Santa Maria Beach, Sal
Praia de Santa Maria
A white-sand beach stretching for several kilometres at the southern tip of Sal, with clear blue water. It is Cape Verde's most popular beach resort and a world-class kitesurfing spot.
Santa Maria is a small town at the southern tip of Sal. It was a salt-trading port in the 19th century and is now the most developed tourism destination in Cape Verde. The beach in front of the town is about 8 km long, with soft white sand and clear water. On the east side are all-inclusive resort hotels. On the west side, near the town centre, is the wooden jetty known as the Pontão, which is the local landmark. Around midday, fishermen unload tuna and grouper onto the jetty, cutting and selling the fish on the spot, and the scene is very lively. Because of the strong trade winds year-round, this is a world-renowned kitesurfing and windsurfing destination. Kite Beach, west of town (around Praia da Fragata), has many schools, and beginners can sign up for lessons. Other activities include snorkeling, diving, shark watching (lemon sharks in the shallows), semi-submersible boat trips and beach buggy tours. You can explore the whole town on foot, and restaurants and bars often have live music at night. The airport is about 20 minutes away by car. Some areas have strong waves and currents, so pay attention to warning flags. The sun is intense, so use sunscreen.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Santa Maria Pier (Pontão)
- Santa Maria Salt Pans
- Ponta Preta
- Kite Beach (Costa da Fragata)
- Serra Negra Nature Reserve
- Murdeira Bay
- Monte Leão (Lion Mountain)
- Shark Bay (Baía da Parda)