Santa Maria is the Azores’ outlier: a sun-baked island of white sand beaches, a red clay desert, and 15th-century churches that mark the archipelago’s first settlement. It is smaller and quieter than São Miguel or Pico, but for those who discover it, the combination of the Azores’ best beach and a landscape found nowhere else in the archipelago is quietly addictive. Here are the best things to do in Santa Maria.
Things to Do in Santa Maria: Beaches and Coast
Praia Formosa
The best sandy beach in the Azores: a 700-metre crescent of pale golden sand in a sheltered bay on the south coast, with calm, clear water that warms to 24°C (75°F) in late summer. Praia Formosa has lifeguards in July and August, a beach bar, showers, and parking. The bay is protected from Atlantic swells, making it safe for swimming and popular with families. During the Mare de Agosto festival (mid-August), the beach becomes a concert venue with a stage set up on the sand. Arrive early in August to secure a good spot; the beach gets busy by Azorean standards (hundreds, not thousands). Sun loungers and umbrellas are available for rent in summer.
Baía de São Lourenço
A smaller, crescent-shaped bay on the north coast, framed by vineyards terraced down to the water. The natural swimming pool here is filled by the tide and protected from waves. A small snack bar operates in summer. The viewpoint above the bay (Miradouro de São Lourenço) is one of the best photo spots on the island. The bay is reached by a steep winding road from Santa Bárbara; the drive down is part of the experience.
Things to Do in Santa Maria: Unique Landscapes
Barreiro da Faneca (Red Desert)
Perhaps the most unexpected landscape in the Azores: a rust-red, semi-arid expanse of clay and sandstone on the island’s western plateau, reminiscent of the American Southwest or parts of Australia. The 2 km² area is the result of volcanic ash weathering into iron-rich clay. There are no marked trails: you walk across the open terrain. The contrast between the red earth and the green pastures surrounding it is surreal. Visit in late afternoon when the low sun intensifies the red tones. No facilities on site; bring water. Accessed via a dirt track from the EN1-2A road; a normal car handles it fine in dry weather.
Poço da Pedreira
An abandoned basalt quarry east of Vila do Porto that has filled with rainwater to create a still, mirror-like pool surrounded by vertical stone walls. It is free to visit and open year-round. The water is cold and deep; swimming is at your own risk with no lifeguard. Photographers come for the reflections in the still water. Accessed by a short dirt track from the main road; a 5-minute walk from the parking area.
Things to Do in Santa Maria: Culture and History
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Assunção
The main church of Vila do Porto, dating to the 15th century and built on the site of the original chapel from the island’s settlement in 1432. The interior features 17th-century azulejo tiles and a carved wooden ceiling. The church is open daily during daylight hours; entry is free. Mass is held on Sunday mornings. The square in front has views over the valley to the sea.
Forte de São Brás
A 16th-century coastal fort at the entrance to Vila do Porto harbour, built to defend against pirates and now housing a small museum. The fort’s ramparts provide views along the south coast. The museum covers Santa Maria’s history from settlement through the whaling era and the strategic role of the airport in 20th-century transatlantic aviation. Open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm; entry €2.
