Praia de Igrejinha is a wild beach near Santa Maria with a natural pool and turtle nesting areas. Quiet and isolated, but with no facilities and sometimes litter. Ideal for raw nature seekers… not for anyone who needs comfort or constant security.
Ten minutes from the noise, but a different world
You walk out of Santa Maria, leave behind bars, asphalt and background music, and suddenly the landscape gets rougher. Dunes, volcanic rock, and a sea that no longer feels brochure-friendly. That’s Praia de Igrejinha: a beach that doesn’t try to charm you — and for that exact reason, it divides opinions.
No sunbeds, no excuses. Just nature… and its contradictions.
A wild beach with a natural pool
Praia de Igrejinha sits outside the main tourist circuit, protected by rock formations that create a natural pool with calm, surprisingly warm water. It’s not Sal’s typical long open beach — it’s a smaller, uneven bay, more intimate and more raw.
The name comes from a small church that no longer exists. If someone mentions it, they’re late. What remains is the space… and the silence.
It works brilliantly for people chasing solitude, calm and that “found it myself” feeling. It doesn’t work for anyone expecting services, spotless sand, or a sense of safety that’s already taken care of.
Calm water, rocks and sea life
When conditions are right, the natural pool is the main attraction: almost still water, good for floating, watching fish and, if you’re lucky, spotting a young turtle near the shore. Just a few metres out, underwater life shows up quickly: coastal fish, coral and constant movement.
Between August and September, this area is known as a turtle nesting zone, which helps explain why parts of the sand can look soft or disturbed. This is a place to walk carefully.
It’s also appreciated by local fishermen and anyone who just wants to sit and watch the sea with nobody around.
Total peace… and obvious neglect
The vibe is often near-total emptiness. You can be alone for a long time, even in high season. Wind, waves breaking outside the bay, and the sense of isolation do the rest.
But there’s a less pretty side: trash washed in by the sea. It’s not always excessive, but when it’s there, you notice it. The place can feel left to itself, more from lack of maintenance than lack of natural value.
Here, calm isn’t a service. It’s a consequence.
Isolation, dirt and a risk feeling
This is the sensitive part. Some visitors report negative experiences linked to isolation and lack of security. This isn’t a supervised beach — there are no services and no constant presence of anyone nearby.
It’s not a place to go at night, and not a place to feel overly confident if you’re uncomfortable in very empty spaces. It’s also not ideal in rough sea: outside the pool area, the ocean here can be aggressive and rocky.
If you want calm with guarantees, this might not be your beach.
PRACTICAL TIPS · So the experience doesn’t go sideways
– Go during the day and ideally with someone.
– Bring water, some shade, and expect no facilities.
– Wear footwear suitable for rock if you plan to explore.
– Respect potential nesting areas.
– If you see litter, you’ll understand why some love it… and others don’t return.
A beach that doesn’t ask for visitors, it asks for judgement
Praia de Igrejinha is one of those places you don’t recommend lightly. It has beauty, calm and moments that feel almost unreal. But it also has neglect, occasional litter, and that clear sense of “you’re on your own here”.
If you know what you’re coming for, it can be special. If not, it might be better to keep walking.
Nature here isn’t prepared for you. You need to be prepared for it.
