Overview

The tropical island of Sal in Cape Verde is home to the charming beach town of Santa Maria which is nestled on the southern tip of the island. Powdery white sandy beaches lapped by the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean make Santa Maria the perfect destination for a sun-filled beach holiday. This vibrant town is decorated with colorful Creole buildings dotted along the main street and beachfront road housing al fresco restaurants, shops, and live music bars. The town’s bustling pier is where fisherman gather and bring in their daily catch. This is where visitors can find cool cafes, beachside bars, and vibrant market stalls. 

Santa Maria is a hub for water sports with windsurfing and kitesurfing to name a few. It is the host of various cultural events including the annual Santa Maria Beach Music Festival. This beach lovers' paradise is popular with holidaymakers with its golden sand beaches and tranquil azure waters, Sal caters to many kinds of vacationers. Santa Maria is the main resort area set along the southern end of the island and offers endless opportunities for beachside fun with shops, restaurants, and bars to explore. The island also has a lot of history to absorb with its once-booming salt trade industry. 

Things to See and Do

Check out Buracona, or `Blue Eye` which is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. This natural swimming pool is made up of volcanic rock over the turquoise sea waters, during the summer months between 11 am and 1 pm daily, the light from the sun projects through the hole and it looks like a bright blue eye. 

Visit the beautiful fishing village of Palmeira, and take a stroll around the charming town filled with authentic cobblestone streets and decorated with colorful houses. This beautiful community is filled with friendly faces, it's the perfect place for a slow evening walk where you can stop into one of the local restaurants for a delicious dinner and check out the quaint authentic shops. On Sundays, there is live music playing and fun food stalls set up with a street party vibe. 

Visit Pedra de Lume, the most popular attraction on Sal Island, famous for its salt evaporation pools. The exploitation of the salt ponds began in the 18th century, an old extraction machine here dates back to 1805. The lunar-like crater measures over a mile in width where seawater transforms into salt beds. Visitors can walk around the crater and marvel at the pink waters, float on the surface of the medicinal saltwater pools (with salt content as high as the Dead Sea), and enjoy salt massages, scrubs, and mud treatments at the Salinas Relax spa. You can also enjoy the food at the on-site restaurant.

Alternatively, you can visit the salt ponds also known as Salinas de Santa Maria in Portuguese, the smaller of the two salt mines on the island. It is worth visiting Santa Maria when in Sal, as the town was founded mainly for the production of salt in 1830, production stopped in 1984. Nowadays it is a protected site and there is some small-scale production for the locals. 

Visit `Shark Bay` for a unique opportunity to see Lemon Sharks in their natural habitat. The bay is a feeding ground for the sharks, tourists can safely walk into the shallow waters to see them up close. Cape Verde is also the third most important nesting area in the world for loggerhead turtles. From May to October visitors may have an opportunity to see turtles nesting and laying their eggs, or baby turtles hatching.

Take a trip to Espargos, the commercial center and capital city of Sal. The charming streets of this downtown city are dotted with colorful houses, and narrowly winding alleyways with an old-worldy feel. Visit the quaint local shops, souvenir shops, and authentic restaurants.

Take a sailing tour of Santa Maria and soak up the spectacular scenic coastal views and a different perspective on the island of Sal. Enjoy a sunset from the boat’s deck with a cocktail in hand and listen to the soothing sounds of the waters.

Shopping

The islands are not quite a shopper's destination with most day-to-day items on land being imported and fairly expensive. It is best to find the local colorful market stalls to pick up some authentic items from your stay in Sal. Local markets are the place to find delicious fresh produce, cheese, jams, wine, and rum along with artwork, handicrafts, and wooden carvings.

Beaches

The island is best known for its stunning beaches and crystal clear warm waters that stretch for miles along the beautiful coastline. Beachgoers can choose from miles of fine white sand beaches and discover the laid-back island vibes with a relaxing place to sunbathe, go swimming, and partake in a number of water sports. 

Praia de Santa Maria is the main beach in Santa Maria, situated at the tip of Sal Island it is known for its renowned beauty and picturesque crescent-shaped bay. The long stretch of golden sand and the calming azure waters make it a popular place for beach lovers. There is an abundance of water sports and other beach activities found here. The pier at Santa Maria is brimming with local fishermen and their fresh catch of the day. A great variety of beachfront restaurants, beach bars, and local shops are here waiting to be explored. 

Dining

The main cuisine served on Sal Island is Creole and Portuguese specialties. However, places are serving international fare including pizza and pasta available in many Italian restaurants in Santa Maria. There is plenty of freshly caught fish and seafood around the island with delicacies including lobster, tuna, wahoo, and octopus available on menus. The national dish of Cape Verde is named `cachupa rica` a mixture of maize, beans, and sweet potato served with chicken, fish, or meat. `arroz de marisco` is a shellfish dish accompanied by rice. Buzio is a slow-cooked stew with mussels and soy sauce.

Cafes are in abundance on the island which also double as restaurants and bars. Pastries are dished up in bakeries all over the island and are made with Portuguese traditions. Bol de Cus-Cus is a tasty cake made from sugar and corn served warm with butter and cheese. Local jams (doce) are popularly made from local exotic fruits and served with delicious cheese and desserts.

Nightlife

Santa Maria nightlife can be found in beachside bars, restaurants, and taverns with the sounds of `morna` the music of the islands playing. The nightlife scene here breathes traditional music, and dance a combination of sounds of Africa combined with Latin instruments with a seductive beat, this is Creole music, the music of the islands.

Many of the options for nightlife in Santa Maria can be found within the hotels and resorts with dinners served alongside live music and other entertainment such as discos.

Santa Maria is a lively location on the island with plenty of lively vibrant tunes playing in local bars and beachfront bars and clubs where you can enjoy the locally produced Cape Verdian `Grogue` a strong alcoholic drink made from sugar cane with the locals.