Things to do in Santa Maria

Santa Maria is the beach town on the south coast of Sal. Tours in Santa Maria are island loops, and the airport is close. The town began as a salt works in 1830.

The town

Salt was shipped from here until 1984. A resort hotel opened in 1967, the first in the country. Tourism took over after 1986.

• The beach. Praia de Santa Maria is the main reason visitors stay.
• Praça Marcelo Leitão. The central square of the town.
• Ponta de Vera Cruz. The lighthouse on the point beside town.
• The salt pans. Protected pans where visitors see how salt is extracted, the trade that named the island.

Round the island in a day

The full-day tours run as one long loop by car. Santa Maria is where it starts and ends.

• Murdeira. A village with a small nature reserve, and a view of Lion Mountain.
• Palmeira. A fishing village where the boats come in and fish is sold.
• Buracona. The Blue Eye, a natural pool in the rock.
• Espargos. The island's main town, with street art on its walls.
• Shark Bay. Wade in with water shoes and lemon sharks swim close.
• Pedra de Lume. A salt pan below sea level in a crater, where visitors float.

The small-group version includes lunch. The private version does not.

From the airport

The airport is about 16 km from Santa Maria. A private transfer to Santa Maria takes 20 minutes.

Espargos and Murdeira are 15 minutes away, and Palmeira 10.

Practical

• Weather. Monthly means run from 21C in January to 27C in September. Rain is scarce, about 70 mm a year, and September is the wettest month.
• Sea. The water is about 23C in winter and 26C in late summer.
• Water shoes. Shark Bay is rocky underfoot, and shoes can be hired on the spot.
• Extras. A rinse after floating at Pedra de Lume is worth having.
• Bring. A towel, swimwear, flip flops and sunscreen. Bring a book to read while floating.