Santa Barbara Eco Resort
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"Santa Barbara has direct access to one of the only beaches on the island which also happens to be perfect for surfing!" - India, Reefscape Travel Director
Overview
Santa Barbara is the Azores first ecologically-friendly eco beach resort. The clever blend of sustainable practices and modern luxury make for one of the Archipelago’s finest accommodations. The location is fantastic, overlooking the moody Atlantic seas and with access to a volcanic black sandy beach – a rarity in the Azores!
In Depth
Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort has been built to reflect the natural beauty of its Azorean surroundings, and reinforces this vision through sustainable and ecologically friendly practices in all it does. The rooms have a unique style and sense of place, with nods to the volcanic coastal landscape and using local materials to create an unforgettable design. Villas and studios face either the mountains or the ocean. The main restaurant offers a range of cuisines focusing on combining the produce of the Azores with the flavours of Japan, offering sushi and sashimi or ramen dishes. The beach club and pool bar offer a more relaxed environment and classic sandwiches or lighter poke bowls.
The Diving
The best diving from Sao Miguel is from the south of the island, so we’d recommend booking a hire car to head down to our preferred dive centre around a 25-minute drive away. Diving is done from RIBs and can focus either on the local sites (best for beginners) or further afield to the famous offshore sites during specific seasons. The standard schedule is one dive in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Speak to us about the best time to dive the Azores according to your preferences and abilities. The offshore sites are frequented by mobulas and manta rays as well as amberjacks, tuna and sharks but conditions can be challenging so experience of diving in currents is required.
Beyond the Reef
The Azores is a great destination for those looking for experiences other than diving too. From the resort guests can enjoy surf lessons or wellness treatments at the fantastic on-site spa. We’d recommend getting out and about for a bit of adventure, with highlights including canyoning, whale watching, swimming with wild dolphins, hiking, mountain biking and visits to local hot springs. We work with a fantastic tour company who can arrange private or shared excursions to suit your interests.
Give us a call to discuss this hotel in more detail
