Surf: Santa Maria is an 8km (5mi) sandy beach on the southern tip of Sal that catches the all too rare SW swells and summer NE swells, along with big winter NW on the wrap. Mainly mellow, small beachbreaks, breaking around the wooden pier (Ponton) plus there are some lefts breaking on a reef close to the big hotel and old harbour. Nice, easy, beginner-friendly stretch at high tide over the sand and the left is used as an indicator to the west coast swell size. Environment: This is really wind and kitesurf territory and is popular with the locals for a sunset session. Further out on the eastern tip of the bay is Lembje Point which occasionally hosts some seriously nice lefts for all types of surfer.