HOTEL MORABESSA, Santa Maria, Sal Island, Cape Verde

Set right on the best beach at Santa Maria, at the south of Sal Island, the Morabessa is one of the nicest holiday hotels, family owned, well established in the Cape Verdes, in a great location with mature gardens and grounds. The 5 mile white sandy beach stretches out to east and west of the hotel, over a south facing bay, with wind surfing, kite surfing and diving. There are bars, banks, shops and restaurants nearby. Transfer time from Sal airport is approx 15 minutes by taxi/bus. Click here for info on flights to Sal.

Range of rooms - 140 rooms from superior to master suite

The East Wing was renovated in 2006. The West wing has been renovated more recently, and a new wing with additional swimming pool was completed in 2009. There are superior rooms (double, twin, single) with sea or land view, all air conditioned. Junior suites with land or seaview are composed of a bedroom, bathroom and sitting room, with air conditioning included. Master suites are large rooms with seaview and air conditioning, comprising a bedroom, a bathroom and a sitting room.

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For 4 or families and children

Duplexes have seaview and air conditioning, with 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. Family suites with land view and air conditioning have 2 bedrooms, 1 sitting room and 1 or 2 bathrooms.

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Dining and drinking at the Morabeza

Breakfast 0700-1000: There is a buffet laid out in the dining room, and you can eat breakfast outdoors on the patio.

Lunch is at the beach barbecue/restaurant 12.30-1500.

Dinner is served outdoors on the patio 1900-2200 or on the outdoor restaurant at treetop level 2000-2300 (closed Mondays and Saturdays), where they are serve dishes from around the world - I don't use the term "international" as the Morabeza is serving some interesting dishes from many countries. Apart from a weekly Cape Verdean evening, normally on a Saturday, with a copious buffet and music, with dining outdoors near the swimming pool, meals are waiter service. There is an interior dining room as well.

Choice of meal options, including quarter board

Half board (breakfast and dinner on the patio in Les Palmiers, with choice of 2 starters, 2 main courses, 2 desserts, with coffee or tea and water included), full board (breakfast, lunch at beach club and dinner in Les Palmiers), and a new quarter board available (breakfast and dinner in Les Palmiers on first night, last night, and the first Cape Verdean buffet evening). We think quarter board will be very popular even with the most intrepid travellers, as there is something very convenient about having the first and last night taken care of, and the Cape Verdean evening is not to be missed.

Towels and sunbeds

Poolside: Complementary for those on quarter board, half board, full board including free beach towel.

Beach Club Complementary for those on half or full board, sunbed/mattress, parasol, beach towel. Otherwise fee of 350 CVE per guest per day.

Bars at the Hotel

Beach club 0930-1800

Poolside 0930-1800

Treetop level bar 1800-2359 (happy hour 1830 - 1930)

Discotheque open Saturdays from 2200

Restaurants in Santa Maria near the Hotel Morabessa

The hotel is in a good position for local restaurants. There is one just at the end of the driveway, and others within 200 - 300m. You won't have to go far to get to all the restaurants and bars in Santa Maria, due to the hotel's good location.

Comments

The hotel started in the 50's as a private home of Belgians. Over time it grew and grew due to popular demand, and is on a prime site in Santa Maria, with spacious grounds in a wonderful beachfront position. It is run by the grand daughter of the original founders. The beach bar is a favourite at lunchtime - with wooden decking, on the white sand, you are yards from the turquoise ocean. In the evening, the treetop level bar is a meeting place for many. The rooms in the East Wing were upgraded in summer 2006, with new junior suites and superior rooms. This is one of our favourite Cape Verde hotels. The Morabeza has been designed to be in keeping with the surroundings, using natural materials, and combines simplicity with style, appealing to the more discerning. For sports enthusiasts, everything is close at hand. With wind surfing and kite surfing run by an American instructor, you can get tuition in English and rent boards by the hour, day or week. There is a discount for guests. Many enjoy just relaxing in one of the best spots in the Cape Verde Islands - you can do what you want and just enjoy the view. As this is such a popular hotel which many of our customers return to time and time again, we implore you to book early.

Guest comments on the Hotel

It was superb... . It was probably the best holiday I've ever had, only wish we had booked 2 or 3 weeks! M from Cornwall.

The team at the surf school were A1. Great bunch and I cannot recommend them enough. P from Brighton.

We used the Beach Club on a few occasions and for that little bit more expense, it was well worth it. Service was excellent and food brilliant. J from Paisley. .

The hotel and destination were perfect. We really enjoyed the peacefulness (ablbeit a bit of building works) of the hotel and loved the 'rawness' of the place. T from London

Beach and water very perfect. Hotel was fantastic and the best on the island from what we could see. The only one that seemed to have some charm. Very friendly and good service - especially good and friendly with our 1 year old son. K from London.

The food at the Beach Club was fantastic. I still dream about the prawns, the staff there also very friendly. We had some great walks everyday along the beach to the point and watched the surfers - it was idyllic. the weather was perfect - not too hot,with a constant wind which kept you cool. L from Cheshire