Murdeira Bay: Beautiful Reef and Rock Pools

Baía da Murdeira is a nature reserve known for its rich underwater sea life and a small coral reef. It’s a vast, crescent-shaped bay situated on the southwest coast of Sal Island in Cape Verde, Its name derives from the nearby village of Murdeira.

The bay offers a picturesque beach with soft golden sand strewn with small pebbles and crystal-clear turquoise waters. It provides opportunities for swimming, snorkelling, and sunbathing. Baia de Murdeira is easily accessible and attracts visitors looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Cape Verde’s coastline.

Exploring Murdeira Bay: Reef, Rock Pools, and Coastal Quiet

Baía de Murdeira lies on Sal Island’s west coast. An unassuming crescent carves into volcanic rock. And it’s softly protected by the looming presence of Monte Leão. The bay curves gently along nearly six kilometres of shoreline. Its rocky outcrops form natural pools and host a compact coral reef. Designated a marine nature reserve in 2014, Murdeira Bay shelters significant biodiversity. The place offers a softer, more contemplative experience than the island’s more crowded beaches. It is this combination of geological subtlety and marine abundance that makes the bay a compelling destination.

A Land-Shaped Bay

Monte Leão & Ilhéu Rabo de Junco

At the northern rim of Murdeira Bay rises Rabo de Junco, a stark, weathered ridge that has weathered over centuries into a striking geological landmark. Nearly 165 metres high, this hillside has a nickname: Monte Leão. It shelters seabird nests in its cliffs and casts shade over the village of Murdeira at the bay’s centre.

Adjacent is Ilhéu Rabo de Junco, a tiny, rocky islet roughly 300 metres offshore. Though small, the islet and its surrounding tidal flats are part of the same protected reserve, which includes nearly 6,000 hectares of marine habitat. The conservation designation recognises not only the scenic power of hill and islet but also the ecological connections between land and sea: seabirds nest in the cliffs, rays glide in submerged pools, and tropical fish shuttle across reef patches.

The Landscape 

This coastal landscape is archetypal of Sal’s quiet grandeur: volcanic landforms, wind-worn stone, and limited vegetation. Just hardy shrubs and occasional Faidherbia albida trees cling to life. But it is the union of form and function that defines Murdeira Bay: a place shaped by lava and salinity, now preserved for its role in coastal ecology and outdoor discovery. Coastal walks here feel anchored by that duality: wildness tempered, direction shaped by the curve of the bay and the silhouette of Rabo de Junco. It’s a place that invites both observation and respect, a crossroads of conservation, geology, and local identity.

Underwater Richness of Murdeira Bay

Reef and Pools

Baía de Murdeira is perhaps best known for its underwater world. A narrow coral reef arcs just offshore, interrupted by rocky ridges and tidal pools. This shallow reef supports a range of marine species — bright fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and even sea turtles at times. The water here is evident, reaching depths of 3–5 metres over a diverse, volcanic-substrate seafloor. For snorkellers, the bay offers easy access to aquatic life without needing a boat — rock pools are perfect for cautious, shallow exploration, and the reef provides a gentle introduction to subtidal ecology.

Marine Life

Marine surveys depict Moray eels curling in crevices, damselfish and parrotfish grazing on reef algae, and wrasse sheltering among corals. Although rare sightings, such as nurse sharks or rays, occur, they are typically transient and non-threatening. Notably, Conus felitae, an endemic cone snail species found only on Sal near Murdeira, has been confirmed here. However, its vulnerability to habitat disruption has prompted the implementation of careful protection measures within the reserve.

Sea Turtles and Birds

The bay is also a nesting and feeding ground for sea turtles. Between May and October, female loggerheads return to nearby beaches to lay eggs, and occasionally, turtles glide across Murdeira’s calm shallows during snorkelling sessions. Birds — tropicbirds, kestrels, and ospreys — circle overhead, using the bay’s edge as a seasonal roost. Murdeira’s marine biodiversity has made it a sought-after destination for eco-conscious visitors seeking natural immersion without resorting to resorts or guided boat tours.

Visiting Murdeira Bay: Walking, Snorkelling & Being Quiet

Being in Murdeira Bay is to lean into a slower, more mindful side of Sal. Unlike busy beaches, Murdeira offers no sunbeds, no lifeguards, and no loud vendors. Just the steady hiss of surf and the occasional scuttle of hermit crabs across volcanic rock. Visitors access the bay via local trails or along the highway that winds through the village. A short walk brings one past scattered homes, small farms irrigated by underground aquifer channels, and downhill to a rocky shore seeded with natural pools.

Snorkelling and Walking

The bay is ideal for a morning or late-afternoon visit, when light softens against the water and marine life is most visible. Snorkelling gear rental is rare in Murdeira itself, so bring your own or join small, responsible tour groups. Observers should wear aqua shoes. The volcanic rock is sharp and uneven. Look for fish among the crevices. Keep your voices low and movements slow to avoid disturbing shy creatures. Also, avoid touching the reef or coral, which remains fragile even where resilient.

A coastal walk from the village leads around the curve of the bay to a viewpoint under Rabo de Junco. It’s ideal for seeing seabirds, sampling coastal air, and imagining the ancient shape of Sal’s desert landscape fractured by lava. At midday, shade retreats, and rock pools capture warmth. The place is perfect to sit, watch tides disappear, and let the quiet unfold.

Being Quiet

Murdeira Bay reminds visitors that Sal’s treasures are not just beaches and reefs but moments of calm, balance, and connection to elemental landscapes. No signage, no crowds, just a vista line drawn between water and hill, animal and observer. It is a place where one walks carefully through rock pools, through time, and through conservation commitments that bind a simple bay to global ecological rhythms.

Bibliography

• Wikipedia – Baía da Murdeira; Rabo de Junco; Ilhéu Rabo de Junco;

• Wikipedia – Conus felitae;

• TripAdvisor – Murdeira Bay visitor reviews;

• Indah’s Travel Journal – Sal island snorkelling;

• Project Biodiversity – “Top things to do in Sal”;

• Evendo – Praia de Murdeira description;

• ResearchGate – Malaquias et al. (2025) on Cape Verde marine biodiversity;

• Field visits, Murdeira Bay, 2023–2025;