Santa Maria is a small beach town on the southern tip of Sal island, the most visited in the Cape Verde archipelago. Its 8km beach of imported Saharan sand (carried by Atlantic currents) meets turquoise waters. The former salt-mining village has transformed into a kitesurfing paradise. Cape Verde's Remote Working Program visa costs just €54 total, and since late 2024, Starlink has dramatically improved connectivity across the islands.
Nights sit around 25°C and afternoons around 30°C.
Santa Maria barely changes season: afternoons sit around 27°C and nights around 21°C most of the year.
Rain is hardly part of the picture: about 77 mm a year, with September the wettest month at just 35 mm. Dry, bright months are the norm.
Wind is a factor: February averages 31 km/h, enough to notice on a terrace or a bike. Air quality is worth watching: February averages an AQI of 88, while March clears to 59.
Days stretch to about 13.0 hours of light in June and shrink to 11.0 in December — something to weigh if you work to a fixed timezone.
For what you're after, any month works in Santa Maria. Expect fast internet (58 Mbps) and a moderate cost of living (about €1000 a month).
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