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Santa Maria is known for being the sunniest island of the Azores archipelago. This makes it a perfect destination for anyone looking for a quick getaway from your time in São Miguel or mainland Portugal. This 2-day Santa Maria, Azores itinerary will take you to the best sites to experience the culture and nature of the Azores’ sunniest island.
Santa Maria Itinerary Day 1: Vila do Porto and Cultural Exploration
Vila do Porto is the largest town in Santa Maria, so there is no better place to start your trip.
Breakfast at a local café
Start your day off with breakfast at a local café, such as Delta Stop 1 Café, or find a place near where you’re staying.
Vila do Porto
After grabbing breakfast, head down the main avenue towards the port to visit the São Brás Fort for a look at the old fortifications and a great view of the bay. Along the way, you can stop at one of the oldest churches in the Azores, dating back to the 15th century, Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Don’t forget to admire the architecture along the way that is reminiscent of the original settlers.
Anjos Village
After spending your morning in Vila do Porto, drive to Anjos Village on the island’s north side. While this may seem like any other village, it has a fascinating history. Christopher Colombus stopped here on his way back from the Americas and attended a mass at Ermida Nossa Senhora dos Anjos to pray. A statue has been placed near the church to commemorate his visit, which you can visit and take photos of. Another interesting spot just outside of town is the Furna De Santana, a natural cave just along the coast. You can find it along a walking trail at the end of the main road.
Lunch in Anjos
Find a nice place to grab lunch or a snack to get you through the rest of the day. Head over to Bar dos Anjos or Bar do Blues for lunch with a view of the sea.
Barreiro da Faneca
After lunch, drive to one of the more interesting sights on a tropical island: the Barreiro da Faneca, also known as the “Red Desert of the Azores.” This is one of the best things to do on Santa Maria because of its unique landscape. Take some time to hike around the area and enjoy the geological oddity of this desert.
Sunset at Pico Alto
After checking out the Red Desert, drive to the trailhead for Pico Alto and hike up to the top. Along the way, enjoy the beautiful nature that makes up the mountainside. From the summit viewpoint, you can take in the view of the island, and on a clear day, you can spot São Miguel off in the distance.
Dinner in Vila do Porto
When you’ve had your fill of exploring, head back to the car and return to Vila do Porto for dinner. Top options include Cantinho da Vila, mad, and A Travessa.
Santa Maria Itinerary Day 2: Eastern Santa Maria
On your second day, you’ll be heading across the island to check out the wonderful sights of the eastern side of Santa Maria, such as São Lourenço and the Maia area.
Praia Formosa
Grab some breakfast and coffee at a local café again. Then, you will begin your trek east across the island by stopping at Praia Formosa, the most popular and beautiful beach in Santa Maria. Depending on the weather, you can take a dip in the water and relax on the beach for a bit before moving on to your next stop. If you are up for a hike, just nearby is the Gruta do Figueiral, a grotto next to the water that can be accessed along a trail.
Maia
After enjoying some time on the beach, head over to the Maia area of the island. You can stop in Santo Espirito and check out the Muesu de Santa Maria on the way. Once you reach Maia, you can enjoy the view of the Vinhas da Maia on the way to visit the tallest waterfall in the Azores, the Cascata do Aveiro. Maia is also a great place to try some of the local wine with lunch, so it is definitely worth adding to your Santa Maria, Azores itinerary.
São Lourenço
When you’ve finished your time in Maia, you’ll drive up to São Lourenço to finish your day. On the way, stop at the Miradouro de São Lourenço to take in one of the most beautiful views on the island. São Lourenço is a small village with a lovely beach, but the main attraction is the sight of the village itself. With pastures and vineyards up the mountainside and the village below along a lovely beach, this is the perfect spot to enjoy the sunset and grab some dinner before returning to Vila do Porto.
While you can spend more than two days on the island, this Santa Maria, Azores itinerary will ensure you can see the best of the island in a short amount of time. You can use these recommendations to explore on your own with a rental car or explore with a local guide on a Santa Maria Island Full Day Tour.