Santa Maria, Cape VerdeAI generated

Santa Maria

Cape Verde · Sal · 5 m

Short description of Santa Maria

Santa Maria on the island of Sal takes more visitors than anywhere else in Cape Verde and is where most arrivals land, a former salt village grown into a resort strip along eight kilometres of pale sand. The trade winds blow across the bay almost without pause from autumn to spring, which has made it one of the most reliable kitesurfing and windsurfing grounds in the Atlantic. Fishing boats still land their catch at the old wooden pier every afternoon. Inland the island is flat, brown and volcanic, with a salt crater at Pedra de Lume.

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Recommended length of stay

Minimum4 days
Optimal7 days
Maximum14 days

Travel seasons at a glance

Best time to visit: November – June

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec

All highlights and sightsBeta

  1. Santa Maria beach
  2. Kitesurfing and windsurfing on the bay (November - July)
  3. Pedra de Lume salt crater(Day trip)
  4. Fish landing at the wooden pier
  5. Buracona blue eye rock pool(Day trip)
  6. Lemon shark shallows at Shark Bay
  7. Diving on the wrecks and reefs
  8. Turtle nesting on the eastern beaches (June - October)
  9. Quad and buggy tours across the island
  10. Terra Boa mirage and the salt flats
  11. Live morna and coladeira music in the bars
  12. Espargos and the island market

Map view

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