{"id":1311693,"date":"2026-10-23T09:58:16","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T09:58:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/?page_id=1311693"},"modified":"2026-10-23T16:32:25","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T16:32:25","slug":"santa-maria","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/blog\/africa\/cape-verde\/santa-maria\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Maria"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":1311694,"parent":1310615,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"hw-hub-city","meta":{"footnotes":"","hw_hub_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_hero_image":"","hw_hub_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_why_title":"","hw_hub_why_body":"","hw_hub_why_link_label":"","hw_hub_why_link_url":"","hw_hub_why_cards":"","hw_hub_stats":"","hw_hub_countries_title":"","hw_hub_countries_intro":"","hw_hub_featured":"","hw_hub_regions":"","hw_hub_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_hostels":"","hw_hub_when_title":"","hw_hub_when_intro":"","hw_hub_seasons":"","hw_hub_costs_title":"","hw_hub_costs_body":"","hw_hub_cost_rows":"","hw_hub_cost_note":"","hw_hub_money_reads":"","hw_hub_rail_title":"","hw_hub_rail_body":"","hw_hub_rail_link_label":"","hw_hub_rail_link_url":"","hw_hub_rail_image":"","hw_hub_routes":"","hw_hub_events_title":"","hw_hub_events_intro":"","hw_hub_events_source":"","hw_hub_events_continent":"","hw_hub_events_count":"","hw_hub_events_cache":"","hw_hub_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_events":"","hw_hub_events_pills":"","hw_hub_reads_intro":"","hw_hub_article_rows":"","hw_hub_show_read_time":"","hw_hub_all_title":"","hw_hub_all_body":"","hw_hub_all_cta":"","hw_hub_trips_title":"","hw_hub_trips_note":"","hw_hub_trips":"","hw_hub_faq_title":"","hw_hub_faq_note":"","hw_hub_faqs":"","hw_hub_cta_title":"","hw_hub_cta_body":"","hw_hub_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_hub_term":"","hw_hub_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_country_hero_eyebrow":"","hw_hub_country_hero_h1":"","hw_hub_country_hero_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hero_image":"","hw_hub_country_hero_overlay":"","hw_hub_country_hero_cta":"","hw_hub_country_stats":"","hw_hub_country_intro_title":"","hw_hub_country_intro_body":"","hw_hub_country_facts":"","hw_hub_country_cities_title":"","hw_hub_country_cities_intro":"","hw_hub_country_cities_live":"","hw_hub_country_cities":"","hw_hub_country_trips_title":"","hw_hub_country_trips_intro":"","hw_hub_country_trip_types":"","hw_hub_country_do_title":"","hw_hub_country_do_body":"","hw_hub_country_do_points":"","hw_hub_country_do_tag":"","hw_hub_country_do_more":"","hw_hub_country_food_title":"","hw_hub_country_food_body":"","hw_hub_country_food_points":"","hw_hub_country_food_tag":"","hw_hub_country_food_more":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_title":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_body":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_points":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_tag":"","hw_hub_country_nightlife_more":"","hw_hub_country_transport_title":"","hw_hub_country_transport_body":"","hw_hub_country_transport_points":"","hw_hub_country_transport_tag":"","hw_hub_country_transport_more":"","hw_hub_country_money_title":"","hw_hub_country_money_body":"","hw_hub_country_money_points":"","hw_hub_country_money_tag":"","hw_hub_country_money_more":"","hw_hub_country_safety_title":"","hw_hub_country_safety_body":"","hw_hub_country_safety_points":"","hw_hub_country_safety_tag":"","hw_hub_country_safety_more":"","hw_hub_country_entry_title":"","hw_hub_country_entry_body":"","hw_hub_country_entry_points":"","hw_hub_country_entry_tag":"","hw_hub_country_entry_more":"","hw_hub_country_season_title":"","hw_hub_country_season_intro":"","hw_hub_country_season_note":"","hw_hub_country_season_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_title":"","hw_hub_country_budget_intro":"","hw_hub_country_budget_note":"","hw_hub_country_budget_rows":"","hw_hub_country_budget_currency":"","hw_hub_country_events_title":"","hw_hub_country_events_intro":"","hw_hub_country_events_source":"","hw_hub_country_events_country":"","hw_hub_country_events_count":"","hw_hub_country_events_cache":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_events_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_events":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_title":