Ranked by the OnlyBeaches Index (OBI) — a 1-10 score blending water purity, conditions, crowd levels and vibe. Updated every 30 minutes.
Bikini Beach
Recognized beach-club stretch near Santa Maria with strong user-search intent.
Calheta Funda
Compact coastal cove near Santa Maria with local hidden-beach value.
Kite Beach
One of Cape Verde’s best-known kitesurf beaches with strong international recognition.
Praia António Sousa
Quieter Santa Maria beach with calm water and strong local visitor value.
Praia de Igrejinha
Small Santa Maria beach area useful beyond the main tourist strip.
Praia de Ponta do Sinó
Long resort-backed beach forming the quieter western extension of Santa Maria.
Praia de Ponta Preta
Iconic wave beach near Santa Maria known for surf, wind, and sunsets.
Praia de Santa Maria
Sal’s flagship beach and the island’s most important visitor-facing coastline.
Santa Maria sits in Sal, Cape Verde and is home to 8 ranked beaches on OnlyBeaches. Every beach here is scored by the OnlyBeaches Index — a 1-10 metric blending water purity, live conditions (waves, water temperature, wind), crowd intelligence and vibe.
Whether you're after the highest-scoring beach in Santa Maria or a quieter hidden cove, the list above is refreshed every 30 minutes using live Stormglass and OpenWeather data.
