Arched along a wide bay and sparkling beach on the southernmost tip of the island of Sal, Santa Maria is one of the real hotspots of Cape Verde. It sits on the busiest and most popular island in the archipelago, with all the top-rated hotels and sand-side guesthouses that go with that. There's still a port area and old railway lines left over from the days when this was a major salt-producing center, though those are now overgrown with cobbled lanes and Portuguese cafes, coffee shops and palm-shaded sidewalks.

With an average of over 350 days of sun each year, it's easy to see why snowbirds flock here throughout the seasons. A coastline that's strewn with white-tinted powder and washed by aquamarine seas is the perfect accompaniment to the climate, while windsurfing coves abound on the wind-kissed north-west coast nearby.

Santa Maria tour guides are well-placed to help you explore the whole island of Sal. You can float in the salt sea at Pedra Lume, go swimming in the craggy rock pools of Buracona, hike dusty ridges above the capital of Espargos, or surf the waves at Punta Preto.