Kitesurf hotel · Sal, Cape Verde
RIU Palace Santa Maria: A Family Resort on Sal, 800 m From the Kite School
A 1,001-room, 24-hour all-inclusive RIU resort at the southern tip of Sal, with Splash Water World and RIU Land, about 800 m from Kite & Tonic's station.
- Kite school about 800 m away
- 24-hour all-inclusive
- Splash Water World water park
- RIU Land kids club, 4 to 12
In short
The RIU Palace Santa Maria is a 5-star resort at the southern tip of Sal, about 2 km from Santa Maria: 1,001 rooms in six blocks, five restaurants and seven bars, all on a 24-hour all-inclusive plan. It opened in 2021 and forms one connected complex with the Riu Funana and the adults-only Riu Cabo Verde, sharing Splash Water World and the RIU Land kids club for ages 4 to 12.
It is not right on a kite station. Kite & Tonic teaches on the beach in front of the Riu Funana, about 800 m (10 minutes on foot) from the Palace's main building, with flat water, a slightly side-offshore wind and lessons from its own boat. Kite Beach, Sal's main spot, is a short taxi ride away. Good to know: the resort is large and busy, and guest reviews mention rough sea on windy days.
At a glance
Kite Fit
- Distance to the spot
- About 800 m (10 min on foot) to Kite & Tonic, on the Riu Funana beach (map listings)
- School
- Kite & Tonic: one or two students per instructor, lessons from a boat
- Wind
- Side-shore to slightly side-offshore at the school; side-onshore at Kite Beach
- Water
- Flat on the RIU beach; chop and swell at Kite Beach
- Level
- Beginners with the school; independent riders need to stay upwind
- Family
- Splash Water World, RIU Land for ages 4 to 12, family rooms
- Airport
- Sal (SID), 16 to 19 km, about 20 to 25 minutes
- Guest rating
- 4.6/5 on Google (4,158 reviews), 4.4/5 on TripAdvisor (5,780 reviews)
Verified with the official sites of RIU, TUI Group and Kite & Tonic, Hospitality ON and Alimarket, Google Maps listings and TripAdvisor · Updated October 2026
See the place
Video and Instagram
Hotel RIU Palace Santa Maria - Cape Verde | Walkthrough | Restaurants | Room | Surrounding Areas
A family's walkthrough of the hotel filmed in May 2024: reception, bars, the water park, gym and spa, pools, beach, a room and the restaurants, then Santa Maria and the island.
Video: Travel Turtles on YouTube
Wind forecast
7-day wind forecast at Santa Maria & Kite Beach
Updated 2 Nov, 10:47
GO16–24 ktsOK12–15 ktsSTRONG25 kts and moreLIGHTunder 12 kts
Strongest wind and gusts of the day, in knots. Kite sizes are a rough guide for a rider of about 75 kg. Weather data by Open-Meteo.com.
Where you sleep
Rooms
The 1,001 rooms are spread over six blocks, each entered through a portico topped by a 12-metre mask, all different, so you can find your building from the central walkway that runs from reception. These are some of the room types on RIU's website:
- The block you are given decides your walk to the kite school: ask for one close to the Riu Funana side if you plan to ride every day.
| Type | Good for |
|---|---|
| Double Standard | Couples |
| Double Room with sea view | Couples who want the ocean view |
| Family Room | Parents with children |
| Double with private pool | Adults only: couples who want a pool at the door |
The spot
The kite spot near the resort
The Palace's own beach faces south into Santa Maria bay, where the trade wind blows off the land. The kite schools are on the west side of the complex: walk through the resort or along the beach to the sand in front of the Riu Funana, where Kite & Tonic has its office next to the diving centre. From the Palace's main building that is about 800 m (Google Maps listings), around 10 minutes on foot.
Kite & Tonic describes the water there as smooth and flat over white sand, with a side-shore to slightly side-offshore wind, the occasional shorebreak and a boat on the water. Two tacks upwind bring you to Ponta Preta, a reef wave for experts only. Kite Beach, Sal's busiest spot, with side-onshore wind and chop, is a short taxi ride away, about €7 according to the school.
Families
For families and non-kiters
Splash Water World, the water park in the area shared by the three RIU hotels, and the RIU Land kids club for ages 4 to 12 (in groups of 4 to 7 and 8 to 12) are the family highlights, along with a RIU Land pool with water jets and games for the youngest. Six of the resort's pools face the beach, joined by a wide sun deck, and RIU lists a pool with a swim-up bar. Adults get a spa and wellness centre, and there are shows and live music in the evening.
