Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort

Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort sits on a former pasture right above Santa Bárbara beach, a black-sand bay near Ribeira Grande on the north coast of São Miguel. Opened in 2015 as the first eco-beach resort in the Azores, it has thirty studios and villas, each with a small kitchenette, living area and a balcony facing the ocean and the green hills behind.

The buildings were shaped to follow the terrain and keep their visual impact low. They are clad in local cryptomeria wood and expanded cork, which also insulate them, and most of the construction work was done by local companies. Hot water comes from efficient heat pumps, lighting is LED, and key cards switch off power when guests leave. Rainwater from the roofs is stored in a basin to irrigate gardens planted mostly with native species.

The resort's farm and greenhouses supply vegetables, fruit and herbs to its restaurant, and the team clears the waste that the ocean washes onto the beach every day. Guests can surf, walk the island's trails or join workshops and nature experiences run with local partners. The resort is a short drive from Ponta Delgada and its airport.