The Best 5 things to do in Santa Maria

Though the smallest of the nine islands, Santa Maria offers a surprisingly rich variety of outdoor activities that invite visitors to explore its natural wonders at their own pace. Whether you are drawn beneath the waves, along the windswept coastline, or across the serene hills, you will find a world brimming with life, adventure, and tranquillity. Below are five unforgettable ways to experience the vibrant soul of Santa Maria and beyond.

Before You Roam: How to Explore Santa Maria Freely

Before setting off to explore Santa Maria, there is one essential travel tip that can shape your entire experience. Book your rental car early, ideally even before you choose your flight. Though this island is the smallest in the Azores, its landscapes are incredibly diverse and full of hidden treasures. Santa Maria covers just 97 square kilometres, making it slightly smaller than the island of Capri in Italy but filled with its own unique charm and sun-kissed beauty.

Having your own car is by far the best way to enjoy total freedom and reach the most breathtaking spots at your own pace. From winding coastal roads lined with vineyards to quiet hilltop viewpoints overlooking the Atlantic, every drive feels like part of the adventure. Many experienced travellers recommend renting your vehicle first, then arranging flights and accommodation around the places you most want to explore.

Car rentals are limited, especially in the warmer months, so securing one in advance is highly recommended. Once behind the wheel, you can shape your days however you like, pausing for a swim in a natural pool, hiking along volcanic trails, or simply chasing the sun across golden headlands. Santa Maria may be small, but with a car, it opens up like a vast and unforgettable journey.

If you are wondering how to experience the very best of Santa Maria, here are five unforgettable outdoor activities that reveal the island’s sunlit soul and natural magic.

Snorkelling

Haliotis Santa Maria

A Snorkelling Excursion on Santa Maria Island offers an extraordinary opportunity to explore calm, crystal-clear waters that reveal volcanic rock formations shaped by centuries of Atlantic waves. As you float above these incredible natural sculptures, colourful fish weave through swaying seaweed and coral, while sunlight filters down, casting a warm glow that brings the ocean floor’s textures to life.

The gentle coastal waters, close to Vila do Porto, provide an inviting setting for snorkellers of all experience levels to drift peacefully and connect with the island’s serene underwater world. Moving effortlessly through this volcanic seascape, you can discover stunning hidden crevices and observe amazing marine creatures in their natural habitat, all within a quiet and unspoiled environment.

This snorkelling experience allows you to embrace Santa Maria’s unique coastal charm and volcanic heritage from a refreshing perspective. Each moment spent beneath the surface offers a vivid and memorable glimpse into the rhythms of the Atlantic, making it a truly special way to connect with nature.

Scuba Diving

Haliotis Santa Maria

Diving beneath the surface of Santa Maria reveals a stunning underwater world carved by ancient volcanic forces. The island’s seafloor is a dramatic landscape of rugged lava formations, caves, and incredible natural arches, all waiting to be explored in the clear, warm waters of the Atlantic. Visibility here is excellent, offering divers a unique opportunity to truly appreciate the textures and colours of this unique and amazing marine environment.

Among the top dive spots in Santa Maria is the legendary Gruta do Camarões, a magnificent underwater lava tube that captivates divers with its mysterious tunnels and stunning geological formations. Located near Vila do Porto, this natural cave system offers an extraordinary exploration into Santa Maria’s volcanic heritage. Located near Vila do Porto, this natural cave system offers an extraordinary introduction to Santa Maria’s volcanic heritage. Ideal for a first dive on the island, this site is often included on beginner-friendly outings that combine sheltered bays with calm conditions perfect for learning. Schools of colourful fish weave through swaying seaweed forests, and bright corals cling to volcanic rock, while shy octopuses and graceful rays add to the mesmerizing underwater panorama. Under the guidance of experienced instructors, you’ll gain confidence as you discover this vibrant marine world just beneath the surface.

