Praia de Santa Maria
Praia de Santa Maria
4.5
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Top ways to experience Praia de Santa Maria and nearby attractions
The area
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Best nearby
Restaurants
129 within 3 miles
Attractions
14 within 6 miles
See what travelers are saying
- Kerttu Y10 contributionsNice beachThe beach and view were beautiful and there was plenty of space to hangout and sunbathe. There were a lot of locals selling all kinds of beautiful stuff and trips but they will leave you alone if you just politely say no thanks. The weather was amazingVisited February 2024Traveled with friendsWritten February 27, 2024
- Chris_KOKoblenz, Germany3,579 contributionsBeautiful beach with lots of windVery nice, long sandy beach with everything you need for a day of vacation. Sun loungers and parasols can be rented cheaply, and there are also numerous bars and restaurants. The only thing that bothers you is the constant strong wind.Visited March 2024Traveled soloWritten March 17, 2024
- Kiko BrazaoManchester, United Kingdom246 contributionsSimply the bestWe have been around the world, but Santa Maria will forever be in our hearts, one of the best places we ever visited and went back 3 times already, there's nothing else I can say! EXCELENTE, the most friendly people we ever met, delicious and fresh food, stunning sandy beaches...No Stress is the moto on the island and you can find it written all over the place including on their National football team shirt. Simple the bestVisited September 2023Traveled as a coupleWritten June 8, 2024
- Andy MLondon, United Kingdom2 contributionsCape Verde Scam...I know youSomebody has already made this a title but I would like to reiterate with some additional info. The scam is young men come up to you and say they have seen you at your hotel and they work there. They are on their day off...yada yada. They know the name of your hotel and so you accept this....they've checked your wristband. Lesson 1. Cover your wristband! The will feed you some plausible story and engage in a conversation in a friendly tone whilst walking. Lesson 2 your being led ...don't be, walk away! You'll be taken to the family stall where you could buy local (Chinese) toot. Time to get out ASAP before things get nasty! Be warned ⚠️Visited July 2024Traveled as a coupleWritten July 17, 2024
- ndw78Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom2,928 contributionsStunning beachAbsolutely stunning beach with turquoise warm water you can swim in. Make sure you look at the warning flags and if only swim where the stronger waves are where the lifeguards are as there are strong currents in some places but in others and plenty places there’s beautiful calm water. Have a walk along the shore or promenade and it leads you to the pier where you can jump off in to the turquoise water with localsVisited July 2024Traveled with familyWritten August 2, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
4,061 reviews
Excellent
2,509
Very good
1,176
Average
278
Poor
71
Terrible
27
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Claudia R
1 contribution
Nov 2023 • Friends
The beach is really beautiful, but you need to be careful about the scams. The first day that we were in Santa Maria we were approached by a “tour guide” called Humberto who offered us a tour of the island for one of the next days, we decided to book the tour and he asked for some money in advance (60€ for 2 people). The next days we met him a couple of times on the beach and in the roads of Santa Maria and he still confirmed the trip. On the day of the trip he never showed up, we tried to call him and wrote him some texts that he never replied to.
Written November 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Andy M
London, UK2 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Somebody has already made this a title but I would like to reiterate with some additional info. The scam is young men come up to you and say they have seen you at your hotel and they work there. They are on their day off...yada yada. They know the name of your hotel and so you accept this....they've checked your wristband. Lesson 1. Cover your wristband! The will feed you some plausible story and engage in a conversation in a friendly tone whilst walking. Lesson 2 your being led ...don't be, walk away! You'll be taken to the family stall where you could buy local (Chinese) toot. Time to get out ASAP before things get nasty! Be warned ⚠️
Written July 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SpaldingUKTraveller
Bourne, UK193 contributions
Oct 2021
Absolutely beautiful and very clean beach. We had only yellow and red flags during our stay which was'nt great for the youngest members of our family but we all visited the beach several times and really enjoyed our stay. I also enjoyed horse riding on the beach from the hotel and was lucky enough to experience turtles hatching from an unprotected nest as the sun dipped on the horizon.
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TS22
Cardiff, UK58 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
It seems a conveyor belt of taxi to men in football shirts where you are dropped off right next too.
Be aware. African Senegalese men, lads etc are in football tops keen to speak and welcome you. They show you a few places to go introducing the best bits saying not to spend money on such stores because they are not from the area and money does not go back into the economy.
They lead you to their markets forcing sales upon you where they cannot take no for an answer.
Please: ignore these people, be polite and say not thanks we can find our own way around not interested.
The issues will be people will see past their foolishness and claims where tourists will not visit and then they will not have money to live. Let tourists be and where they wanting to spend they will do so without duress or stress. No stress remember.
Also be advised there are African men walking paths looking at your personal artefacts seeking opportunities. Whilst it is not dangerous it purely isn’t comfortable and is sad for the locals who are being taken over by bullish travellers.
Be aware. African Senegalese men, lads etc are in football tops keen to speak and welcome you. They show you a few places to go introducing the best bits saying not to spend money on such stores because they are not from the area and money does not go back into the economy.
