Santa Maria is located at the southern tip of the island, and can be reached by taking a beautiful asphalt road through a desert dotted with a few dunes, acacias and stunted palm trees bent by the wind. On either side of the road, you can see the omnipresent sea, the island's main attraction. Today, Santa Maria beach is home to the largest tourist infrastructure in the archipelago. The beach, 8 km long, is simply sublime, bathed by the warm waves of a sea that is sometimes turquoise, sometimes emerald. Add to this an exquisitely mild climate and pure, healthy air, devoid of the slightest trace of pollution. Along with Boa Vista and Maio, it's the perfect place to bask in the sun, perfect your tan and get rid of all the technology. It's true that when you arrive in Santa Maria, the view can be unsettling: cranes, hotels sprouting up like mushrooms, the entrance to the town looks like a building site. You have to venture out into the village streets to appreciate the real charm of this place. With the development of tourism, the island of Sal has become a preferred destination for sun-seeking tourists from northern Europe, as well as for surfers, encouraging the emergence of numerous hotel complexes, souvenir stores and specialized surfing boutiques. Although the World Windsurfing Championship has not been held here since 2009, the strength of the wind on some well-oriented beaches attracts surfing and kitesurfing enthusiasts from all over the world. Water sports enthusiasts will find ideal conditions here to indulge their passion. Santa Maria was founded in 1830 for the salt trade. The wooden jetty (rebuilt in 2007) was originally built to load salt onto ships bound for Brazil, an activity that suddenly ceased in 1887. In the lively village, the people are friendly, the Afro-Creole atmosphere relaxed and the old colonial-style houses in pastel colors blend cheerfully with the new villas facing the sea. The pontoon serves as a meeting point, and not just for fishermen; part of the beach next to it doubles as a beach soccer field. Strolling around Santa Maria, especially at the end of the day, is very pleasant indeed; don't hesitate to take the stroll a little further towards the salt flats, about 1.5 km to the northeast. The beaches in this area are beautiful, wild and rarely visited.

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Pictures and images Santa Maria

Groupe de musique dans les rues de Santa Maria. arrowsg
Plage de Santa Maria. Sam74100 - iStockphoto
Rue colorée du centre ville. Camille ESMIEU
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