Santa Maria Beach

Santa Maria Beach is a district to the southwest of the city center of Los Santos, and is controlled by the Grove Street Families. Carl Johnson owns a home in the area, although he primarily lives in the Johnson House in Ganton. The beach is based on the real-life Santa Monica Beach.

As mentioned above, Santa Maria Beach is a stronghold for the Grove Street Families. Usually, members of the GSF and the Ballas have a gunfight near this area, as Verona Beach, a Ballas-controlled district, is just east of Santa Maria Beach. Later on in the storyline, upon the player's return to Los Santos, this area belongs to the Ballas, but can be reclaimed as GSF territory through gang warfare.

Besides Verona Beach, surrounding areas are Marina, Rodeo, Los Santos Inlet and Flint County.

Events of GTA San Andreas

Santa Maria Beach plays a relatively small role in the storyline of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Santa Maria Beach features during the Life's a Beach mission, where Carl Johnson steals a sound van for Jeffrey "OG Loc" Cross. During the mission, Carl also dances with the DJ. Later on in the storyline, Frank Tenpenny sends Carl to follow and kill an informant in the mission Snail Trail, who goes to the end of the pier in Santa Maria Beach. Santa Maria Beach also appears during the mission Cut Throat Business, where Carl Johnson and Madd Dogg chase OG Loc across parts of Los Santos and Flint County. Santa Maria Beach is also the starting point for the triathlon events that take place in Los Santos.