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_intro":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_label":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cta_url":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_source":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_type":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_location_id":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_currency":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_count":"","hw_hub_country_hostels_cache":"","hw_hub_country_hostels":"","hw_hub_country_team_title":"","hw_hub_country_team_intro":"","hw_hub_country_team":"","hw_hub_country_faq_title":"","hw_hub_country_faq_note":"","hw_hub_country_faqs":"","hw_hub_country_cta_title":"","hw_hub_country_cta_body":"","hw_hub_country_cta_buttons":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_title":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_body":"","hw_hub_country_newsletter_shortcode":"","hw_hub_country_hub_term":"","hw_hub_country_parent_hub":"","hw_hub_country_scope_rows":"","hw_hub_city_hero_eyebrow":"Cape Verde city guide","hw_hub_city_hero_h1":"Santa Maria Travel Guide","hw_hub_city_hero_intro":"Santa Maria is the beach town at the southern tip of Sal, with miles of white sand, turquoise water and steady trade winds that make it one of the world's best places to kitesurf. Float in the salt crater at Pedra de Lume, wade with lemon sharks at Shark Bay and watch the fishermen land tuna on the old pier.","hw_hub_city_hero_image":"1311694","hw_hub_city_hero_overlay":"medium","hw_hub_city_hero_cta":"Where to stay | #areas\r\nWhat it costs | #budget","hw_hub_city_live_stats":"1","hw_hub_city_stats":"About 15 km | From the airport\r\nNov\u2013May | Best kitesurf winds\r\nVery little | Rain all year","hw_hub_city_intro_title":"Santa Maria at a glance","hw_hub_city_intro_body":"Sal is one of Cape Verde's flat, dry eastern islands, and its international airport makes it the main arrival point for most visitors. Santa Maria, on its southern tip, is the island's beach town and the centre of its tourism.\r\n\r\nThe town has a small, walkable centre of pastel houses, caf\u00e9s and shops, and a wooden pier where fishermen land tuna, wahoo and other fish every day, cleaned and sold right there. Along the coast either side are big resort hotels and a long, wide beach of white sand and turquoise water.\r\n\r\nSal's landscape is stark: flat, rocky desert with a few volcanic hills. Its name comes from the salt that was once mined here, and the old salt pans of Pedra de Lume, in a volcanic crater, are now a place to float in the super-salty water.\r\n\r\nThe island is famous for wind and water sports. Kite Beach and Ponta Preta, near Santa Maria, attract kitesurfers and windsurfers from around the world, especially from November to May.\r\n\r\nSanta Maria is more expensive and more touristy than the rest of Cape Verde, but it's also easy, safe and sunny, with good beach bars and seafood.\r\n\r\nThree to four nights is enough for the beach, a kitesurfing lesson and a tour of the island, before flying on to S\u00e3o Vicente or Santiago.","hw_hub_city_facts":"Airport transfer | About 15 km; taxi or aluguer\r\nGetting around | Walk; aluguers and blue-and-yellow taxis\r\nTransport app | None\r\nCurrency | Escudo; euros widely accepted\r\nTap water | Drink bottled water\r\nTipping | About 10% in restaurants\r\nLanguage | Kriolu and Portuguese; English widely spoken\r\nHow long to stay | Three to four nights\r\nBest area to stay | The town centre\r\nSea | Swim at lifeguarded beaches","hw_hub_city_areas_title":"Where to stay in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_areas_intro":"Stay in the town centre for guesthouses, restaurants and the pier, or near Kite Beach for kitesurfing. Espargos, the island's main town, is near the airport and cheaper.","hw_hub_city_areas_map":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_zoom":"11","hw_hub_city_hostels_pins":"1","hw_hub_city_areas_live":"1","hw_hub_city_areas":"Town centre | Guesthouses and the pier | Pastel streets, restaurants, bars and the fishing pier. | 16.598 | -22.905 |  | \nKite Beach | Kitesurfing | Windy beach east of town with kitesurf schools. | 16.615 | -22.885 |  | \nPonta Preta | Wave riding | Famous wave spot west of town. | 16.595 | -22.93 |  | \nEspargos | Cheaper stays and the airport | The island's capital, near the airport. | 16.755 | -22.946 |  | ","hw_hub_city_itin_title":"","hw_hub_city_itin_intro":"","hw_hub_city_itin":"","hw_hub_city_do_title":"Beaches, kitesurf and the salt crater","hw_hub_city_do_body":"The beach is the main attraction: a long stretch of white sand with calm, clear water on the town side and bigger waves further along. Watch the flags, as currents can be strong.