Holidays to Santa Maria

Canyoning, Coasteering and 4x4 Tour (São Lourenço Adventure)

Canyoning is an exciting combination of walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling and swimming in some of the most spectacular scenery of cliffs and waterfalls in the island of Santa Maria. It has become a very popular extreme sport with fans all over the world and provides a unique experience in the middle of nature and at the same time moments of pure adrenaline. 

São Lourenço is known as one of the most beautiful bays in the Azores. The adventure starts with beginner-level canyoning by eight stunning waterfalls – the highest is 18 metres. Then a little coasteering (swimming, climbing, and jumping) through turquoise sea water until you reach Ponta Negra beach. After lunch, there will be a 4x4 tour along the Northern part of the island.

Price is £113 per person (May-Oct)

Notes

• Excursion provider: Bootlá 
• Daily pick-up from properties in Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Santa Bárbara 08:30
• Duration: 8 hours including 2 hours in the canyon; 1½ hours coasteering; 1 hour lunch; 2 hours 4x4 tour; 1½ hours briefing and transportation 
• Location: North coast 
• Minimum 2 people 
• Lunch included at a local restaurant in São Lourenço 
• Suitable for children aged 14 years and upwards. No previous experience required
• Equipment required: Towel, swim suit, hair-bands, shoes that can get wet (preferably mountain boots or running shoes), warm clothing and a spare pair of shoes for the journey home 
• Safety equipment provided: Neoprene wetsuit and socks, helmet and harness
• Note: Canyoning shoes and gloves can be hired locally for a supplement of £5.00 per person

Coasteering

Coasteering is an exciting combination of swimming, climbing and jumping in some of the most spectacular scenery of cliffs and waterfalls in the island of Santa Maria.

Price is £65 per person (May-Oct)

Notes

• Excursion provider: Bootlá 
• Daily pick-up from properties in Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Santa Bárbara 08:30
• Duration: 5 hours 
• Location: North coast 
• Minimum 2 people 
• Light snack and water included 
• Suitable for children aged 14 years and upwards. No previous experience required
• Equipment required: Towel, swim suit, hair-bands, shoes that can get wet (preferably mountain boots or running shoes), warm clothing and a spare pair of shoes for the journey home 
• Safety equipment provided: Neoprene wetsuit and socks, helmet and harness

Diving

Santa Maria is a place of unique beauty for divers. The abundance and richness of underwater fauna provides unforgettable moments. The Pedrinha, the islet of Lagoinhas, the islet of São Lourenço, the islets of Formigas and the Dollabarat reef offer an abundance of both Atlantic and Tropical fish life – parrot fish, groupers, sting and eagle rays, moray and conger eels, barracudas, amberjacks, turtles and dolphins. A fully equipped PADI dive centre is based in Vila do Porto.  

Prices 

• 1 Dive is 58 per person
• 2 Dives is £108 per person
• 4 Dives is £208 per person
• Prices on request for Dives at Formigas and Dollabarat (minimum 6 people) and Snorkelling with Manta Rays 

Notes

• Excursion provider: Mantamaria 
• Meeting point at Mantamaria Office at Vila do Porto harbour at 08:30
• Daily activity (01Jan-31Oct) – minimum 6 people required between Oct-May 
• Suitable for all - from complete beginner to the most experienced, with boat trips
• Dives include a 12 litre steel tank (200-230 BAR), weight belt, dive master guidance and boat transportation to and from the dive sites 
• Wetsuits not included but can be rented locally for 5.50 Euros each 
• All divers have to carry valid diving and medical certificates confirming fitness to dive 

Canyoning

Canyoning is an exciting combination of walking, scrambling, climbing, jumping, abseiling and swimming in some of the most spectacular scenery of cliffs and waterfalls in the island of Santa Maria. It has become a very popular extreme sport with fans all over the world and provides a unique experience in the middle of nature and at the same time moments of pure adrenaline. 

Price is £65 per person

Notes

• Excursion provider: Bootlá 
• Daily pick-up from properties in Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Santa Bárbara 08:30
• Duration: 5 hours (including 2½ to 3½ hours in the canyon) depending on number of people
• Location: North coast 
• Minimum 2 people 
• Snack (energy bar and water) included
• Suitable for children aged 14 years and upwards. No previous experience required
• Equipment required: Towel, swim suit, hair-bands, shoes that can get wet (preferably mountain boots or running shoes), warm clothing and a spare pair of shoes for the journey home
• Safety equipment provided: Neoprene wetsuit and socks, helmet and harness
• Canyoning shoes and gloves can be hired locally for a supplement of £5.00 per person

Guided Walks 

The islands of the Azores, with their mild climate (day time temperature ranging from 14-22 degrees), are the most wonderful islands for walking. Our suggested walks incorporate some of the best scenic walks on the island. 

