Hotel Morabeza

Hotel Morabeza is set on the sand at Santa Maria, on the south coast of Sal Island, within walking distance of the village. The hotel has run since 1967, founded by Belgian engineers Gaspard Vynckier and Marguerite Massart, who first came to Cape Verde in 1963. It is not a new arrival. The property holds 88 rooms and 33 suites, each with a terrace or balcony facing either the sea or the gardens, decorated in a plain, understated style. Suites range from junior rooms to family and duplex layouts; the Suite Palmier, named for the palm tree, opens onto its own terrace with a wide ocean view and a separate sitting room. Guests who want more independence can take an apartment at the Bazamore annex, across the road from the main entrance. Five bars and restaurants operate across the grounds, from the Beach Club at the shoreline to Les Palmiers, set on an esplanade shaded by old trees. Breakfast runs as a buffet on the esplanade each morning. Beyond the pool and gardens, the hotel hosts the Mitu & Djo Water Sport Center, with diving and jet-ski excursions on the Atlantic. Trade winds keep Sal's climate steady through the year, and the beach itself runs wide and pale beyond the terraces. You can walk into Santa Maria village in minutes from the lobby.