Santa Maria Travel Guide

 
by helenp57
 
  •   Nightlife
    by helenp57
  •   Santa Maria
    by AndreasK
  • Kids
      Kids
    by AndreasK
  •   Things to Do
    by AndreasK
  • Kite
      Kite
    by AndreasK
 

Explore Santa Maria

Things to Do  

Walk along the beaches.

Walk along the beaches., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  You are here beacause of the good weather and the beaches. So, use the soft sand and the good weather. Take off your shoes and walk in the sand and enjoy when the sun goes down. Relax. 

Sante Maria Not ready for tourists

Sante Maria Not ready for tourists, Santa Maria

 beechwood1 Says:  My opinion is that Sal, Sante Maria is not ready for tourists yet, trips are expensive and a waste of money. Around the Island there is nothing to see really.Only good thing was the weather 

Hotels  

Riu Garopa

 1025 Opinions

Riu Funana

 921 Opinions

Restaurants  

Quarium.: Relax with a drink at the beach.

Quarium.: Relax with a drink at the beach., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:

Surf 'n' Snack Shack: Wraps & smoothies to die for!!

Surf 'n' Snack Shack: Wraps & smoothies to die for!!, Santa Maria

 trace2011 Says:  Situated right in front of the beach in Santa Maria, next to the hotel Leme Bedje, this snack bar serves not only snacks but daily specials including local Cape Verdean cuisine or international.Relaxing atmosphere with great service and a cheery smile, it was nice to chill... 

Nightlife  

Blu bar: Live Music and cocktails

Blu bar: Live Music and cocktails, Santa Maria

 helenp57 Says:  We had some great nights here if you love live music and want to get a feel for the music of Cape Verde this is the place to come but it's very popular so get there early. Music starts around 10pm and there is a great vibe and a real mix of ages and nationalities - it was... 

Chill Out.: Drink some cold beers in the evening...

Chill Out.: Drink some cold beers in the evening..., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  It is a bar and I dont know if they play any live music here. But most of all the people hang out here and then they continue to any night club. What you want. 

Pirata.: Dance all night here.

Pirata.: Dance all night here., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:   Casual for the men and for girls so little as possible...LOL It doesnt matter what kind of clothes you have here, but I guess you would prefer to wear soft and not warm clothes. 

Shopping  

In many shops.: Paintings.

In many shops.: Paintings., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:

African wood animals.

African wood animals., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  The most of the shops sell similiar things and everbody will give you a special price. You can buy many kind of wood figures, like faces and animals. Most f the things come from the mail land. No of these things are made by locals from Cabo Verde. It is up to you what you... 

Various Shops: Not Much to buy

Various Shops: Not Much to buy, Santa Maria

 beechwood1 Says:  Various t shirt shops all expensive 20Euros or 50 for a sweatshirt not worth the bother.Mainly Senegalese with the usual beads and bags you will need to barter and various other overpriced rubbish.You will need to fend off the people as they walk along asking you to come to... 

Local Customs  

The beach gym.

The beach gym., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  Join the locals and exercise here on this gym. I regret that I did not do that. It could have open doors for me and I could maybe started to talk with the locals. It is free and you get a tan at the same time. And also it is good to exercise, instead of drinking cold beers... 

Warnings Or Dangers  

Tourists pay more in Pirata.

Tourists pay more in Pirata., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  Well, when you go to pirata and other kind of night clubs here in Santa Maria the tourists pay another entrance fee and the drinks are much more expensive, compare if you live there or are a local. Much more. Try to avoid that and lie, and say that you work hereere with... 

Prostitutes in Pirata.

Prostitutes in Pirata., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  If you go to the dancing place Pirata, you have to know that first of all that most of the domestic girls there are looking for your money. You do what you want of course, but I would not recommend it. You never know what deseases you can get from them. 

Expensive internet shop.

Expensive internet shop., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  There are many other cheaper internet places. Here you pay 1 euro every 15 min. Too expensive. The name is IPNET in Santa Maria. 

Tourist Traps  

Hard Selling

Hard Selling, Santa Maria

 beechwood1 Says:  If you venture out into town onto jetty or the path along side the beach, Two guys one scottish accent one wigan accent will torment you to fill in a survey or something else they can concoct to get you to go look at apartments or virtual apartments as a lot of them have not... 

Off The Beaten Path  

The local bars...

The local bars..., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  Well, this is one of the local bars I visited and I met the locals. I liked that and the prices are much better. Here you meet the real inhabitants. Dont be shy and try to talk to them. Now Santa Maria is a city with many tourists, but if you travel to another island, just... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Watch the football players at the beach.

Watch the football players at the beach., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  Well, many of the young kids play footbal on the beach and it can be nice to see. It is of course not grass fields, but the football become more interesting in the sand. They just play for fun and everybody can join them I think. I never did. I prefered to sit and watch with... 

Kite surfer in Santa Maria

Kite surfer in Santa Maria, Santa Maria

 AndreasK Says:  Preparing for the next ride 

Favorites  

A bar and and internet café.

A bar and and internet café., Santa Maria

 Dizzyhead Says:  Go to Muff and there you have cheap internet and cheap beers. He can also fix some food for you. Just drink here and you will save money. Maybe it is very small, but I just met one tourist here. It is a place for local people. perfect place to interact with the local people. 

Sante Maria at night

Sante Maria at night, Santa Maria

 beechwood1 Says:  If you are with company then it appears ok to walk around the town you don't need a taxi unless you are off the beaten track. I walked around with my wife at night you get the odd boy begging and the usual shop vendors approaching, just keep your bag close. The Carnival Day... 

The Place

Plan a Santa Maria vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Santa Maria locals

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The People

 
Our Members Say
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 The beach of Santa Maria is gorgeous 

 

Questions and Answers

wendyeliz profile photo

Q:  do you need to take malaria tablets before visiting cape verde 

croatia2006 profile photo

A: Hello, I visited Cape Verde few years ago and did not eat malaria tablets. Here in Finland the doctor did not have any recommendation for it (there is only small risk... 

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Top 2 Santa Maria Writers

1

In Santa Maria for Christmas

AndreasK profile photo

 Like almost every Christmas, I escaped from the cold weather in Europe and went south - this time to Cape Verde in West Africa. The first week we spent in Santa Maria (an appropriate name for a Xmas... 

2

Pics from Santa Maria.

Dizzyhead profile photo

 I found this map on a wall in Santa Maria and I liked the picture, so I wanted to show you all here at VT it also. 

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