Hotel Oásis Belorizonte Review | Sal, Cape Verde All-Inclusive
Hotel Oásis Atlântico Belorizonte, Sal — The Complete Resort Review
In a row of shiny concrete mega-resorts, the Hotel Oásis Atlântico Belorizonte is a bit of a charmer — a relaxed, four-star all-inclusive famous for its wooden beach bungalows scattered through palm gardens, right on the sand and a few minutes' stroll from town. It trades scale and gloss for character, location and an easygoing island feel.
This is our honest, in-depth review: the vibe, the famous bungalows, the saltwater pools, the family facilities, the dining, and how it compares to its smarter sister hotel next door. The short version? It's a well-located, characterful, family-friendly option with a unique "beach hut" appeal — just go in knowing it's a laid-back 4-star, not a polished luxury resort.
Resort Overview & Vibe
The Belorizonte is a popular, relaxed four-star all-inclusive, and its calling card is the layout. Instead of towering blocks, the resort is built mainly from exotic, chalet-style wooden bungalows set right on the beach and dotted among small "islands" of intense green garden. It gives the whole place a low-rise, tropical, slightly bohemian atmosphere you simply don't get at the bigger resorts.
The mood is laid-back, friendly and family-oriented, with an authentic, unpretentious island feel. It's the kind of resort where the location and character do the heavy lifting. Worth being straight with readers: guest reviews are a little mixed on value and the interiors can feel dated, so set expectations for relaxed and characterful rather than slick and modern — and you'll likely love it.
Location & The Beach
This is where the Belorizonte really shines. It sits in a prime, front-line position directly on the white sands of Santa Maria Beach, with the golden sand reached straight through the hotel's garden gate.
Best of all, it's wonderfully close to town: the vibrant centre of Santa Maria is only around an 8–10 minute walk (roughly 300m) away. That's a huge selling point — you can wander into town for local restaurants, craft markets, bars and nightlife whenever you like, no taxi required. The airport (Amílcar Cabral International) is about 18km away, a 20–30 minute transfer.
Rooms & The Famous Beach Bungalows
There are several hundred units across the resort, in two main styles — and choosing between them is the key decision here.
Standard bungalows. The iconic option: freestanding wooden chalets set among the sand and gardens, each with a small balcony or porch. Inside you get air conditioning, satellite flat-screen TV, a minibar, safe and an en-suite bathroom. They're cosy and full of character (if compact), and being able to step from your porch onto garden or sand is a genuine treat.
Family bungalows. Ideal for families — many bungalows are configured as twins or doubles equipped with bunk beds for two children, making them a practical, fun choice for parents.
Superior rooms & suites. If you'd rather have a traditional hotel room, there's a masonry main building with superior rooms and suites, each with a balcony facing the ocean or the saltwater pool. A handful of rooms are adapted for guests with reduced mobility. There are also a couple of bungalow suites for a bit more space.
(One practical note: room/bungalow counts vary by source as categories get reconfigured, but expect a few hundred units overall, the large majority of them bungalows.)
Pools, Saltwater Swimming, & Family Facilities
The pools. There are three outdoor swimming pools, and here's the unusual bit: two of them are saltwater — gentler on skin and eyes and a nice point of difference from the standard chlorinated pools elsewhere on the island. There's also a Jacuzzi/hot tub, plus sun loungers, parasols and a towel service throughout.
Kids' facilities. A strong showing for families: three dedicated children's pools (so little ones swim in a smaller, safer environment), an outdoor playground, a games room, a hotel-run Kids' Club and daily children's activities. It's a reassuring setup for parents of younger kids.
Sports. There's an on-site tennis court and a daily animation programme of games and activities for those who want to join in.
Food & Drink: All-Inclusive Dining
Dining is all-inclusive across three restaurants plus several bars, with a focus on a mix of Cape Verdean and international flavours.
- Santa Maria — the main buffet restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with a broad spread and live options.
- À la carte venues — the resort complements the main buffet with additional restaurants such as Pedra de Lume, the Italian Flôr de Sal, and the Salinas Grill specialising in fresh grills, seafood and salads (à la carte venues are typically dinner-only and worth booking ahead).
- Bars — several bars around the resort, including poolside and a relaxed wooden beach bar for a drink or a light bite with your toes in the sand.
As at most Cape Verde all-inclusives, the buffet is the reliable workhorse and the à la carte venues add welcome variety — book the speciality restaurants early in your stay.
Entertainment, Spa, & Extra Amenities
Wellness & activities. There's a full-service spa for massages and treatments, a fitness centre, and an on-site diving club — handy given Sal's reef-rich waters are excellent for snorkelling and diving (with marine life and even shark-spotting trips along the coast).
Nightlife. Evenings bring a live entertainment programme of shows and music, and with town an easy stroll away you've got Santa Maria's bars on tap too. Reception is staffed 24 hours.
Practical perks. Complimentary Wi-Fi, laundry service, currency exchange and a games room are all on site. Two nice rarities for the island: the hotel is pet-friendly, and the public areas and some rooms are adapted for guests with reduced mobility — both unusual and genuinely useful for the travellers they matter to.
The Oásis Showdown: Belorizonte vs. Salinas Sea
The Belorizonte has a smarter sibling right next door, and they're owned by the same company — so which should you pick?
- Oásis Atlântico Belorizonte — the 4-star, bungalow-heavy, relaxed family resort. Great value, brilliant location and a unique "beach hut" character, but more dated and lower-key.
- Oásis Salinas Sea — the newer, premium 5-star property next door, with modern, spacious rooms, a more polished design and more sophisticated service (and a higher price tag to match).
Frequent visitors describe them as "like night and day": choose Belorizonte for character, value and the bungalow experience; choose Salinas Sea if you want contemporary five-star comfort in the same fantastic spot.
FAQs
Is Oásis Belorizonte good for families?
Yes — it's a solid family choice, with a Kids' Club, three children's pools, an outdoor playground, a games room and family bungalows fitted with bunk beds. The walkable-to-town location and relaxed vibe suit families well.
Does Oásis Belorizonte have bungalows?
Yes — they're its signature feature. Most of the resort is made up of wooden, chalet-style bungalows set on the beach and among the gardens, alongside some superior masonry rooms and suites for those who prefer a traditional hotel room.
How far is the hotel from Santa Maria town?
Very close — around an 8–10 minute walk (roughly 300m) to the town centre, so you can explore the local restaurants, markets and nightlife without a taxi.
Does the hotel have saltwater pools?
Yes — of the three main outdoor pools, two are saltwater, which many guests find gentler on skin and eyes. There's also a Jacuzzi and three separate children's pools.
Are there standard hotel rooms, or just bungalows?
Both. While the resort is famous for its bungalows, it also has superior rooms and suites in a masonry main building, with balconies facing the sea or the saltwater pool.
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