\r\n\r\nThe pier in the centre of town is where fishermen land tuna, wahoo and other fish every morning and afternoon, cleaning them on the spot. It's lively and a great place to watch.\r\n\r\nKitesurfing and windsurfing are world class. Kite Beach, east of town, has steady side-shore winds, and Ponta Preta, to the west, is famous for wave riding. Schools offer lessons and equipment hire for beginners and experts. The best wind is from about November to May.\r\n\r\nPedra de Lume, in the north-east of the island, is an old salt mine in a volcanic crater, where you can float effortlessly in the salt lake. There's an entry fee.\r\n\r\nShark Bay, on the east coast, lets you wade in shallow water among young lemon sharks.\r\n\r\nBuracona, on the west coast, has natural rock pools and the Blue Eye, a cave pool that lights up bright blue when the sun shines in, around midday.\r\n\r\nEspargos, the island's capital, has a viewpoint over the island and a local market.\r\n\r\nDiving and snorkelling are possible, with wrecks and reefs off the coast.","hw_hub_city_do_points":"Santa Maria beach | Long white sand\r\nThe pier | Fishermen landing tuna\r\nKitesurfing | Kite Beach and Ponta Preta\r\nPedra de Lume | Float in a salt crater\r\nShark Bay | Wade with lemon sharks\r\nBuracona Blue Eye | Best around midday","hw_hub_city_do_tag":"things-to-do","hw_hub_city_do_more":"All things to do in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_free_title":"Santa Maria for free (or nearly)","hw_hub_city_free_body":"The beach is public and free, and you can walk along it for miles.\r\n\r\nWatch the fishermen land and clean their catch on the pier, especially in the late morning.\r\n\r\nWatch the kitesurfers at Kite Beach and Ponta Preta.\r\n\r\nWander the colourful streets of the town centre.\r\n\r\nWatch the sunset from the pier or the beach.\r\n\r\nUse aluguers rather than tours to reach Espargos and the rest of the island cheaply.","hw_hub_city_free_points":"The beach | Public and free\r\nPier | Watch the catch come in\r\nKite watching | At Kite Beach\r\nTown centre | Colourful streets\r\nSunset | From the pier","hw_hub_city_free_tag":"free","hw_hub_city_free_more":"All free things to do in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_food_title":"Fresh tuna, cachupa and beach bars","hw_hub_city_food_body":"Fresh fish is the highlight in Santa Maria. Tuna, wahoo and other fish come straight from the pier and are grilled in the restaurants and beach bars. Some places will cook fish you've bought on the pier.\r\n\r\nCachupa, the national stew of maize and beans, is served in local caf\u00e9s, and cachupa refogada makes a filling breakfast.\r\n\r\nPast\u00e9is, fried pastries filled with tuna, and Portuguese-style pastries are cheap snacks.\r\n\r\nRestaurants in the centre serve everything from Cape Verdean dishes to pizza and international food, with meals around \u20ac10 to \u20ac20. Local caf\u00e9s away from the beach are cheaper.\r\n\r\nGrogue and pontche are the local spirits, and Strela the local beer. Drink bottled water.","hw_hub_city_food_points":"Fresh tuna | From the pier\r\nCachupa | At local caf\u00e9s\r\nPast\u00e9is | Tuna pastries\r\nBeach restaurant | About \u20ac10\u201320\r\nGrogue | Local rum\r\nBeer | Strela","hw_hub_city_food_tag":"food","hw_hub_city_food_more":"All food guides for Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_nightlife_title":"Beach bars and live music","hw_hub_city_nightlife_body":"Santa Maria has the liveliest tourist nightlife in Cape Verde. Beach bars, cocktail bars and a few clubs line the centre, busiest in the high season.\r\n\r\nMany restaurants and bars have live Cape Verdean music, including morna and funan\u00e1, in the evenings.\r\n\r\nSunset drinks on the pier or the beach are a ritual.\r\n\r\nUse authorised taxis at night, and avoid unlit beaches and isolated areas after dark.","hw_hub_city_nightlife_points":"Beach bars | Busy in high season\r\nLive music | Morna and funan\u00e1\r\nSunset drinks | On the pier\r\nAt night | Authorised taxis","hw_hub_city_nightlife_tag":"nightlife","hw_hub_city_nightlife_more":"All nightlife in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_transport_title":"Getting to and around Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_transport_body":"Am\u00edlcar Cabral International Airport is near Espargos, about 15 km north of Santa Maria, with flights from Europe and inter-island flights to S\u00e3o Vicente, Santiago and Boa Vista. Taxis to Santa Maria are quick and easy, and aluguers run along the main road.