Things to do in Santa Maria

No. 2 of Cool Water Escapes in Cape Verde

Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria Beach is located in the coastal town of Santa Maria on the southern tip of Sal, Cape Verde. With its fine, soft white sand and crystal-clear turquoise waters, the beach features warm temperatures year-round and gentle waves in the bay, making it a perfect spot for swimming. The steady sea breeze also makes this beach a hub for water sports like kitesurfing, windsurfing, and diving. Bars and restaurants line the beach, and the town center is just a short walk away. The old wooden pier, "Pontão," is a highly recognizable landmark of this beach. Originally built for loading salt, it has witnessed the town's transformation from a salt port into a resort town. Nowadays, in the late morning, small, colorful blue, red, and yellow fishing boats arrive one after another. Fishermen sell the day's catch, such as tuna, right by the pier, while pelicans wait nearby for fish scraps and local children dive into the sea from the pier—a lively scene of daily life in the town. If you want to watch, try visiting when the fishing boats return to port. In the evening, the Atlantic sunset framed with the pier and colorful fishing boats is a popular photo opportunity. This beach is seamlessly integrated with town life; whether watching fishing boats by day or the sunset in the evening, the pace is relaxed, making it worth setting aside half a day to spend here.

The Pier of Santa Maria

Located in Santa Maria, Sal, Cape Verde, The Pier of Santa Maria is a wooden pier extending into the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the area's most representative public spaces. Initially used primarily for unloading fish and docking small boats, it has evolved into an open space that blends daily life with tourism. In the early morning, fishermen return to port in colorful boats to sort and clean their daily catch right on the pier, creating a lively, temporary fish market where visitors can watch up close or even join in the trading. Over time, it has become one of Santa Maria's most vibrant social hubs, where locals, tourists, and water sports enthusiasts converge to create a unique space of cultural fusion. As one of the few public facilities on the island that serves both productive and touristic purposes, it preserves traditional fishing culture while reflecting the lifestyle changes brought about by Santa Maria's shift toward a tourism-based economy, serving as an important window into the coastal culture of Sal.

No Limits Adventure Cape Verde

Zipline Cabo Verde

Pachamama Eco Park - Botanical Garden

No. 4 of Cool Water Escapes in Cape Verde

Buracona - Blue Eye Cave

Buracona - Blue Eye Cave is a natural pool located on the west coast of Sal that reveals a stunning blue glow when sunlight hits the water, making it a beautiful spot for swimming and snorkeling.

Bikini Beach Club

Shell Cemetery Beach

Shark Bay

Dune of Sal