The five restaurants and seven bars include Japanese, Italian and fusion restaurants alongside the buffets. The beach is long and sandy, but guest reviews on TripAdvisor often mention rough water and a strong undertow, so keep swims for calm days. Santa Maria town, with its restaurants and shops, is about 2 km away.
Lessons
The kite school on the RIU beach
Kite & Tonic works from the beach in front of the Riu Funana, about 800 m from the Palace: one or two students per instructor, lessons from its boat, and storage for your own gear at €40 a week for two kites and a board (school figure).
Travel
Location and getting there
The resort is at Cabocan Lote E2, at the southern tip of Sal and about 2 km from Santa Maria. Sal's Amílcar Cabral airport is 16 to 19 km away, depending on the source, around 20 to 25 minutes by road. Taxis to Santa Maria cost a few euros, and Kite Beach is a short taxi ride further. More about the spots and the season in our Sal kitesurf guide; weighing up the islands? See Boa Vista.
Honest notes
Good to know before you book
- The kite station is not on the Palace's own beach: it is about 800 m away, in front of the Riu Funana.
- It is a large, busy resort: 1,001 rooms in six blocks, so walking times vary from one block to another.
- Kite lessons and storage are paid to the school, on top of the all-inclusive.
- Guest reviews often mention rough sea and a strong undertow on windy days.
- The rooms with a private pool are for adults only.
Our take
Our verdict
Great for
- Families who want a water park, a kids club and 24-hour all-inclusive
- Beginners happy to walk about 10 minutes to boat-supported lessons
- A kiter travelling with non-kiters who want a big resort
Think twice if you are
- Kiters who want to step from the room onto the kite beach
- Anyone looking for a small, quiet hotel
- Swimmers who need a calm sea every day
Book
How to book
Book direct with RIU
Rooms and offers on the official RIU website.
Book lessons with Kite & Tonic
Kite and windsurf lessons on the beach in front of the Riu Funana, by WhatsApp or the school's contact form.
We are not a travel agency: you book directly with the hotel, the school or Booking.com.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about RIU Palace Santa Maria
Is there a kite school at the RIU Palace Santa Maria?
Not at the Palace itself. Kite & Tonic teaches on the beach in front of the Riu Funana, part of the same connected RIU complex, about 800 m from the Palace's main building, with one or two students per instructor and a boat on the water.
How far is the RIU Palace Santa Maria from Kite Beach?
About 4.5 km in a straight line, on Sal's east coast: a short taxi ride, which Kite & Tonic prices at about €7. Kite Beach has side-onshore wind, chop and swell.
Is the RIU Palace Santa Maria all-inclusive?
Yes. It runs RIU's 24-hour all-inclusive, with five restaurants and seven bars, including Japanese, Italian and fusion restaurants alongside the buffets. Kite lessons are paid separately to the school.
Is the RIU Palace Santa Maria good for families?
Yes. Guests have Splash Water World, the RIU Land kids club for ages 4 to 12, a RIU Land pool with water jets, family rooms and day and evening entertainment.
Is the RIU Palace Santa Maria adults only?
No, it is a family resort, but its rooms with a private pool are for adults only. The Riu Cabo Verde, in the same connected complex, is an adults-only hotel.
Can you swim in the sea at the RIU Palace Santa Maria?
On calm days, yes: the hotel is right on a long sandy beach. Guest reviews often mention rough water and a strong undertow when the trade wind blows, so plan sea swims for calm days and use the pools on windy ones.
How far is the RIU Palace Santa Maria from Sal airport?
About 16 to 19 km, depending on the source, or roughly 20 to 25 minutes by road. Santa Maria town is about 2 km away.
Sources
Last checked October 2026
- Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria (official site)
- RIU: how the RIU Land kids club works (official)
- TUI Group: Riu Palace Santa Maria opening (press release)
- Hospitality ON: RIU inaugurates the Riu Palace Santa Maria
- Alimarket: Riu Palace Santa Maria opens (in Spanish)
- Kite & Tonic: directions and FAQ (official)
- Kite & Tonic: the kite spots (official)
- Google Maps: Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
- Google Maps: Kite & Tonic
- TripAdvisor: Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria
We only publish facts we could confirm with the official website or two independent sources. Spotted something out of date? Write to info@kitesurf.holiday.