Flights to Santa Maria (SMA)

Direct flights from Lisbon (LIS) to Santa Maria (SMA) take approximately two hours.

Santa Maria Airport is small and easy to get around, and is located on the eastern side of the island. Most accommodation can be reached within 15–20 minutes by car or taxi.

Santa Maria has the driest and sunniest climate in the Azores archipelago, making it a year-round destination. Even so, the island presents clear contrasts: the southern coast is more sheltered, warmer and drier, while the north is greener and windier.

For beach holidays, the peak season runs from July to September, with water temperatures between 22–24 °C and long, sunny days. Spring (April–June) is ideal for hiking and whale watching, with fewer tourists and greener landscapes. Winter is mild, rarely below 14 °C, although the northern part of the island tends to be rainier.

Santa Maria is one of the best locations in the Azores for whale watching. The deep waters surrounding the island are home to sperm whales all year round, and depending on the season, it is also possible to encounter blue whales and several dolphin species.

The peak whale-watching season runs from March to October. Local operators organise excursions on small vessels departing from Vila do Porto, and the island’s location at the southern end of the archipelago places it in an area rich in marine life.

Geologically, Santa Maria is the oldest island in the Azores, formed around eight million years ago, compared with approximately 250,000 years for the island of Flores. This gives the island distinctive characteristics: erosion over millions of years created the only sandy beaches in the Azores, with Praia Formosa being the best known.

It is also the driest island in the archipelago, with a microclimate closer to the Canary Islands than to the lush green landscapes typically associated with the Azores. The island is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and its fossil-rich limestone cliffs are of major scientific importance.

The Bay of São Lourenço is considered one of the most beautiful bays in the Azores. Located on the northeastern coast, it is a protected natural area with clear turquoise waters, cliffs and a beach nestled between two headlands formed from volcanic rock.

It is a popular spot for snorkelling, kayaking and diving, with excellent underwater visibility. The surrounding area forms part of a protected nature reserve, and access is via a short footpath or dirt road, helping to keep the area uncrowded, even during peak season.

Santa Maria has a small but historically significant winemaking tradition. The white grape variety Arinto dos Açores, which is well adapted to volcanic soils, is cultivated on the island and produces fresh, mineral wines that reflect the island’s dry terroir.

The vines are trained in the traditional Azorean style—low-growing and protected by stone walls that shelter them from the Atlantic winds. Local producers can be visited, and these wines can be sampled in several restaurants in Vila do Porto, where they pair particularly well with seafood and fresh fish.

Santa Maria has an excellent network of signposted trails, totalling around 70 km across the island. The terrain ranges from coastal cliffs and arid volcanic landscapes in the south to forested hills in the north, offering highly varied scenery over short distances.

The trails are generally well signposted, and most routes take between two and five hours.