Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria)
Vila do Porto, Açores · Açores
About the Beach
Praia de São Lourenço is the jewel of Santa Maria island, the southernmost and warmest in the Azores, with light-coloured sand uncommon in the Atlantic archipelagos. The Bay of São Lourenço, with its calm turquoise water, is considered one of the most beautiful in the Atlantic islands. Santa Maria, the first island discovered by the Portuguese, has a unique landscape of green valleys and golden cliffs.
Length: 800 m
Amenities and Services
Amenities from the official APA beach registry (SNIAmb), for the bathing season. Water quality (SNIRH/APA)
Water Quality
Beach conditions
Measured at the IPMA station in Santa Maria (Aeródromo), 10.4 km from here, at 01:00.
Water temperature is not measured at this beach. Value modelled by Open-Meteo for 03:30.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) have a lifeguard?
Yes — Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) has a lifeguard station during the bathing season.
Does Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) hold a Blue Flag?
Yes — Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) holds the Blue Flag (2026), the certification that guarantees water quality, safety and environmental management.
Is there parking at Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria)?
Yes, there is parking near Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria).
When is the bathing season at Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria)?
The bathing season at Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) runs officially from 15 June to 14 September 2026, as set by the annual bathing season decree. During this period the support facilities are operational and the lifeguard is on duty. Outside this period, access is free but unsupervised.
Are there restaurants near Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria)?
Yes — Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) has food and drink on the beach or nearby — beach bars, restaurants and snack bars open during the bathing season.
Can I bring my dog to Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria)?
We have no confirmed information for Praia de São Lourenço (Santa Maria) specifically. As a general rule, dogs are not allowed on Portuguese beaches during the bathing season, which at this beach runs from 15 June to 14 September 2026, except where a dedicated dog area exists; outside that period the rules are considerably more relaxed. Each municipality decides by local bylaw, so check with the Vila do Porto town council or the signs on site.
Sources
Last updated: 2026-06-01
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