Santa Maria Beach

The principal resort town on Sal island, situated on the southern coast approximately 16 kilometres from Amilcar Cabral International Airport. The town fronts a 2-kilometre crescent of golden sand with calm, shallow turquoise water naturally sheltered from Atlantic swell by the bay's orientation. Santa Maria developed from a small salt-trading settlement into Cape Verde's main beach destination and retains its original fishing pier, where local vessels still land their daily catch alongside the tourist infrastructure.