Santa Maria is a brilliant choice for golfers who want a Cape Verde golf holiday built around winter sun, beach life and relaxed island charm. Set on Sal Island, this lively resort town is known for its long sandy beach, clear warm water, restaurants, shops, bars and water-based activities, with Santa Maria Beach stretching for around 8 km along the coast.

Golf here is still developing, so Santa Maria is better suited to relaxed holiday golfers than those looking for a packed championship itinerary. The key local option is Viveiro Golf & Country Club, which describes itself as the first and only grass golf course in Cape Verde, with an 18-hole course on Sal Island and views towards the Atlantic Ocean. It gives visitors a very different type of round, combining desert surroundings, ocean air and year-round sunshine.

Away from the course, Santa Maria has plenty to keep the holiday feeling full. You can enjoy beach days, kitesurfing, boat trips, diving, turtle experiences in season, island tours, the Pedra de Lume salt crater and the famous Blue Eye at Buracona. The area also works well for easy evenings, with beachside restaurants and a laid-back town centre.

For UK golfers, Santa Maria is ideal if golf is part of the trip rather than the whole trip. Hashtag Golf Travel can help shape a Cape Verde escape around sunshine, resort comfort, island exploring and a few enjoyable rounds in a truly different setting.