The Sunny Island
Santa Maria Island
Santa Maria is commonly referred to as the Sunny Island of the Azores, due to its geographically position is has a warmer weather than any other sister islands. Santa Maria island is a mere 20 minutes by plane from São Miguel, and 02 hours by ferry, being a perfect add-on to your trip to unveil the Azores. The volcanoes that first formed Santa Maria have had time to erode into pleasant rolling hills with green pastures, yellow crops or dark ochre soils, endless combinations of colorful flowers, white-washed houses by secluded bays and dramatic sea cliffs.
Santa Maria is the oldest island of the archipelago, the first Portuguese settlers arrived in 1439 to the village of Anjos. Coincidentally in 1493, Christopher Columbus stopped at the same village on his return expedition from the New World. According to the legend, the explorer attended a mass at Chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Anjos. Nowadays, this historical village is a must-see and a starting point to unveil the island. The inland is an oasis of incredible natural settings, starting with the island “red dessert”, Barreiro da Faneca, fascinates visitors with its undulating, smooth surface and reddish colors or the majestic landscape at Poço da Pedreira, a former quarry where nature gave man a hand, creating a small pond backdropped by steep red rock walls, topped with verdant flora. However, among the most impressive volcanic shapes on the island is Ribeira de Maloás, featuring a beautiful river valley and an impressive waterfall of nearly 20m high, resulting from the contact of a lava flow with the Ocean. The coast of Santa Maria will mesmerize you with extensive stretches of fine white sand and crystal clear waters; at the end of a warm day, nothing will give you more pleasure than take a dip at the famous Formosa beach.
The island has an abundance of hiking trails, ideal for all levels of experience, topped with an array of fascinating natural and colorful sites. If you’re a hiker it’s an amazing way to explore the island’s essence... Yet, if you wish to have more adrenaline, it’s possible to unveil these trails on top of a mountain bike.