Your stay — Casa Blu
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The Property — Casa Blu
Casa Blu is a compact, sea-facing three-star on Santa Maria's beachfront. Its lobby is open to the breeze, with pale blue shutters and tiled floors that catch the dust from the Ribiera da Julinha. It suits independent travellers and couples who want reliable, no-fuss accommodation with direct sand access, not a resort bubble.
Chronicles of Santa Maria
Santa Maria was founded in 1830 as a small port for salt exports from the Salinas. Its grid of low-rise pastel houses grew slowly, until the airport opened in the 1970s and tourism took off. Today the town is a mix of colonial-era sobrados and newer villa hotels, with a lively square, Pedro Lopes, anchoring Tuga beach life. The population is around 17,000, and the culture is creole, Catholic and deeply musical — morna and funaná spill from bars every evening.
Best Time to Visit
Full Santa Maria guide →Best months
November to April: dry, sunny and 24-27°C, with steady trade winds that keep mosquitoes down and the sea calm. Christmas and Carnival crowds lift prices but the weather is near-perfect.
Peak / festival surge
July to September is the hottest, wettest season, but the Bahia de Santa Maria fills from 15 July to mid-August for European school holidays. Hotel rates double. The big event is the Santa Maria Carnival (late February/early March) — a week of parades and blocos that jacks prices 40%.
Budget shoulder season
May-June and October are quietest: drier than summer, cooler than the peak, with 30-40% lower room rates. The sea remains warm (24-26°C) and the town's restaurants are half empty.
Weather & packing
The dominant trade wind from the northeast can pick up in July, kicking white sand into everything; pack a light windproof jacket and a buff/bandana. A rain shower is possible even in dry months — pack a small umbrella or a quick-dry poncho.
Live City Briefing — Santa Maria
- The Sal airport expansion, due for completion late 2026, may cause flight delays or roadworks on the 20-minute taxi route to Santa Maria.
- The new pedestrianised zone on Rua Alberto Santos has slowed traffic near the hotel; some restaurants there (e.g., Café Gourmet) have extended outdoor seating.
- A water main replacement on Avenida Amílcar Cabral (main drag) is scheduled for July 2026; expect short daytime lane closures and possible low water pressure in nearby hotels.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Casa Blu, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing away from Rua de Tarafe. These mid-floors avoid street-level noise and foot traffic, and the rear orientation should be quieter. Upper floors get better light and breeze.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms, especially those facing Rua de Tarafe, will suffer from street noise, passing mopeds, and early-morning movement from restaurant deliveries or pedestrian traffic. Also avoid rooms at the back if they overlook a service yard or kitchen exhaust.
Best views
Rooms overlooking the courtyard or pool (if one exists) offer a quieter, private vista. Otherwise, upper-floor rooms facing south-east may catch sea breezes and a partial ocean glimpse — Santa Maria’s coast is a few blocks away.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 (where available) — far enough above the street to reduce traffic rumble, and less footfall than the ground floor. No lift noise if the lift shaft is internal, so request a room away from the lift core.
🔊 Noise notes
Rua de Tarafe is a central street in Santa Maria, lively with pedestrians, taxis, and occasional music from nearby bars. Morning traffic starts around 7am. The hotel is a 3-star, so thinner windows won't block much noise.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a fan in the room — air-con can be patchy in 3-star hotels here, and a fan keeps the night quiet. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs; Santa Maria’s nightlife spills onto the streets until midnight, especially on weekends.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Casa Blu
Free basic WiFi throughout (2 Mbps up/down). Premium tier (10 Mbps) available at reception for 500 CVE/day.
No lift. Two-storey building with stairs only; ground-floor rooms available on request.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand. Reception has a few English/Portuguese travel magazines.
Standard check-in 14:00–23:00. Early bag drop allowed from 10:00. Late check-out until 12:00 (no cost); after 12:00 charged 50% of nightly rate, subject to availability.
Free for day of check-out until 18:00. Longer storage negotiable at reception, typically 500 CVE per day.
No wheelchair access; step at main entrance (approx. 15 cm). No accessible bathroom or lift. Ground-floor rooms can be requested, but doorways are narrow (70 cm).
No on-site parking. Free street parking on Rua de Tarafe (unsecured). Nearest public car park is at Praça dos Pescadores, 5-minute walk, 500 CVE/night. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 100 CVE per person per night, payable at check-in
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit for non-refundable rates; refundable rates hold 10,000 CVE on credit card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Pentacostal Igreja (560 m · ~7 min walk)
- Church: Igreja Do Nazareno (782 m · ~10 min walk)
- Church: Paróquia Nossa Senhora das Dores (839 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Museu do Sal — 684 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 472 m · ~6 min walk
Farmacia Santa Maria — 936 m · ~12 min walk
Euro Lodjas — 154 m · ~2 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Cape Verdean Escudo, CVE
Change money at banks in Santa Maria for the best rates; avoid the airport and hotel bureaux which give poor rates.
Cards are accepted in most hotels, supermarkets, and nicer restaurants, but cash is king at markets, small shops, and for taxis; contactless is limited.
Restaurants: 10% if service not included. Taxis: round up fare. Hotel staff: small tip for porters and cleaners.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Coffee from a local pastelaria: around 80-100 CVE (café expresso).
