About: Tucked along the dramatic north coast of São Miguel Island, Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort was “born in 2015” from a love of the Azores’ wild beauty – the black sand beaches, emerald pastures and volcanic peaks. Today it stands as the Azores’ pioneering eco-resort, a collection of stylish studios and villas cascading down a hillside overlooking the ocean. Built from natural materials like local cryptomeria wood, bamboo and cork, the architecture blends modern comfort with traditional Azorean design, carefully adjusted to the land’s contours to minimize visual impact. The resort’s sustainability practices run deep: thermally efficient cork insulation and double-glazed windows keep interiors cool without need for excessive AC, while solar panels and high-efficiency heat pumps provide hot water and heating. A rainwater catchment basin stores water for garden irrigation, supplemented by a natural on-site lake – nothing is wasted from the frequent Atlantic rains. All around, native flora like grasses and juniper stabilizes the dunes, and an organic farm on the property supplies farm-to-table dining at the resort’s restaurant. Here guests savor dishes featuring island produce and fresh catch, as well as house-made items from the resort’s own gardens and greenhouses. Days at Santa Barbara are filled with nature-driven experiences: surfing and paddleboarding the breaks just offshore (the resort provides lessons and free boards), hiking lush coastal trails, morning yoga with ocean views, or relaxing in the beachfront infinity pool built into the lava rocks. The resort’s team actively involves guests in conservation – organizing beach clean-ups, local tree-planting, and even workshops to learn about Azorean agriculture and cuisine. In line with Azorean values, single-use plastics have been eliminated (water is served in glass bottles, straws are banned, amenities come in refillable dispensers) and all waste is rigorously recycled or composted. Santa Barbara’s spa cabanas use natural, locally inspired ingredients (think clay, seaweed, citrus) for treatments that soothe body and soul after a day of exploration. Impact: This resort has helped put the Azores on the map for responsible travel – it proudly holds a Green Key certification and has been lauded for “blending into the landscape” and proving that sustainability and luxury can coexist. Guests often highlight falling asleep to the sound of the Atlantic and waking to views of the mountains and sea – a reminder that here, nature is the star. Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort offers not just a holiday, but an Azorean way of life: deeply connected to land and ocean, deliciously slow-paced, and fiercely protective of its unspoiled paradise.