Sal Island

GOLDEN BEACHES | WATER SPORTS | NIGHTLIFE

A real beach-lover's paradise, with long stretches of sand met by the turquoise ocean. 

Santa Maria Beach is a popular beach on the island of Sal, boasting a large bay stretching over a mile. Beautiful golden sands meet blue waters, that are perfect for a myriad of water sports or simply sitting back and enjoying the warm sunshine. The water is a lovely temperature all year round and the trade winds that come across Sal, make it great for sports such as kite and windsurfing and even sailing.

Santa Maria Beach is clean and well-maintained, with access from multiple hotels, as well as a promenade to take a relaxing stroll along. Beach beds and umbrellas are available to rent, or the long expanse of beach allows plenty of room to simply lay your towel out and enjoy the soft sand beneath you.

Hotels on Santa Maria Beach

Hotel Morabeza - 4.5-grade

A charming hotel with great service and direct access to the beach. This is a fantastic hotel for couples and families alike.

Second Pool, Hotel Morabeza, Sal, Cape Verde

Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort - 5-grade

With a beautiful pool and lots of great facilities, this exciting Hilton resort has everything you need for a beach holiday.

Hilton Cabo Verde Sal Resort

Robinson Cabo Verde - 4.5-grade

A brilliant adult-only resort, with a wide choice of activities, a watersports centre and lovely open access to Santa Maria Beach.

Beach Bar, Robinson Cabo Verde, Sal in Cape Verde

Walk from Santa Maria Pier to Ponta Preta

Starting from the pier, this walk is roughly 2.5 miles and allows you to witness local fisherman going about their day hauling in their catches and selling them on the pier. As you approach Ponta Sino you will notice some small sand dunes and the only lighthouse on Sal. Here you will find yourself on a lovely quiet stretch of beach to sit and enjoy a moment's peace. There is also a nature reserve here. As you continue walking along, you will finally reach Ponta Preta, home to one of the best surfing spots in the world, you may be able to spot some surfers out on the water before heading back to Santa Maria!

Beachside restaurants

There are several restaurants on the beachfront, allowing you to enjoy a delicious meal whilst soaking up the pretty views of Santa Maria Beach. You can find out more about them in our blog here.

Watersports

There are plenty of options for water sports enthusiasts on Santa Maria Beach. Whether you are looking to try kitesurfing, windsurfing, scuba diving, sailing or surfing. There are water sports centres on the beach, with friendly staff members on hand to help you. Read more about water sports in Cape Verde here.