If you can't wait to get to the beach, you might enjoy a trip to Santa Maria Beach located 0.9 mi (1.4 km) from central Santa Maria. If you want to continue walking by the waves, head to Shark Bay Beach and Kite Beach.
Santa Maria Town Square is just one of the landmarks located 0.3 mi (0.5 km) from central Santa Maria, so you might want to stop by for a few pics during your trip.
Check out reviews of Cape Verde hotels guests love
Melia Dunas Beach Resort & Spa - All Inclusive
4/10 Poor
"Did not use the spa
The pools needed refurb many tiles missing around the pools. Fountain feature broken didn’t see much pool maintenance going on.
Sun beds on the pool areas and beach were the most uncomfortable beds I’ve ever used.
Pool towels were threadbare and not readily available for change"
"My stay in Praia was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment I arrived, the staff made me feel genuinely welcomed—professional, attentive, and always ready to help with a smile.
The hotel itself was spotless and well-maintained. My room was spacious, comfortable, and offered beautiful views that made every morning feel special. The bed was extremely comfortable, and everything—from the air conditioning to the Wi-Fi—worked perfectly throughout my stay.
One of the highlights was the location. Being in Praia, I had easy access to key areas, restaurants, and the beach, which made exploring the city very convenient.
The food was also impressive, with a great variety of options and consistently high quality. Breakfast each morning was fresh and satisfying, setting the tone for the day.
What truly stood out, though, was the level of service. The staff went above and beyond to ensure I had everything I needed, making my experience both relaxing and memorable.
I would absolutely recommend this hotel to anyone visiting Praia and would not hesitate to stay here again. A top-tier experience from start to finish."
"A limpeza dos quartos deixa muito a desejar.
O pequeno almoço é variado, o jantar apesar de ter alguma variedade não tinha qualidade na confecção dos "
"The hotel was one of the best hotel from location to value for money. The location was great walking distance from everywhere. The staff was brilliant specially Mys she organised every activity’s for me plus taxi from the airport and back. Overall everything 10/10. Thank you for everything. You guys make my holiday special. Definitely will come back and stay there. "
"Hotel spotlessly clean, food varied and really good. Pools and beach had plenty of sunloungers, plenty of shade. Staff polite and friendly. Minor problem with light switch in room was solved in half an hour. Everything you'd expect from a Riu hotel."
"Excellent property. Very few sea facing rooms. Evening entertainment was good. Food was excellent and spoilt for choice. No kids was added advantage. Lot of activities to choose"