Overlooking the endless sea lies the Youth Hostel of Santa Maria, the ideal place from where you can start your adventure.

Santa Maria was the first Azorean island to be discovered by Portuguese sailors and this is what they discovered: walks that lead you to see 5 million year old fossils, dives that put you side to side with whale sharks and manta rays...in one minute you're standing at a white sand beach in Praia Formosa, five minutes later you're in the middle of a red desert in Barreiro da Faneca, and then you're looking at 16th century churches.

Sail away and explore caves and tunnels at Islet of Romeiro, with a natural mooring place for boats in its interior, and then head to Formigas Islets, dive and find old shipwrecks, swim with dolphins, whales and turtles.

Adventure yourself inland and discover a 110 meter waterfall in Cascata do Aveiro or a prismatic disjunction in Calçada do Gigante, explore the coast and find idyllic bays with natural swimming pools and beaches.

And for some quiet times, relax alongside the hostel swimming pool in the deck with a clear view of the Atlantic Ocean and just enjoy your stay.