Travel Tips
Essential information for visiting the Azores
Surfing on Santa Maria: Praia Formosa in summer, Anjos in winter, and the São Lourenço paddle route
Santa Maria's two official surf spots face opposite coasts: Praia Formosa takes the summer swell from the south, Anjos the winter swell from the north. Tide, wind and level for each, how often the waves are clean, the stand-up paddle route under the São Lourenço cliffs, why there is no surf school on the island, and the SATA board limits (200 cm, 240 cm for a SUP) for flying one in.
The Fátima chapel on Santa Maria: 165 steps, São Pedro and Almagreira
On a hill at Feteiras, in São Pedro parish, a staircase of 165 steps, one for each Hail Mary of the rosary, climbs to a chapel blessed in 1928 that the Shrine of Fátima calls the first in the world dedicated to Our Lady of Fátima after the Chapel of the Apparitions. Around it: São Pedro's farm chapels, Almagreira's Bom Despacho church of 1702, the fort ruins and Santo Amaro chapel at Praia Formosa, the 2026 bus times and a half-day route.
Cycling on Santa Maria: the official road loop, the Pico Alto enduro trails and bike hire
The official Santa Maria road loop is 52.77 km with 1,244 m of climbing, from the Vila do Porto town hall past Praia Formosa, Malbusca, Santo Espírito, São Lourenço and the north coast. Plus the three short enduro descents off Pico Alto, why bikes are banned on the walking trails, SATA's bike rules in October 2026 and what you can hire on the island.
Where to stay on Santa Maria, Azores: hotels, campsite, houses
Without a car, stay in Vila do Porto: Hotel Colombo, Hotel Santa Maria or the youth hostel. With one, a Praia Formosa bungalow or a house in the east or north.
Ponta Delgada to Santa Maria in a day: flights and a route
Fly from Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) to Santa Maria at 06:30 and back in the evening for 12 hours on the island: 2026 flight times, fares, car hire and a route.
The Areia Branca walk on Santa Maria: PR06SMA from Praia Formosa over Pico Alto to São Lourenço
PR06SMA Areia Branca is the only official trail that crosses Santa Maria from coast to coast: 11.7 km one way, medium, about four and a half hours. It runs from the limestone sand of Praia Formosa past the ruined São João Batista fort, through the Almagreira woods to Pico Alto (587 m), through Santa Bárbara and down into the terraced vineyards of São Lourenço. No bus reaches the end, so here is how to do it with a car and a taxi, how to split it, and the trail alerts for October 2026.
Santa Maria by yacht: Vila do Porto marina, clearance, 2026 fees
Vila do Porto marina has 120 berths but no border post, so clear in at Ponta Delgada first. VHF, the way in, no anchoring, and the 2026 berth fees.
The Costa Norte walk on Santa Maria: PR01SMA from Bananeiras to Anjos
PR01SMA Costa Norte is Santa Maria's official north-coast trail: 8.4 km one way, medium, about four hours. It drops to the Baía do Raposo watermills, crosses the red clay of the Barreiro da Faneca with side paths to the Ponta do Pinheiro and Baía da Cré viewpoints, passes the Monte Gordo whale lookout and ends at Anjos. No bus reaches the start, so here is how to do it with a car and a taxi, plus trail alerts for 2026.
What to buy on Santa Maria: ear biscuits, woven blankets, wicker and island clay
Where to shop for Santa Maria's own products: the 1989 craft cooperative in Santo Espírito with its looms and biscuit kitchen (weekdays to 16:00, Saturday mornings, closed Sundays), hand-shaped ear biscuits that survive a suitcase, vinho de cheiro and the Céptico wine, island wool yarn, a wicker workshop by appointment, and pottery from island clay at a small studio in Vila do Porto.
Santa Bárbara on Santa Maria: the village loop, the Lurdes chapel and Poço da Pedreira
Santa Bárbara, the upland parish in Santa Maria's north-east, is the start of the 9.3 km PRC03SMA Entre a Serra e o Mar loop: a sea view over the Baía do Tagarete, the only Azorean chapel whose door faces north, a viewpoint over São Lourenço and the red Poço da Pedreira quarry. Route, the 1537 church, trail alerts and how to get there in 2026.
Santa Maria in winter: flights, weather and what stays open
Santa Maria from November to March: highs of 17 to 20 °C, December the wettest month, and sunset at about 17:29 on the shortest day. The 2026 summer boat was announced only until 1 October, so plan on flying and keep a spare day. The museum keeps winter hours and closes on Mondays, the Fontinhas forest park and the campsite close, and the buses stop on Sundays.
Santa Maria airport and the American years: the 1944 base, the airport cinema and the Quonset huts
American forces and Pan Am blasted Santa Maria's airport out of the island's flat west in 1944, with a 3,048 m runway and a whole town around it. What is left to see: the protected airport district with its eleven bairros, the 1944 Atlântida Cine reopened in 2022, the Quonset huts, and the oceanic control centre that runs 5.18 million km² of Atlantic sky.
Planning Your Trip?
Complete guides to events and travel on the island.