Santa Maria, Sal, Cape Verde: Beach, Pier, Activities and Where to Stay

Santa Maria is the small seaside town on the island of Sal, at the very south, at the end of a long stretch of pale sand. This is where the hotels, restaurants, diving schools and excursion departures are concentrated, which makes it the obvious base for a first trip to Cape Verde.

It suits those who want sea, sun and ease. It suits less those looking for authentic villages and hiking trails: for that, Sal is only a first stop.

At a glance

• Santa Maria lies on the south coast of Sal, about 16 km from the international airport and 20 km from Espargos, the island’s capital.
• Santa Maria beach is the town’s main beach; the pier, where fishermen land their catch late in the afternoon, is its living heart.
• In January and February, average temperatures are 25 °C by day and 19 °C at night, with very little rain; the sea is around 23 °C in January.
• There is no regular public transport: you get around by taxi, aluguer (shared taxi), rental car or organised excursion.
• Loggerhead turtles nest from June to October; they can only be watched with a guide.
• French citizens are exempt from a visa for up to 30 days, but online registration via EASE is mandatory before departure.
• Sal can be explored in three or four days; beyond that, the neighbouring island of Boa Vista or the northern islands offer a completely different landscape.

Where Santa Maria is and how to get there

Santa Maria occupies the southern tip of the island. Amílcar Cabral Airport, the busiest in the country, is at Espargos, in the centre: a two-lane road links it to the resort, and the drive to your room is short. The simplest option is to arrange your transfer in advance with your hotel or agency.

To combine Sal with another island, the airline CVsky connects Sal with Boa Vista and São Vicente. It is the only carrier for domestic flights, while Cabo Verde Airlines focuses on international flights. If your trip covers several islands, have the local agency build your multi-island itinerary rather than juggling the timetables alone.

The beach and the pier, the heart of the town

Santa Maria beach stretches in golden sand at the foot of the town, with turquoise water ideal for swimming and a pleasant promenade at sunset. It is lined with hotels, beach bars and restaurants, so you never have to walk far to find a drink of water or some shade.

The pier dates from the salt era: the town was founded in 1830 to exploit it, and a small railway brought cargo to the landing point at Vera Cruz headland. Today, this is where fishermen come back in the late afternoon and where locals gather to chat. Go then, before dinner.

Swimming still calls for caution: currents and waves can be strong along the Cape Verdean coast. Follow the advice of your hotel, swim where there are other people, and keep a safe distance from rocks when the swell is high.

What to do in Santa Maria and on the island

A day on the beach is restorative, but most travellers end up wanting to get moving. Here are the outings worth the trip, almost all within an hour’s drive.

The salt pans are more than just scenery: they are part of the island’s two salt-basin sites, along with Pedra de Lume. The latter is the most spectacular, as the basins lie in the crater of an extinct volcano, and the water is so salty that you float effortlessly.

Buracona is reached by a coastal dirt track, about 6 km past Palmeira. Never go down there in heavy swell. The well at Olho Azul, very close by, is a hole filled by the sea and reached through a tunnel; around midday the light gives the water its blue colour. Most day excursions combine these stops, sometimes with a stop at the municipal market in Santa Maria.

For this circuit, ordinary taxis are not suitable because they do not drive on the tracks; excursions generally use pick-up trucks such as the Toyota Hilux, whose rear seats are exposed to wind and dust. Bring a scarf and water. To book a full day, request an excursion quote from the local agency.

Underwater, some fifteen dive sites surround Santa Maria, among wrecks, caves and reefs; our guide to diving in Cape Verde details the best spots. All the island’s activities are summarised on our page things to do on Sal.

Turtles: a summer rendezvous

Cape Verde is the only major nesting site for loggerhead turtles on the eastern rim of the Atlantic, and Sal is one of the islands they come to. Nesting takes place from June to October. Observation happens at night, with an accredited guide, in silence and without white light. This framework protects the females, and kitesurfers, for their part, leave Kite Beach to the turtles during this period.

If your stay falls within this window, it is an experience worth having. Outside it, there is nothing to see: better not to book a “turtle” outing in winter. To include turtle watching in your stay, book a guided turtle outing through the partner agency.

Where to stay in Santa Maria: three profiles, three choices

The south and south-west coast is home to the large hotel-clubs; the resort itself adds small hotels and apartment residences. The Morabeza, opened in 1967 and the first holiday hotel in Cape Verde, holds a special place in the town’s history. Rather than comparing names, here is how to decide.

A resort takes care of the logistics but isolates you from the town; a hotel in the centre gives you the restaurants and the pier, but means choosing where to eat every evening. There is no bad choice, only a pace to decide on. To compare accommodation within your budget, ask the local agency for a selection of hotels in Santa Maria.

Getting around without a car

With no regular buses, you have three options: taxi, rental car and aluguer. These shared taxis run on a fixed route between Santa Maria and Espargos from sunrise to sunset, which makes it cheap to reach the capital and its market.

The main roads are paved and in good condition, whereas the tracks require a 4×4, especially after rain. Local driving is often fairly undisciplined, so drive calmly. Within the resort, everything is reachable on foot.

Safety, currency and formalities

Sal can be visited safely with the usual precautions. Petty crime exists in the tourist areas of the country, in Praia and Mindelo as well as on the busiest beaches of Sal and Boa Vista. Keep your passport and documents in a safe place, avoid carrying large amounts of cash and jewellery, and do not walk alone at night on a deserted beach.

As for paperwork, French citizens do not need a visa for a stay of up to 30 days. However, online registration via EASE, on the portal ease.gov.cv, remains mandatory, and this is when you pay the airport security tax of 3,400 CVE (about 31 €). In practice, pay it a few days before departure and keep the confirmation on your phone. The local currency is the escudo: cards are rarely accepted in small shops, so withdraw some cash (see money and exchange in Cape Verde).

And after Santa Maria?

If you have a week, spend three or four days on Sal, then change scenery. Boa Vista, its neighbour, shares the same dunes and beaches; our page things to do on Boa Vista will help you compare. For a complete overview of the islands, read what to visit in Cape Verde, or our selection of the most beautiful beaches in Cape Verde.

With only one island on the schedule, Santa Maria is more than enough. With one more island, you gain the mountains and the culture that Sal does not have.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• Santa Maria (Cape Verde), Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Sal (Cape Verde), Wikipedia, NOAA climate data 1991-2020 (accessed 2026-11)
• Amílcar Cabral International Airport, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Pedra de Lume, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Santa Maria salt pans, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Espargos, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Palmeira (Cape Verde), Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Loggerhead sea turtle, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Tourism in Cape Verde, Wikipedia (accessed 2026-11)
• Sal Island, Cabo Verde Airports (VINCI Airports) (accessed 2026-11)
• Sal, Lonely Planet (accessed 2026-11)
• CVsky, new inter-island routes, The Traveler (accessed 2026-11)
• General safety in Cabo Verde, Belgian Diplomacy (accessed 2026-11)
• Transport in Cabo Verde, Belgian Diplomacy (accessed 2026-11)
• Practical information for Cabo Verde (visa, EASE, tax), Belgian Diplomacy (accessed 2026-11)

Written by Adilson Gomes Garcia

Founder of Casa di CV and Gomia-Voyage, I was born in Santiago and I am committed to showcasing African territories, starting with Cape Verde. Through my platforms, I help travelers and curious minds better understand these destinations, their cultures and their realities, so they can plan authentic and respectful trips. My goal: to offer a clear, local and useful perspective for discovering Africa as it really is, with its riches and its identity.