For those newer to diving, PADI Scuba Diving Courses are offered in calm, protected bays around this hidden-gem island. These courses provide expert instruction in shallow waters, helping beginners build confidence while surrounded by Santa Maria’s remarkable aquatic scenery. Whether you choose to explore iconic dive spots in Santa Maria like Gruta do Camarões on a guided dive or start your underwater journey with a course, Santa Maria offers a rich and unforgettable dive experience beneath the Atlantic waves

Hiking

Getty Images

While Santa Maria’s coastline invites water lovers, its lush interior offers a quieter, equally captivating adventure on foot. The island’s gentle rolling hills, dotted with fragrant pine forests and vibrant wildflower meadows, unfold along a network of well-marked hiking trails. These paths wind through volcanic landscapes, offering peaceful escapes and stunning vistas at every turn.

One of the most celebrated routes leads to Pico Alto, the island’s highest point. The trail begins with a gradual climb through dense greenery where native birds sing softly, and the air carries the fresh scent of pine and earth. As you ascend, the views open up to reveal Santa Maria’s patchwork of cultivated fields, the deep blue Atlantic stretching endlessly, and on clear days, the faint outlines of nearby islands shimmering on the horizon. The summit rewards hikers with sweeping panoramas that capture the island’s wild beauty and tranquil spirit.

For those looking for more challenging terrain, trails near Vila do Porto and along the island’s volcanic ridges offer rugged, immersive hikes. Here, you’ll find dramatic cliffs and ancient lava fields, a reminder of Santa Maria’s volcanic origins. Each step invites you deeper into a landscape where nature’s textures and colours create a vivid, ever-changing canvas, making hiking on Santa Maria a sensory journey of sight, scent, and sound.

Bike Tours

Getty Images

Biking around Vila do Porto offers an intimate and immersive way to discover Santa Maria Island’s peaceful rhythms. Starting from the island’s main town, a classic cycling route winds northeast toward São Pedro, a quiet parish set amid gently sloping hills. As you pedal along narrow country roads lined with hydrangeas and basalt walls, you’ll pass traditional farmhouses and open fields where the breeze carries the scent of eucalyptus and wild herbs.

The ride toward São Pedro brings a gentle ascent that rewards you with sweeping views of Santa Maria’s rural heart. This area is known for its mosaic of pastures and vineyards, and along the way you may stop at a lookout like Miradouro da Macela to take in the wide Atlantic horizon and the rolling interior landscapes. The silence here is striking broken only by the hum of your tires, the rustling of trees, and the occasional chirp of a blackbird.

Looping back toward Vila do Porto, the road descends smoothly through sun-dappled valleys and past patches of pine forest. Whether you’re riding a classic mountain bike or an electric one, this cycling experience invites you to move at the island’s natural pace, offering a sense of freedom, clarity, and connection with Santa Maria’s unspoiled beauty.

Sightseeing Tours

Getty Images

Exploring Santa Maria by road or guided tour unveils an island rich in natural beauty and cultural heritage. The island’s gentle contours and temperate climate make sightseeing a relaxed pleasure, perfect for immersing yourself in local life and landscapes.

The historic town of Vila do Porto invites wandering through narrow streets lined with colourful houses draped in blooming hydrangeas. Traditional churches and small squares hint at centuries of island history, while friendly locals share stories that bring the past to life. Along coastal roads, panoramic views open onto vast stretches of the Atlantic Ocean, where rugged cliffs and golden sandy beaches meet the horizon. Inland, quiet farmland and volcanic ridges form a patchwork of natural scenes, blending green pastures with stark lava fields.

For those eager to extend their exploration, the nearby islands of Terceira and São Miguel offer equally captivating sightseeing opportunities. From Terceira’s charming historic towns and rugged coastlines to São Miguel’s lush volcanic landscapes and vibrant villages, each island invites you to discover its unique story at your own pace.

Continue Your Adventure in Azores

Santa Maria invites you to dive into its vibrant underwater world, where snorkelling and scuba diving reveal an astonishing richness of marine life. In the island’s clear and tranquil waters, volcanic reefs come alive with colourful fish, graceful rays, and flourishing underwater plants. Exploring these unique aquatic landscapes offers a deep and unforgettable connection with nature’s beauty shaped by ancient volcanic forces.

For those seeking further adventure, nearby Pico calls for its soaring volcanic peaks and dramatic, rugged landscapes. A hike to its summit rewards you with breathtaking panoramic views, while the surrounding waters invite unforgettable encounters with majestic whales. This island inspires you to continue exploring and discovering the extraordinary wonders of the Azores.