island information

The stable climate of Porto Santo with its tempting warm waters, nine kilometres of golden therapeutic sands is the perfect setting for a romantic sunset.

A mere 40 km away from the island of Madeira, two and a half hours by boat or, if preferred, just 15 minutes by plane, lies one of the most beautiful and idyllic islands in the world, Porto Santo!

The Beautiful island of Porto Santo is relatively small, only measuring a mere 11km long and 6km wide.

Here you will find a unspoilt island with a wealth of features. It is said that Porto Santo has the best beaches in the Atlantic, and at 9km in length, it is simply stunning. The soft, golden sand is renowned for its therapeutic properties, bathed by a warm and crystal clear sea, a dry and stable climate all year round, are but some of its attributes. It has several beach bars dotted along its length and also has some beachfront hotels.

The island dates back centuries, it was discovered in 1418 by João Gonçalves Zarco, who after being blown there by a savage storm, he called the island Porto Santo (Holy Port) in his gratitude.

Christopher Columbus also lived on the island. He arrived in Funchal in 1478 and was astounded by the natural beauty of the island and after marrying the daughter of the governor of Funchal, he moved to Porto Santo and built a house in Vila Baleira, the islands capital. The house still stands today, and was restored to its former glory for the 500th anniversary of the explorer's landing in America and is now a museum, which contains an account of his life, along with paintings, rare maps and engravings.

Just as Christopher Columbus did whilst living on the island, you also will find in Porto Santo your refuge, the place where everything happens at a slow pace, enabling you to thoroughly enjoy the holiday of a lifetime!

Here you will discover peace, tranquillity and a slow pace of life.

If you think this is an over exaggeration, then why not come and see for yourself!

The Porto Santo Golf Course, designed by Spanish golfing champion Severiano Ballesteros, will be the largest course in the whole of the Madeira Archipelago and will be able to cater for 500 persons playing golf at once. There will be two 18-hole golf courses and one of nine-hole course.

The first phase , which opened in October 2004, involved the building of an 18 hole 72 par golf course, for professional players and a nine hole 3 par circuit called 'Pitch and Putt', which can be covered within one hour.

The second phase, which is in development, will include an 18-hole golf course similar to that of the first phase.

Porto Santo golf complex which will also include eight tennis courts, will circle Pico Ana Ferreira, connecting the tennis courts to the Horse-riding Centre already built here, and this in turn, to the golf courses. In the future, the complex may be expanded to include other sports , making it the largest sports complex in the Autonomous Region of Madeira. Read more...

There are several beach bars along the coast, which serve excellent value food and drink and some even have free sun loungers for you to use if you are having lunch with them.

Near the harbour of Porto Santo, a row of lively bars has been built to keep any noise away from the residential areas. Here you will find a collection of very different bars and restaurants to cater for all ages and tastes. Taxi’s to and from the harbour area are readily available from the town, and are reasonably priced.

For the more traditional bars head to the old square in Vila Baleira, here you will find quaint little bars and restaurants full of locals having a good time. Here you will often find live music or street entertainment in the square for you to enjoy over a chilled bottle of wine.

There are also some excellent restaurants around the mountain areas, which can be aesily found if you have the use of a hire car, although some of the restaurants offer a free courtesy bus service to take you from the centre of town to the restaurant and back.

On an island surrounded by an immense, translucent ocean full of life and excitement, it is hard to decide on the most exhilarating activity to help us make the most of this gift of nature.
With average temperatures between 19ºC and 23ºC, it delights all those that succumb to its temptations.

Porto Santo, like Madeira before it, is getting quite an international reputation as a top-class destination for deep-sea fishing. It’s the right place to fish for blue marlin over 500 kg, given the abundance and quality of fish from the tuna family.

Porto Santo has long been a favourite spot for divers, thanks to the purity, colour and temperature of its waters and the beauty of its underwater seascapes. Start with snorkelling and discover the delights of marine life. You will not be able to resist the temptation to dive into this fantastic submarine world. The favourite place for divers is the area south of the harbour where the Madeirense has lain sunk since 2000 after sailing for decades between Porto Santo and Madeira. Four years later, hundreds of divers have already visited it and they all agree that this dive has the potential for becoming a world-level site.

Give yourself over to the delights of a calm, warm sea and enjoy the island to the rhythm of the gentle waves. Sail or row while you feast your eyes on the contrasts of the island’s different coasts.

Make use of the bay of translucent, bright blue waters lapping against the immense golden beach and submit to the excitement of jet skiing and water skiing.

Challenge the wind and make the most of a beach where you can find a place just for you, with excellent conditions for enjoying the excitement of windsurfing or kite surfing. These sports are attracting more and more fans and filling the island’s calm waters with colour and movement.

Porto Santo and its mild climate make this island a very attractive place for open-air sports throughout the year. There are modern sports facilities for professionals and amateurs alike.

Riding along easy or difficult trails in Porto Santo is the ideal way to get rid of stress. Beautiful scenery is guaranteed all the way.

Venture into inland Porto Santo at the wheel of a 4x4 vehicle and enjoy the unique views. The excitement of getting over natural obstacles to reach deserted, out-of-the-way spots is unforgettable.

The Island, with its golden sands and clear blue sea, make it the ideal place for experienced gliders and beginners alike. There are good takeoff sites and plenty of alternatives for landing. Climb to the top of one of peaks, pluck up courage to take off and enjoy gliding over the golden sands and radiant blue sea.

Porto Santo is relatively flat and cycling is a very popular way of exploring the island. Pedal calmly off to discover its magical nooks and crannies.

The island of Porto Santo, lies just 40 Kilometres northeast of Madeira, and has a whole range of natural healthy features. An almost never-ending stretch of golden sandy beach is bathed by a transparent blue warm sea, which heals and rejuvenates body and mind.

The major attractions of this island lie not only in its qualities as a beach resort but also as a health resort. The sands are therapeutic, with fine, soft grains containing healing organic matter with a carbonated chemical composition. Using these precious raw materials, a thalassotherapy health clinic was built combining comprehensive healing programs with products inspired by the sea and sand. This revitalising haven aims to create the perfect environment for detoxification, rejuvenation, stress management, encouraging health and well-being.

A unique combination of treatments caresses the senses; using the unique therapeutic qualities of the golden sand and the pure Atlantic waters to its best effect.

Come and discover a golden island surrounded by turquoise blue water, where the sun shines and tranquillity reigns.