Buracona & Blue Eye
Buracona / Olho Azul
A natural seawater pool on the black lava coast of northwest Sal. In a nearby rock cave, sunlight creates a glowing blue “eye” in the water.
Buracona lies on Sal's northwest coast, where dark basalt has been carved by the waves into a rugged shoreline. There are two highlights. The first is a natural seawater pool enclosed by rocks, into which waves flow from the open sea. When the water is calm, you can swim, but when the waves are big it is extremely dangerous, so follow the on-site instructions. The second is the famous “Blue Eye” (Olho Azul). In a water cave beneath a crack in the rock, sunlight enters the water at a near-vertical angle and casts a bright sapphire-blue patch on the cave floor, like a blue eye. It usually appears for a few minutes to an hour around midday on sunny days, and visitors queue at the cave opening to look in.
The site has a small restaurant and restrooms and charges a small entry fee, which varies locally. It is about 20 minutes' drive from the island's capital, Espargos, and part of the road is dirt. The lava ground is sharp, so wear closed-toe shoes.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00 (check on site)
Nearby sights
- Palmeira
- Terra Boa Mirage
- Espargos
- Monte Grande
- Pedra de Lume Salt Crater
- Monte Leão (Lion Mountain)
- Shark Bay (Baía da Parda)
- Murdeira Bay