IF YOU’RE after some winter sun but are looking for a less-trodden path for your mid-haul flight, it’s worth checking out Santa Maria.
The island is part of the Azores, an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the north Atlantic ocean.
Accommodation provider Ibiza Summer Villas has been crunching the numbers to find lesser-known winter sun destinations Brit holidaymakers can visit to escape the crowds.
The study analysed factors like low tourist numbers, high temperatures throughout the winter and prices.
These factors were then compared to popular destinations like Benidorm, Majorca and Amsterdam to find the holiday swaps.
Part of the Azores, Santa Maria Island enjoys mild weather year-round, with average daily temperatures sitting at 19.5C in January, February and March.
According to the research conducted by Ibiza Summer Villa, this is 2C higher than winter temperatures in Tenerife.
Food and drink is also cheaper in Santa Maria Island compared to Tenerife, with a meal and a pint costing £8.91 per person.
This is reportedly £5.64 cheaper than the same costs in Tenerife.
Direct flights to Santa Maria Airport operate from Lisbon Airport, with return fares from £100 in January.
TAP Air Portugal and Azores Airlines both operate direct services, with flights to the lesser-known Portuguese island taking two hours and 30 minutes.
Located at the eastern end of the Azorean Archipelago, Santa Maria is the most southerly of the nine islands that form the Azores.
It is also closest to Sao Miguel, which is the largest of the nine islands.
Santa Maria is a favoured holiday destination among Azoreans, which means there probably won’t be many other British holidaymakers on the island.
People have been living on the island since the middle of the 15th century, with famous explorer Christopher Columbus landing on the island to attend mass in 1493.
Vila do Porto is the main settlement on the island where visitors will find examples of the island’s traditional architecture.
Santa Maria is famous for its white sand beaches, including Formosa Beach, which is just a short drive from Vila do Porto.
Other beaches include São Lourenço Beach.
Located on the northeast side of the island, São Lourenço Beach has earned the nickname the “Algarve of the Azores” thanks to its fine white sand.
Sun Online Travel has found overnight stays from £96 per night for a room in a four-star hotel on the island.
The swap to lesser-known holiday destinations comes after a wave of anti-tourism protests took place across European holiday hotspots.
Boss and travel expert at Ibiza Summer Villas, Michele Massa, commented: “I think whether or not you should fear the protests really depends on your reason for going on holiday and how you spend your time there.
“Holidaymakers and families who are there for relaxation, immersing themselves in local culture and having fun should have nothing to worry about.”
HERE are three other lesser-known islands to visit in Portugal.
Ilha da Culatra
Home to a few hundred people, Culatra also has empty beaches and clean waters.
Tourists will land at a small village with bungalows and cafes, but with no roads, will have to walk through to explore.
The white sandy beach is found on the southern part of the island, which is less than a mile by the boardwalk.
It’s a Blue Flag beach with loungers and umbrellas you can rent, as well as a beach bar.
Ilha da Tavira
Another island is Ilha da Tavira which has a 2.5mile stretch of sand.
Thankfully this island also has some cafes, toilets and a beach bar where tourists can also rent kayaks and paddleboards.
Ilha da Faro
Connected to the mainland Faro, Ilha da Faro is accessible by bridge with buses leaving every 45 minutes.
This is the busiest island of the group, however – and which the beach is clean, expect crowds with day trippers often visiting before their flight home.
The Sun recently visited the W Algarve – here’s what you can expect.
And we’ve rounded up the best hotels in the Algarve with waterparks.
