His research area includes Canarian history, African history, and comparative history between Atlantic Islands, including Macaronesia, the Caribbean, and the African archipelagos. He is the author of El comercio exterior de las Canarias Orientales durante el reinado de Felipe IV (2002),La puerta afortunada. Canarias en las relaciones hispano-africanas de los siglos XVII y XVIII (2002) and Las representaciones de la Historia Moderna en el cine (2007). Professor Santana-Pérez is currently working on the relationship between Cuba and the Canaries and contacts between Spain and Africa.