Entre Serra e Mar (Half Day)

This 9.5km (2.5 hours) circular walk starts and ends at the parish church of Santa Bárbara and passes typical houses and through rural landscapes. As you travel around the island you will notice the distinctive house chimneys, unique to Santa Maria and the varying number of colours used – the colours relate to the parish in which they are located. Following well used tracks, this walk offers excellent views of the bay of São Lourenço. Grade 2 (Medium)

Pico Alto - Anjos (Half Day)

This 14km (4 hours) walk starts on the Pico Alto forest road (587m), the highest point on Santa Maria, with views over the whole island – São Miguel Island can also be seen on a clear day. You will pass through the Barreiro da Faneca, a unique ecosystem made up of reddish clay soil known as the ‘Red Desert of the Azores’, and a forest of Japanese red cedar trees. Throughout the walk travellers are treated to views of Anjos, Ponta da Baleia, the Baía da Cré and the Lagoinhas Islet. Grade 2 (Medium)

Santo Espírito - Maia (Half Day)

This 6.8km (3 hours) walk begins in the parish of Santo Espírito passing through Maia and ending at the whaling factory in Ponta do Castelo. The route runs through the village and passes by the splendid waterfall of the Aveiro in Ribeira Grande, the Gonçalo Velho Lighthouse and through terraced vineyards. Grade 2 (Medium)

North Shore (Half Day)

This 6.7km (3 hours) walk starts in Feteiras de Baixo and ends at Baía dos Anjos. The trail goes through Baia do Raposo, Ribeira do Engenho, Barreiro da Faneca (a unique ecosystem in the Azores, made up of reddish clay lands, also known as the “Red Desert of the Azores”) and Baía da Cré, places with great geological interest and classified as Geosites. Grade 2 (Medium)

South Shore (Half Day)

This 8.5km (3 hours) trail begins at the Dalberto Pombo Environmental Interpretation Center, where this naturalist’s vast fossil and taxidermy animal collection is displayed. Continue towards Forte de São Brás, Ribeira de São Francisco, Pedreira do Campo (Geosite classified a natural monument), Gruta do Figueiral (Fossil Cave), Touril and Prainha. After a relaxing swim you will proceed to the Fort of Prainha and choose between climbing toward the viewpoint of Macela or follow the slope to the Praia Formosa area where you can relax on the white sandy beach. Grade 2 (Medium)

Price per walk is £43 per adult and £22 per child (8-12yrs) 

Notes

• Excursion provider: Smatur 
• Daily pick-up from all hotels at 09:00 or 14:00 
• Guided walks with English speaking guide  
• Minimum 2 people  
• Recommended: Comfortable clothing, walking boots, swim suit, towel, rain jacket, sun lotion, binoculars and a camera

4x4 Tours 

Enjoy an unforgettable drive along the islands’ best trails. Driving through trees and pastures often overlooking the Atlantic Ocean you will discover places and landscapes of rare beauty not often encountered by the average tourist. During the trip there will be several stops with time to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

4x4 Tour (Half Day)

• Anjos Bay
• Barreiro da Faneca (Red Desert)
• Santa Bárbara
• Poço da Pedreira
• São Lourenço Bay
• Santo Espírito
• Maia (Aveiro Waterfall)
• Ribeira do Maloás
• Praia Formosa
• Pico Alto  

4x4 Tour (Full Day)

• Anjos Bay
• Barreiro da Faneca (Red Desert)
• Santa Bárbara
• Norte
• Poço da Pedreira
• São Lourenço Bay (lunch stop)
• Santo Espírito
• Maia (Aveiro Waterfall)
• Ribeira do Maloás
• Praia Formosa
• Pico Alto
• Pedreira do Campo (fossils) 

Price is £43 per person (Half Day) and £81 per person (Full Day)

Notes

• Excursion provider: Bootlá 
• Daily pick-up from properties in Vila do Porto, São Pedro and Santa Bárbara at 09:00
• Escorted by an English speaking driver/guide
• Minimum 2 people 
• Full Day: 9 hours including lunch 
• Half Day: 5 hours
• Itineraries are subject to change

Private Taxi Tours

Sunvil is able to pre-book the following tour on Santa Maria. Tours can also be tailor-made to suit the individual requirements of our clients, please telephone us for a quotation.

Santa Maria (Half Day)

 
Depart from Vila do Porto to the small seaside resort of Anjos and its small chapel where Christopher Colombus attended mass on his return from America. From Anjos, on a clear day, it is possible to see the island of São Miguel on the horizon. Continue to the pretty village of Santo Espírito, surrounded by green pastures and hills, where you will visit the beautifully restored 17th century baroque church. Return to Vila do Porto via Maia and the viewpoint overlooking the bay of São Lourenço.

Santa Maria (Full Day)

 
Depart from Vila do Porto - the oldest town of the archipelago, to the small seaside resort of Anjos and its small chapel where Christopher Columbus attended a mass on his return from America. From Anjos, on a clear day it is possible to see the island of São Miguel on the horizon. Continue to the pretty village of Santa Bárbara where it is possible to admire the simple and beautiful architecture of the traditional houses of Santa Maria. The tour will proceed to a viewpoint overlooking the famous and unique landscape of São Lourenço Bay, a volcanic semi-crater covered in terraced vineyards and divided by basalt stonewalls. Then onwards to the pretty village of Santo Espírito, surrounded by green pastures and hills, and visit the beautifully restored 17th century baroque church. Return to Vila do Porto passing panoramic viewpoints over Maia Bay and the lighthouse at Gonçalo Velho.

Price is £81 per taxi (Half Day) and £134 (Full Day)

Notes

• Excursion provider: Melo
• Daily departure (all year) from Vila do Porto at 09:00
• Prices are based on a maximum of 3 people per taxi
• Full Day: 8 hours
• Not included: Lunch and entrance fees to museums and parks
• Transfers from hotels outside of Vila do Porto are at a supplement on request
• English speaking guide can be provided at a supplement on request
• Itinerary is subject to change