Santa Maria Salt Pans
Salinas de Santa Maria
Old salt pans just north of Santa Maria, a reminder of the island's 19th-century salt boom. They are now wetlands where waterbirds feed.
Sal takes its name from salt. In the 19th century, Portuguese settlers developed salt pans at Santa Maria, and large quantities of sea salt were loaded onto ships from a wooden jetty, which helped the town grow. The salt works have since stopped production, but north of town you can still see extensive grids of rectangular basins and their embankments. When they fill with water, they attract herons and wading birds, and the evening sky reflected in the pools makes for beautiful photos. Entry is free. The salt pans are a 10- to 15-minute walk from the town centre. The ground is soft, so after rain, avoid stepping into the basins.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Santa Maria Beach, Sal
- Santa Maria Pier (Pontão)
- Kite Beach (Costa da Fragata)
- Ponta Preta
- Serra Negra Nature Reserve
- Murdeira Bay
- Monte Leão (Lion Mountain)
- Shark Bay (Baía da Parda)