\r\n\r\nAluguers, shared minibuses, run between Santa Maria and Espargos throughout the day, cheap and cash only.\r\n\r\nIn town, everything is walkable. Use authorised taxis, which on Sal are blue and yellow.\r\n\r\nTo see the island, join a tour or hire a car, scooter or quad. Helmets are required on scooters and quads, and medical facilities are basic, so take care.\r\n\r\nInter-island flights with Bestfly link Sal to S\u00e3o Vicente (for Mindelo and Santo Ant\u00e3o) and Santiago. Book ahead, as they can sell out.","hw_hub_city_transport_points":"Airport | About 15 km north\r\nAluguers | To Espargos, cash only\r\nTaxis | Blue and yellow\r\nIsland tours | Or hire a car\r\nFlights | To S\u00e3o Vicente and Santiago","hw_hub_city_transport_tag":"transport","hw_hub_city_transport_more":"All transport guides for Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_money_title":"What Santa Maria costs","hw_hub_city_money_body":"Santa Maria is the most expensive place in Cape Verde for travellers. Hostelworld has no listings in Santa Maria right now, so budget travellers stay in guesthouses and apartments in the town centre or in Espargos.\r\n\r\nMeals at local caf\u00e9s cost a few euros, and restaurants on the beach around \u20ac10 to \u20ac20.\r\n\r\nKitesurfing lessons and island tours are the big costs. Pedra de Lume has an entry fee.\r\n\r\nAluguers to Espargos are cheap, and taxis from the airport cost more.\r\n\r\nEuros are widely accepted, and ATMs are common.\r\n\r\nOn a budget, allow around \u20ac50 to \u20ac70 a day.","hw_hub_city_money_points":"Hostels | None on Hostelworld\r\nLocal caf\u00e9 meal | A few euros\r\nBeach restaurant | About \u20ac10\u201320\r\nPedra de Lume | Entry fee\r\nEuros | Widely accepted\r\nATMs | Common","hw_hub_city_money_tag":"budget","hw_hub_city_money_more":"All budget guides for Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_safety_title":"Staying safe in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_safety_body":"Santa Maria is generally safe, but the UK says pickpocketing, bag-snatching and muggings occur on Sal. Use hotel safes, keep belongings in sight and avoid unlit or isolated areas and beaches with limited visibility after dark.\r\n\r\nThe sea has very strong currents and undertow. Swim only at beaches with a lifeguard, and follow the flags: red means no entry, yellow means wade but don't swim, and green means safe to swim.\r\n\r\nKitesurf and windsurf with a reputable school, and check your insurance covers water sports.\r\n\r\nUse authorised blue and yellow taxis. Quad biking is risky, and helmets are required.\r\n\r\nSaharan dust storms can disrupt flights between December and February.","hw_hub_city_safety_points":"Petty crime | Pickpockets and bag-snatching\r\nBeaches | Avoid isolated spots at night\r\nSea | Strong currents; follow flags\r\nWater sports | Reputable schools\r\nQuads | Helmets required\r\nDust storms | December to February","hw_hub_city_safety_tag":"safety","hw_hub_city_safety_more":"All safety guides for Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_trips_title":"Day trips from Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_trips_intro":"Sal is small, so you can see the whole island in a day by tour, car or aluguer.","hw_hub_city_trips":"Pedra de Lume | About 30 minutes | Tour, taxi or car | Float in the salt lake inside a volcanic crater. |  | \nShark Bay | About 20 minutes | Tour or car | Wade among young lemon sharks in shallow water. |  | \nBuracona and the Blue Eye | About 40 minutes | Tour or car | Rock pools and a cave pool that glows blue around midday. |  | \nEspargos | About 20 minutes | Aluguer | The island's capital, with a viewpoint and market. |  | ","hw_hub_city_trips_tag":"day-trips","hw_hub_city_trips_more":"All day trips from Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_season_title":"When to go to Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_season_intro":"Santa Maria is warm and sunny all year, with highs of 25\u00b0C to 30\u00b0C and very little rain. November to May has the strongest winds for kitesurfing. August to October is hottest, with calmer seas.","hw_hub_city_season_note":"Average daily highs from weather2travel's