Buracona: The Amazing Bay and its Blue Eye Cave

Buracona is a small bay where the dark azure water of the Atlantic crashes on the rocky coast creating spectacular splashes of white, frothy waves. There are a few beautiful caves and a natural pool where you can swim. The gazebo on the cliff has a small natural history museum on the ground floor and a stunning view of the ocean upstairs. 

The place is located in the northwest part of Sal, just a few kilometres from the lovely fishing village of Palmeira. Access to the site costs only a few euros. There is a souvenir shop and a small restaurant where you can drink coffee or have lunch.

Olho Azul – the Blue Eye Cave

Between the stunning black cliffs gouged by the forces of nature are many caves, one of which is considered particularly special. That one is called the Blue Eye and is a hole in the rocks showing a view of the small but deep cave below. Seawater enters the cave through a natural tunnel. At the right time of day, sunlight streams through this crack straight down, illuminating the azure water at the bottom, and the beautiful view resembles a giant blue eye. It looks best during the summer, and naturally, isn’t very spectacular in the afternoon. From this cave and its miraculous beauty, Buracona got its second name – Olho Azul.

It’s good to remember that, in autumn and winter, the Blue Eye isn’t that visible, and many visitors get disappointed by the view.

Timing is crucial.

Visitors who arrive in late morning, between 10:30 am and 1 pm, catch the moment when sunbeams pierce the cave’s larger opening. This light dances across the deep water, revealing the underwater floor and lending the ‘eye’ its signature glow. At other times, the hole looks dark or mundane. While trip guides often schedule visits to match this window, independent explorers can plan for it too. And if the sky is overcast, the illusion fades entirely, leaving only a cave and ocean swirl.

The music of black rocks and mighty waves

The place isn’t only about the Blue Eye. Buracona offers many beautiful views, and it’s worth spending an hour or a few at the site. On the far edge of the cliff stands a lovely blue gazebo, offering an extraordinary landscape of black rocks that draws a sharp boundary to the mighty force of the ocean. The rhythmic sound of the sea waves crashing against the rocks is calming, and the view can be inspiring. During windier days, when the waves are much higher, the water can reach surprisingly far, giving a stunning show of foam fireworks.

Carved by Lava, Illuminated by Light

Geologically, Buracona is a collapsed lava tube: a subterranean cave formed when molten lava drained away, leaving behind a hollow shell. Over centuries, the ocean has eroded the tube’s roof, causing it to collapse in places and open a direct window through which sunlight can strike the water below. The bright-blue patch at the bottom of the cave — reached only at certain times of day — creates the illusion of a vast, glowing eye fixed on the sky. The colours range from deep sapphire to soft turquoise, intensifying when light hits around midday. Although the cave is submerged and parts are unstable, its stillness makes the effect all the more entrancing — nature’s version of a spotlight.

A Protected Pocket of Coastal Landscape

Buracona sits within the Buracona–Ragona protected area, a landscape spanning approximately 5.5 km² of cliffs, coastal scrub, and barren foregrounds. Nearby Monte Leste towers behind the cave, its volcanic slopes anchoring the horizon. The lava–ocean interface here is striking, with pulsating waves churning in rock pools and jagged crevices. These conditions support small marine communities, and seabirds occasionally roost on the cliffs. Although not tropical, the area boasts a rugged beauty that lies in sharp contrasts—black stone, white foam, and luminous water.

Visitor Experience: Access and Etiquette

There is no visitor centre or formal promenade—just a simple staircase, ropes, and a modest restaurant overlooking the bay. A small entrance fee supports local conservation. Paths skirt the rocky edge, but sturdy shoes are essential: flip‑flops won’t handle the rugged basalt.

Traffic surges here during midday when the eye appears, though dawn and late afternoon visits offer quieter moments and more relaxed light. Alongside the Blue Eye, visitors can walk the coast, peer into blowholes, or rest in shaded caverns. The restaurant serves seafood and local fare, inviting a pause after the circuit.

A note on nesting turtles: Buracona is located near turtle habitats, so masks and noise are discouraged during nesting season.

Why It Matters

Buracona is not a postcard-perfect tropical beach—it’s more elemental. Its appeal lies in the way volcanic forces, marine erosion, and solar geometry converge to create a fleeting spectacle. It reminds us that sometimes natural beauty is subtle and contextual: one moment of illumination, then darkness again. And that makes Buracona distinctive — despite the simplicity of its setting, its “Blue Eye” is as arresting as any tropical lagoon.

Bibliography / Sources

• Field notes, Sal Island visits, 2022–2023;
• Buracona on Google Maps and on Tripadvisor;
• Buracona (Wikipedia);
• ShowCaves.com – Blue Eye Cave entry;
• Pictures: Shutterstock (2) and personal collection, 2023.