Santa Iría

I have a personal thing with Santa Iria. If you ask me for the most dramatic or iconic viewpoint, sure, Vista do Rei wins. But if you ask me which one I feel the most, it’s this one.

Santa Iria sits on the north side, near Ribeira Grande, and gives you a massive view over the Atlantic and a huge stretch of the island. Fields, cliffs, ocean, sky. It’s almost a 180 degree view and honestly, no camera really does it justice.

It has this weird Santorini meets Azores vibe. That open ocean feeling, wind in your face, nothing blocking the horizon. On a clear day with blue sky, this place is just ridiculous. One of those moments where you stop talking and just look.

It’s right next to the road, super easy access. If you’re driving along the north coast, stopping here is a no brainer. Facilities are solid, well kept, easy stop.

Summer ruins the mood a bit. Too many cars, vendors trying to sell stuff, lots of noise. The view stays amazing, but the vibe takes a hit.

Still, in my opinion, this is one of the most underrated viewpoints on the island, and maybe my favorite one overall.

Rui's Visit Log