They lead you to their markets forcing sales upon you where they cannot take no for an answer.
Please: ignore these people, be polite and say not thanks we can find our own way around not interested.
The issues will be people will see past their foolishness and claims where tourists will not visit and then they will not have money to live. Let tourists be and where they wanting to spend they will do so without duress or stress. No stress remember.
Also be advised there are African men walking paths looking at your personal artefacts seeking opportunities. Whilst it is not dangerous it purely isn’t comfortable and is sad for the locals who are being taken over by bullish travellers.
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Passport32503255560
1 contribution
Jun 2024 • Couples
Very beautiful beach with white sand, turquoise sea color, calm waters. The water temperature is not warm as they said, but rather cold, but you can dive. I give this assessment because it is almost impossible to rest because of the constant Senegalese vendors, some of them very insistent and invasive. They start by asking where we are from, they sit next to us and they don't accept a "no" the first time. This happens repeatedly and makes it impossible to relax. Even if we are sleeping, they wake us up... Maybe that's why the times we went to this beach, it was practically empty... I think they should take action in this regard, as it gives the tourist destination a bad image. I've been to other countries (Morocco, Dominican Republic, Cuba) and I've never seen such harassment of tourists.
Written June 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris_KO
Koblenz, Germany3,579 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Very nice, long sandy beach with everything you need for a day of vacation. Sun loungers and parasols can be rented cheaply, and there are also numerous bars and restaurants. The only thing that bothers you is the constant strong wind.
Written March 17, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Verónica D
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Couples
The island and the beach are amazing, we would repeat without hesitation. We leave this review to warn about Umberto Sousa a “very friendly” gentleman who sells you excursions on the beach. Their strategy is to sell you several, in our case two and show up at the first, ask you for the remaining money and after you've been nice and gain your trust keep the money and not show up. We were left without seeing the spawning of the turtles and without the possibility of going another day, and keeping the 40 euros of this last excursion. I leave attached photo of his face, the data he gave us and other opinions about him that we have found
Automatically translated
Written September 10, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bianca C
London, UK27 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
Easy spot for any traveller, locals are very friendly and easy going.
Strolling along the beach so easy no stress.
Unfortunately some traders from other countries are pushy. Watch out for those who say they are from your hotel they have seen you, they probably recognise your hotel wristband.
Strolling along the beach so easy no stress.
Unfortunately some traders from other countries are pushy. Watch out for those who say they are from your hotel they have seen you, they probably recognise your hotel wristband.
Written January 27, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kerttu Y
10 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The beach and view were beautiful and there was plenty of space to hangout and sunbathe. There were a lot of locals selling all kinds of beautiful stuff and trips but they will leave you alone if you just politely say no thanks.
The weather was amazing
The weather was amazing
Written February 27, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ndw78
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK2,928 contributions
Jul 2024 • Family
Absolutely stunning beach with turquoise warm water you can swim in. Make sure you look at the warning flags and if only swim where the stronger waves are where the lifeguards are as there are strong currents in some places but in others and plenty places there’s beautiful calm water. Have a walk along the shore or promenade and it leads you to the pier where you can jump off in to the turquoise water with locals
Written August 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
que otras playas recominedas para ir? y alojamiento para ir en pareja de relax pero con cosas a mano para ver?
Written June 17, 2024
Ciao a tutti .. Quanto costano un ombrellone e un lettino? È fattibile anche comprare un ombrellone in qualche negozio?
Written April 21, 2024
Ciao, ho bisogno di aiuto: cerco resort con mare calmo e acqua non profonda, che resort e spiaggia mi consigli quale isola di Capoverde? Grazie davvero intanto
Written March 1, 2024
Come si arriva alla spiaggia delle conchiglie?
Written June 23, 2022
Se siete giovani e di Gamba buona in 10 minuti ci arrivate a piedi diversamente si possono Noleggiare biciclette motorini e chi più ne ha più ne metta ne vale la pena andateci Ciao da Primark
Written June 24, 2022
Posso noleggiare lettini con paravento? Grazie!
Written January 5, 2020
Sì, se non ricordo male ce ne erano diversi! Ma noi siamo stati sempre sdraiati per terra :)
Mi avevano detto di stare attenta perché potevamo trovare anche forte vento, in realtà sono state tutte giornate molto piacevoli e calme!
Written February 29, 2020
Hay barcos para poder ir a pescar? Queremos hace un viaje de pesca pero no sabemos si llevarlo cerrado desde España o buscarlo una vez allí. Graciaaas
Written March 25, 2019
There are many suppliers of deep-sea fishing locally. Ask your concierge at the hotel or directly in the port of Santa Maria.
Written March 30, 2019
Hi we are coming on the 26th march to 3rd april will we need a cardigan for the evenings, is the wind cold or warm please
Written March 19, 2019
Hi, I was there in January and I understand that the weather is practically the same all year round. I only needed a thin cardigan when we had dinner by the sea, because it was quite windy at the restaurant, otherwise it was wonderful weather.
Written July 30, 2019
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