Santa Maria climate data. Crowd levels are our rough guide; European winter holidays are busiest.","hw_hub_city_season_rows":"January | 25 | 5 | Windy; kitesurf season\r\nFebruary | 25 | 5 | Windy; Carnival\r\nMarch | 25 | 4 | Windy\r\nApril | 25 | 4 | Easter\r\nMay | 26 | 3 | Winds easing\r\nJune | 27 | 3 | Calm and sunny\r\nJuly | 27 | 3 | Turtle season begins\r\nAugust | 29 | 4 | Hot; turtles\r\nSeptember | 30 | 3 | Hottest; some rain\r\nOctober | 29 | 3 | Warm; calm seas\r\nNovember | 28 | 4 | Winds return\r\nDecember | 26 | 5 | Holidays; windy","hw_hub_city_events_title":"What's on in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_events_intro":"Santa Maria's calendar follows the kitesurf season, Carnival and national holidays.","hw_hub_city_events_source":"api","hw_hub_city_events_count":"8","hw_hub_city_events_cache":"24","hw_hub_city_events_cta_label":"All events in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_events_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/events\/africa\/cape-verde\/santa-maria\/","hw_hub_city_events":"Carnival | February or March | Santa Maria and Espargos | Parades and parties, smaller than Mindelo's. |  | \nIndependence Day | 5 July | Nationwide | Public holiday. |  | \nTurtle nesting season | About July to October | Sal beaches | Loggerhead turtles nest; join a guided, responsible tour. |  | \nKitesurf season | About November to May | Kite Beach and Ponta Preta | Strongest trade winds. |  | ","hw_hub_city_budget_title":"How much does Santa Maria cost per day?","hw_hub_city_budget_intro":"Pick a style and a number of nights for a rough total, per person, in euros.","hw_hub_city_budget_note":"Estimates in euros, converted from escudos. Sleeping is based on guesthouse prices, since Hostelworld has no listings here; doing excludes kitesurf courses.","hw_hub_city_budget_rows":"Shoestring | 30 | 12 | 6 | 8\r\nMiddle of the road | 50 | 25 | 12 | 20\r\nComfortable | 100 | 40 | 25 | 40","hw_hub_city_budget_currency":"\u20ac","hw_hub_city_hostels_title":"Hostels in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_hostels_intro":"Hostelworld has no listings in Santa Maria right now. Budget travellers stay in guesthouses and apartments in the town centre.","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_label":"All hostels in Santa Maria","hw_hub_city_hostels_cta_url":"https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/cape-verde\/santa-maria\/","hw_hub_city_hostels_source":"manual","hw_hub_city_hostels_count":"12","hw_hub_city_hostels_cache":"12","hw_hub_city_picks":"Best for solo travellers |  |  | \nBest for a party |  |  | \nQuietest |  |  | ","hw_hub_city_hostels":"","hw_hub_city_team_title":"","hw_hub_city_team_intro":"","hw_hub_city_team":"","hw_hub_city_faq_title":"Santa Maria FAQs","hw_hub_city_faq_note":"Prices and timetables change. Check before you travel.","hw_hub_city_faqs":"Is Santa Maria good for kitesurfing? | Yes, it's one of the world's best spots. Kite Beach suits learners and freestyle, and Ponta Preta is famous for waves. The best winds are from about November to May.\r\nWhat is there to do in Santa Maria apart from the beach? | Float in the salt crater at Pedra de Lume, wade with lemon sharks at Shark Bay, visit the Blue Eye at Buracona and watch the fishermen at the pier.\r\nAre there hostels in Santa Maria? | Hostelworld has no listings right now. Guesthouses and apartments in the centre are the budget option.\r\nIs Santa Maria expensive? | It's the most expensive place in Cape Verde for travellers. Budget around \u20ac50 to \u20ac70 a day.\r\nIs it safe to swim in Santa Maria? | Only at lifeguarded beaches, following the flags, as currents can be very strong.\r\nHow do I get from Sal to Mindelo? | By inter-island flight with Bestfly to S\u00e3o Vicente. Book ahead.\r\nHow many days do you need in Santa Maria? | Three to four nights for the beach, a kitesurf lesson and an island tour.","hw_hub_city_cta_title":"Say yes to hostels, meet the world","hw_hub_city_cta_body":"Compare Santa Maria hostels: live prices, real reviews and free cancellation on most bookings. Then meet the people already there in the app.","hw_hub_city_cta_buttons":"Find a hostel in Cape Verde | https:\/\/www.hostelworld.com\/hostels\/africa\/cape-verde\/\r\nGet the app | https:\/\/hostelworld.onelink.me\/IdiK\/f5a50nhd","hw_hub_city_newsletter_title":"Get the good stuff monthly","hw_hub_city_newsletter_body":"New city guides, deals and route ideas. No 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