Santa Maria (Azores)

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

Understand

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

By plane

• 1 Aeroporto de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Airport, SMA  ^IATA). Azores Airlines flies from Lisbon (LIS ^IATA) and SATA Air Açores flies from Ponta Delgada (PDL ^IATA). (updated Mar 2021)

Get around

• Transportes de Santa Maria (TSM), ☏ +351 296 882 115, tsm@bensaude.pt. TSM offers several bus routes around the island. (updated Jun 2021)

See

• 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

• 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.  

Eat

• 1 Espaço Em Cena, Lugar Mãe de Deus 12 (EN 1-2A), ☏ +351 961 809 446. Tu–Sa 16:00–00:00, closed Su M. A mix of "new" Portuguese cuisine and traditional dishes in a casual yet elegant environment. Mid-range. (updated Jun 2021)
• 2 Mesa d'Oito, Rua Teófilo de Braga 31, Vila do Porto (in Charming Blue Hotel), ☏ +351 296 882 083, info@charmingblue.com. Tu–Su 19:00–23:00, closed M. Mid-range. (updated Jun 2021)
• 3 Ponta Negra Restaurante e Bar de Praia, São Lourenço - Santa Bárbara, Vila do Porto, ☏ +351 296 098 148, pontanegra.rest.saolourenco@gmail.com. Th–Sa 11:30–22:00, Su 11:30–17:00, closed M–W. Restaurant and bar on the bay. €5-50. (updated Jun 2021)

Sleep

• 1 Hotel Colombo, Rua Cruz Teixeira, Vila do Porto, ☏ +351 296 820 200, santamaria@colombo-hotel.com. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 11:00. Four-star, 87-room hotel with swimming pool, Turkish bath, bar, banquet room, and conference facilities. €41-96. (updated Jun 2021)
• Ilha a Pé, ☏ +351 964 474 768, info@ilhaape.com. Hut rental around the Great Route. 
• 2 Hotel Santa Maria, Rua da Horta, Vila do Porto, ☏ +351 296 820 660, reservas@hotel-santamaria.pt. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Four-star, 50-room hotel with two swimming pools, bar, a large garden, and an onsite restaurant, Insula. €67-89. (updated Jun 2021)