Due to Mother Nature, the Nao Santa Maria is delayed and the new arrival date in Beaufort is scheduled for high tide on Sunday afternoon, March 31st.
“Due to a storm system off the east coast, the Santa Maria docked safely at Cape Canaveral while en route to Beaufort,” the Santa Elena History Center announced this morning. “They will embark from there for the 40 hour journey and project an arrival through St. Helena Sound to the downtown sea wall during Sunday’s high tide.”
Originally set to arrive today and be open for tours through April 7th, tours will now start on Monday April 1st.
The ship allows visitors to see what it was like aboard the ships that carried Columbus and crew across the ocean. The tours consist of a guided tour through the 5 decks of the Santa MarĂa, where you can find informative panels with the history of the ship, ornamental elements of the time and talk with the crew to feel how to live like the Spanish sailors did 500 years ago.
While in port, the general public is invited to visit the ship for a walk-aboard, self-guided tour. Admission charges are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students 5 – 11.  Children 4 and under are free and family packages are also available at discounted rates. The ship is open every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The ship will be docked at the downtown Beaufort marina, adjacent to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Tickets for tours can be purchased here.
Also, learn more about the Nao Santa Maria here.
