Santa Maria
Cape Verde · Sal · 5 m
Description
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.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 4 to 14 days (optimal 7 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: November – June
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Santa Maria beach
- Kitesurfing and windsurfing on the bay (November - July)
- Pedra de Lume salt crater(Day trip)
- Fish landing at the wooden pier
- Buracona blue eye rock pool(Day trip)
- Lemon shark shallows at Shark Bay
- Diving on the wrecks and reefs
- Turtle nesting on the eastern beaches (June - October)
- Quad and buggy tours across the island
- Terra Boa mirage and the salt flats
- Live morna and coladeira music in the bars
- Espargos and the island market
Getting there
- Airports:
- SID