island in the Azores, Portugal
Europe > Iberia > Portugal > Azores > Santa Maria (Azores)

Santa Maria is an island in Portugal's Azores (Açores) archipelago.

Understand edit

 
An aerial view.

Santa Maria (SUHN-tuh muh-REE-uh, /ˈsɐ̃.tɐ mɐˈɾi.ɐ/) island has 5,552 residents (2011) in its single municipality of Vila do Porto (VEE-luh doo POHR-too, /ˈvi.ɫɐ du ˈpoɾ.tu/), which is divided into five freguesias (civil parishes):

  • 1 Almagreira  
  • 2 Santa Bárbara  
  • 3 Santo Espírito  
  • 4 São Pedro  
  • 5 Vila do Porto  

Get in edit

By plane edit

Get around edit

 
Map of Santa Maria (Azores)

See edit

  • 1 Aveiro waterfall. Highest waterfall of Portugal  
  • 2 Water cascade of Maloás (Ribeira do Maloas). A few waterfalls (~20m high) surrounded by 200m of basaltic columns.  
  • 3 Raposo bay waterfall (Cascata da Baía do Raposo).  
  • 4 Viewpoint of São Lourenço. A must-see viewpoint of the bay, come for sunrise views. Also the bay itself is worth a visit.
  • 5 Gruta do Figueiral. A small volcanic - shaped cave of erosion, located in the cliff.  
  • 6 Barreiro da Faneca. A superficial area of arid and clay terrain, resembling a desert, created by the most recent volcanism    
  • 7 Poço da Pedreira. An old quarry - a big rocky wall coupled with a water basin.
  • 8 Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse. Only open on certain days or after appointment.  
  • 9 São Brás fort (Forte de São Brás). 17th-century maritime fort.    

Do edit

  • GR1SMA Great Route of Santa Maria. An 80 km (50 mi), 5-day trek around the island with huts for sleeping-over along the path.  

Buy edit

Eat edit

Drink edit

Sleep edit

Connect edit

Go next edit

This rural area travel guide to Santa Maria is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.