Santa Maria (Azores) - island in the Azores, Portugal

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

Understand

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):

• Almagreira
• Santa Bárbara
• Santo Espírito
• São Pedro
• Vila do Porto

Get in

By plane

• Aeroporto de Santa Maria (Santa Maria Airport, IATA: SMA), 36.9714°, -25.1706°. Azores Airlines flies from Lisbon (IATA: LIS) and SATA Air Açores flies from Ponta Delgada (IATA: PDL). 2021-03-10

Get around

• Transportes de Santa Maria (TSM), +351 296 882 115, tsm@bensaude.pt. TSM offers several bus routes around the island. 2021-06-26

See

• Aveiro waterfall. Highest waterfall of Portugal

• Water cascade of Maloás (Ribeira do Maloas), 36.931194°, -25.064333°. A few waterfalls (~20m high) surrounded by 200m of basaltic columns.

• Raposo bay waterfall (Cascata da Baía do Raposo).

• Viewpoint of São Lourenço, 36.9824265°, -25.0479426°. A must-see viewpoint of the bay, come for sunrise views. Also the bay itself is worth a visit.

• Gruta do Figueiral. A small volcanic - shaped cave of erosion, located in the cliff.

• Barreiro da Faneca. A superficial area of arid and clay terrain, resembling a desert, created by the most recent volcanism

• Poço da Pedreira, 36.9815020°, -25.0602500°. An old quarry - a big rocky wall coupled with a water basin.

• Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse. Only open on certain days or after appointment.

• São Brás fort (Forte de São Brás). 17th-century maritime fort.

Do

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

Buy

Eat

• Espaço Em Cena, Lugar Mãe de Deus 12 (EN 1-2A), 36.9616°, -25.1325°, +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 2021-06-26
• Mesa d'Oito, Rua Teófilo de Braga 31, Vila do Porto (in Charming Blue Hotel), 36.951°, -25.1436°, +351 296 882 083, info@charmingblue.com. Tu–Su 19:00–23:00, closed M. Mid-range 2021-06-26
• Ponta Negra Restaurante e Bar de Praia, São Lourenço - Santa Bárbara, Vila do Porto, 36.9875°, -25.0545°, +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 2021-06-26

Drink

Sleep

• Hotel Colombo, Rua Cruz Teixeira, Vila do Porto, 36.9699°, -25.1355°, +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 2021-06-26
• Ilha a Pé, NA°, NA°, +351 964 474 768, info@ilhaape.com. Hut rental around the Great Route.
• Hotel Santa Maria, Rua da Horta, Vila do Porto, 36.9737°, -25.15721°, +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 2021-06-26

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