São Lourenço Beach
Santa Maria Island
"The most beautiful beach in the Azores, and it doesn’t even look like the Azores."
Rui's experience
Praia de São Lourenço sits inside a stunning bay on Santa Maria island and honestly feels completely different from most beaches in the Azores. While most islands here have dark volcanic sand or rocky swimming spots, São Lourenço has soft, light sand and calm waters that almost make you think you’re somewhere in the Algarve.
The beach stretches along a beautiful amphitheater-shaped bay, surrounded by green terraced hills and a tiny coastal village that gives the whole place a peaceful, postcard-perfect vibe. It’s the kind of beach where you arrive thinking you’ll stay for an hour and end up spending the entire day.
If you’re visiting Santa Maria, skipping this beach would be a mistake. It’s easily one of the most beautiful places in the entire archipelago.
Pros
- White sand beach, which is extremely rare in the Azores
- Stunning bay surrounded by green terraced hills
- Great place to spend an entire day relaxing and swimming
- One of the most iconic landscapes in Santa Maria
- Calmer waters than many other Azorean beaches
Cons
- Can get windy depending on the day
Rui's visits
Rui's Visit Log
My Top Pick4.7
What do you think about São Lourenço Beach?
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