illegal sand extraction from beaches, plastic pollution, and disturbance of nesting beaches all put pressure on turtles around the islands.

How You Can Help. Choose operators that don't feed or touch the turtles, leave no rubbish on the beach, use reef-safe sunscreen, and support local conservation organisations where you can. For the islands' most important nesting site, read our guide to Loggerhead Turtle Watching in Boa Vista.

Section 7: While You're in São Pedro

Make a day of it.

The Lighthouse Walk. From where alugueres and taxis drop you in the village, you can walk along the beach and coastline to the Farol de Dona Amélia lighthouse in about twenty minutes, with views over the rough ocean and cliffs. It's particularly beautiful early in the morning or around sunset; avoid the midday heat.

Lunch. Simple restaurants in the village serve grilled fish by the beach.

Windsurfing. São Pedro is famous for windsurfing, and on windy days you'll see riders flying along the bay.

Section 8: Responsible Checklist

Before you go.

Decide whether you're comfortable with an encounter that may involve feeding. Ask operators directly whether they feed the turtles. Bring cash, a towel, and swimwear worn under your clothes. Apply reef-safe sunscreen well before entering the water. Keep your hands to yourself, keep your distance, and never block a turtle's way to the surface. And if the sea is rough, postpone.

Continue Planning Your Trip

For the rest of the island's coast, read Best Beaches in São Vicente. For getting to São Pedro, see Getting Around São Vicente. And for Cape Verde's loggerhead nesting beaches, our Loggerhead Turtle Watching in Boa Vista guide covers the season and the rules.