Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #1 Sao Laurenco!

#1.  Sao Laurenco.

This is improving on perfection.  Everything that I said about Praia Formosa applies here, but the quality of everything is better.

There is a pool, for the kids or grownups.  Depends on the state of the tide.

There are rocks on one side of the beach, but they are climb-able in low tide and easy to navigate & identify in high tide.  And they make the beach look more beautiful.

The water is clear & delicious and you have the BEST view of the hills covered in grapevines.  Seriously, it is like swimming in an amphitheater-and you and the ocean are the stage!

The sun sets over the hill by 6 or 7, it is the first beach on the island to lose the light, so be warned to start your day of swimming early.  There is a cafe/bar/restaurant steps from the beach and another one just at the road.  There is another restaurant at the other end of the road, if you drive/walk to the furthest point.  That is where I had my birthday lunch, with an amazing view. And I had a dip off of the pier, straight off barnacled steps into deep water.

If you are lucky enough to stay the night, listen for the cagarros, the famous birds of the island. They are like seagulls, bbut only fly & sing at night.  They sound like they are laughing.  If you go for a walk, you might not believe it, because the birds are hard to see, you can even believe that it is the very stars that are laughing.

Top 5 Beaches on Santa Maria: #3 Anjos (and Rescuing Dolphins)

On Monday, there were 3 dolphins that got trapped around/in the pool at Anjos.  After a few successful (and unsuccessful) attempts, one was released back into the sea.  The other two died.

Below is the full text printed on Facebook, plus the automatic translation.  Follow the link for some incredible pictures by Foto Pepe. I think "infurtiferas" means "beached", and I can vouch for the fact that the "so-called pool" is indeed, more than a rumor.

Numa ação de extrema delicadeza e muito cuidado, o Parque de Ilha de Santa Maria em conjunto com algumas empresas marítimo turísticas, depois de diversas tentativas infurtiferas de fazer levar um Golfinho de regresso ao Mar, tendo o mesmo de forma sucessiva, dado á costa, junto á piscina Natural dos Anjos em Vila do Porto. Foi o animal, deixado repousar na dita piscina e posteriormente levado para algumas milhas fora da costa Norte da ilha de Santa Maria, a bordo de uma embarcação. Fotos ( Foto Pepe)

http://santamariaazores.net/…/golfinho-devolv…/notas-soltas/

In an action of extreme sensitivity and very careful, the park of island of Santa Maria together with some companies tourist maritime, after several attempts to take a dolphin infurtiferas to return to the sea, having the same way, because of successive will coast, Will natural pool with the angels in village of the port. It was the animal, left to rest in the so-called pool and then taken to a few miles outside of the north coast of the island of Santa Maria, the board of a boat. Photos (Photo Pepe)

Top 5 Beaches in Santa Maria: #4 Maia

Firstly, Maia is on the far side of the island.  Not exactly literally, but DO know that because of the roads it requires, the journey is long (and beautiful).

The beach itself is within a bay, much like Praia Formosa and Sao Laurenco.  The view is incredibly picture worthy upon approach.  Also remember that this was the location of the Maia Folk Festival in mid-July.  There are not 1 but 2 cafe/restaurant/bars within a few steps of the water!

Most of the coast here is made up of natural rocks (dangerous for swimming), but a lovely waterfall can be seen at the far end of the town. You could visit just for that!

Bad news: the only swimmable water is really a sea-filled pool which has a kid size version (up to 3 feet) and an adult version (up to 6 feet in depth). When there are more than 20 people, it begins to feel very crowded. And I'm not sure the pool drains completely (the walls are kinda slimy).

But it is well worth a visit, the pool & cafe are very decent and fun. And provide a nice change from the rest of the swimming experiences out on the open ocean.  My favorite is to see & feel the waves crashing against the protected sea wall of the pool.  Stand by the railing and feel the waves; nothing better than to feel like a part of nature!