Santa Maria island

This golden island sprawls out under the sun, with crystal-clear waters and soft white sugar beaches that add a serene aura to the picturesque setting.

With a rich heritage and myriad attractions, if you are looking for peace, privacy and adventure, this is the perfect place to enjoy a laid-back time.

About Santa Maria island

Santa Maria is also called the Yellow island, or island of the sun thanks to its geographic position and climate. With only about 5.600 inhabitants in a total area of 97km2, it is the third smallest island of the archipelago. It is not too far away from the biggest island: Sao Miguel. That allows you to be able to visit two islands is a short time.

As the island is small it is possible to visit most of it in a few days. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy the sun, lying down on white sand beaches, this is definitely the place you want to go. Santa Maria is mostly characterised by the green of its mountains, the yellow of its beaches and the blue of the ocean as far as the eye can see.

Santa Maria’s melons

They are the most juicy, sweet and fresh you can taste. The island’s soils, climate and production methods are responsible for the quality of this special fruit.

Red Desert

A must-see geological phenomenon, Barreiro da Faneca is an extension of ash rich in iron with reddish soil, known as the “red desert of the Azores”.

Marine Fossils

Here it is possible to observe fossils of various marine species. Santa Maria is the only island in the archipelago with sedimentary soils.

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Geography

Santa Maria is the closest island to São Miguel, which is the biggest island of the archipelago. They are only about 80km away, which corresponds to 3 hours by boat and about 15 minutes by plane. Note that the boat only works during the summertime, but planes fly all year long. The two islands form the Oriental group of the Azores.

Santa Maria is the southernmost and easternmost island of all. Due to its geographic position, the climate is quite different. Also called the Yellow island, Santa Maria is the most tropical island, offering sunnier weather all the year.

The island is about 16km horizontally and 9km vertically. The highest point of the island is Pico Alto, at 587m above sea level.

Economy

The islanders cultivate plants that allow dyeing textiles, the most famous one is Isatis Tinctoria, releasing a strong blue color when used to dye. Another source of wealth is wheat, which has always been a significant part of our alimentation. Also, the extraction of clay was very important for the local economy. It was used for dishes and tiles. The 18th and 19th centuries were marked by the wine, wheat, corn, fruits, potatoes and yams economy, along with livestock and dairy products. About whaling, it arrived in Santa Maria in 1896.

For a long time, and still today, many handicrafts are made in Santa Maria Island. From pottery to linen towels and shirts or woolen sweaters, the local artisans are helped by the Handicraft Cooperation of Santa Maria. Nowadays, services are a strong source of wealth in Santa Maria, followed by agriculture and fishing.

History

Santa Maria was the first island of the Azores to be discovered by Portuguese explorers between 1427 and 1431. It was in 1439 that they began to populate the island with people from Algarve and Alentejo. Vila do Porto was the first ever place to be recognized as a village in the archipelago.

In 1493, on his way back to the great discovery of America, Christopher Columbus stopped by Santa Maria. Then, in the next two centuries, many loots took place, by English, French and Arab corsairs. In 1616, Santa Maria will be occupied by the Moorish for a week. They would come back in 1675 and take locals as prisoners to then sell them as slaves.

The 20th century brought the construction of the airport. Santa Maria would be then considered a major strategic point by the United States for World War II.

Nature & Geology

Each island of the archipelago is special. Santa Maria has incredible landscapes, including white sand beaches and a red desert! Santa Maria is the oldest island, in terms of geology. Indeed, it elevated from the sea about 6 million years ago. It is the only island with sedimentary rocks where you can see the different levels of the sea as well as diverse marine fossils like whale bones, shells, algae or shark teeth. Those are exposed at the Environmental Interpretation center of Dalberto Pombo.

It is the warmest and driest island of the Azores, with lower rainfall levels. There is then greater aridity of the land and the vegetation is yellowish. For that reason, it is also called the island of the sun. The beaches here are very famous, with crystal clear waters and located in heavenly bays. One of them, Baía de São Lourenço, was classified as Nature Reserve in 1987.

WHY VISIT SANTA MARIA ISLAND

Historical and cultural heritage

The typical houses of popular architecture in Santa Maria are very different from the other islands.

Unique White Sand Beaches

This is the only island of the Azores with white sand. A real tropical atmosphere.

Heavenly natural pools

You can find a variety of pools around the island to enjoy the warm temperatures.

Tours Santa Maria island in Azores

Top Sights in Santa Maria island

Santo Espírito

Vila do Porto

Things you must see in Santa Maria island

Anjos

A nice little village by the sea with a small fishing harbour and a natural pool, what to want more? The Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos is a must visit, a place charged with history as the one and only Christopher Columbus was here.

Barreiro da Faneca

Finding yourself alone in the Red desert of the Azores is something to do. This arid area rich in clay that was covered with ancient basaltic lava flow, creating an intense red color.

Cascata do Aveiro

An imposing waterfall of 110 meters high, that is Cascata do Aveiro. Feel the greatness of Mother Nature around you. It is in Maia, on the Southeast coast, that you will find this hidden gem.

Forte de São Brás

When in Vila do Porto, you need to take a walk though this ancient fort, built in the end of the 16th century with the goal to defend the island against attacks by pirates. It is open for visits and you can even see artillery pieces inside.

Maia

In-between the green mountains and the blue ocean, Maia has it all. The lighthouse is an interesting visit and the viewpoint near it offers stunning views. There is a great feeling of tranquility in the charming natural pool.

Pico Alto

It is the highest mountain of Santa Maria, standing tall at 590m above the sea level. From the top, observe the Yellow island in its entirety and even Sao Miguel on sunny days.

Poço da Pedreira

The little pond Poço da Pedreira, surrounded by the massive wall of Pico Vermelho, deserves a visit. It is located in Santa Bárbara parish. You can see it both from the top and from the bottom, by the lake.

Praia Formosa

Get tanned on a heavenly white sand beach with clear shallow waters at the perfect temperature for a swim. It is among the clearest beaches of the Azores. This is where Maré de Agosto festival is playing international music every year.

Ribeira do Maloás

This is a very peculiar waterfall surrounded by basaltic columns about 15 to 20m high, extending for 220m. It is quite similar to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. This is for sure a place of geological interest not to be missed.

São Lourenço Natural Pools

The beach and natural pools of São Lourenço are one of the most famous landscapes around the island. The natural beauty of this place can be observed from the viewpoint up the hill.

Azores Adventures – Futurismo

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