Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria

Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria is an adults-only all-inclusive resort on Santa Maria Beach, Sal Island, operated by RIU Hotels & Resorts, the international Spanish hospitality group. The property occupies a beachfront site at the southern end of the Santa Maria tourist zone and represents RIU's Palace tier — the brand's premium adults-only category, distinguished from the standard RIU hotel range by enhanced room finishes, a refined dining programme, and an atmosphere oriented towards couples, honeymooners, and discerning adult travellers seeking quiet and quality. The resort's architecture follows a grand-hotel design with a large central building flanked by lower accommodation wings, set within manicured tropical gardens that provide a buffer between the main structure and the beach. Public areas are finished to a higher standard than typical all-inclusive resorts, with marble flooring, polished stonework, and large ornamental water features in the entrance hall and lobby areas. Room categories include standard double rooms, junior suites, and suites, all fitted with private balconies or terraces, air conditioning, satellite television, in-room safe, minibar, and full en-suite bathrooms. The Palace Club section of the resort provides access to an exclusive lounge, priority restaurant reservations, and room upgrade opportunities for guests booking the highest categories. Dining at the resort includes a main international buffet restaurant operating at all three meal services, and a selection of à la carte specialty restaurants including a grill house and a seafood restaurant requiring prior reservation but included in the all-inclusive rate. Cocktail bars, swim-up bars, and a beach bar are distributed across the property. The resort's spa and wellness centre offers a comprehensive menu of treatments, thermal circuits, and massage therapies. A fitness centre, tennis courts, water aerobics classes, and two swimming pools — one featuring a swim-up bar — are available within the all-inclusive package. Evening entertainment is curated for an adult audience, with live music, themed dinner events, and cultural performances featuring Cape Verdean music.