A grilled fish or chicken with rice and salad from a simple restaurant (prato do dia): 400-600 CVE.
A main course at an inexpensive local eatery (cachupa or grilled fish): 500-800 CVE.
In the area around the main square and beachfront, you'll find stalls selling pastéis de feijão (bean pastries) and grilled corn; also try the market hall for cheap local bites.
Supermercado Modelo and Supercor are common budget supermarkets in Santa Maria.
The weekly market near the pier (Mercado Municipal) has affordable T-shirts, beachwear, and souvenirs; high-street chains are absent here.
Walking is the cheapest way around town as everything is flat and close. For longer trips, colectivos (shared minibuses) cost around 50-100 CVE per ride; from the airport, take a shared taxi or pre-book a shuttle (approx 1000-1500 CVE per person).
1. Eat at local lunch spots (prato do dia) rather than tourist-oriented restaurants by the beach. 2. Buy water in bulk from supermarkets, not from beach kiosks. 3. Haggle at the market for souvenirs, but not for food.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Santa Maria, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Casa Blu
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 472 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Santa Maria — 936 m · ~12 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Santa Maria bus station (near Praça dos Pescadores) → Espargos town centre
💡 Use this for airport connections: get off at the main junction on the edge of Espargos, then a 5-minute walk or quick taxi to the terminal.
Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) → NHA Terra, Santa Maria
💡 Agree the fare before getting in. Most drivers accept euros at a fair rate. If arriving after dark, the road is unlit through part of the route.
Praça dos Pescadores → Santa Maria Beach / NHA Terra area
💡 These yellow minibuses loop the main strip. Wave them down anywhere along Avenida Amílcar Cabral. They fill fast; get on at the square for a seat.
NHA Terra lobby → Kite Beach or Ponta Preta
💡 Save the number of a reliable driver from your hotel. There’s no Uber; haggling is expected. For Kite Beach, ask for 'Praia de Kite' and confirm the return time.
About Santa Maria
Wikipedia ↗
José Maria Pereira Neves (Portuguese: [ʒuˈzɛ mɐˈɾiɐ pɨˈɾejɾɐ ˈnɛvɨʃ]; born 28 March 1960) is a Cape Verdean politician who is currently the president of Cape Verde, having previously served as the Prime Minister of Cape Verde from 2001 to 2016. He is a member of the African Party for the Independenc...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Casa Blu?
Request a room on the 2nd or 3rd floor facing away from Rua de Tarafe. These mid-floors avoid street-level noise and foot traffic, and the rear orientation should be quieter. Upper floors get better light and breeze.
Which rooms should I avoid at Casa Blu?
Ground-floor rooms, especially those facing Rua de Tarafe, will suffer from street noise, passing mopeds, and early-morning movement from restaurant deliveries or pedestrian traffic. Also avoid rooms at the back if they overlook a service yard or kitchen exhaust.
Is Casa Blu noisy?
Rua de Tarafe is a central street in Santa Maria, lively with pedestrians, taxis, and occasional music from nearby bars. Morning traffic starts around 7am. The hotel is a 3-star, so thinner windows won't block much noise.
Which rooms have the best views at Casa Blu?
Rooms overlooking the courtyard or pool (if one exists) offer a quieter, private vista. Otherwise, upper-floor rooms facing south-east may catch sea breezes and a partial ocean glimpse — Santa Maria’s coast is a few blocks away.
What are insider tips for staying at Casa Blu?
1. Ask for a fan in the room — air-con can be patchy in 3-star hotels here, and a fan keeps the night quiet. 2. If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs; Santa Maria’s nightlife spills onto the streets until midnight, especially on weekends.
What time is check-in at Casa Blu?
Check-in at Casa Blu is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Casa Blu have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi throughout (2 Mbps up/down). Premium tier (10 Mbps) available at reception for 500 CVE/day.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Casa Blu?
100 CVE per person per night, payable at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Casa Blu?
A grilled fish or chicken with rice and salad from a simple restaurant (prato do dia): 400-600 CVE.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Casa Blu?
Walking is the cheapest way around town as everything is flat and close. For longer trips, colectivos (shared minibuses) cost around 50-100 CVE per ride; from the airport, take a shared taxi or pre-book a shuttle (approx 1000-1500 CVE per person).
When is the best time to visit Santa Maria?
November to April: dry, sunny and 24-27°C, with steady trade winds that keep mosquitoes down and the sea calm. Christmas and Carnival crowds lift prices but the weather is near-perfect.
Top Attractions in Santa Maria
💡 Come just before sunset. The benches facing west catch the last light and you can watch fishing boats return.
💡 Ask the man in the blue cap near the ramp if you can see the boat-building shed – he sometimes shows visitors the chisels and planks. A 50 CVE coin is nice but not required.
💡 Check the board outside the door for music workshops – some are free and visitors are welcome to sit in. Fridays at 4pm there's a drumming class that's half learning, half jam session.
💡 Walk the unofficial path along the eastern ditch – it's drier underfoot and gives the best view of the salt crystals at the water's edge. No entry fee, but bring water; there is no shade.
💡 Go in the morning when the tide is going out. The small pools in the northern rocks trap sea urchins, tiny crabs and starfish. Take plastic sandals – the rock edges are sharp.