Have you ever heard of Porto Santo? I hadn't before arriving in Madeira, but I quickly discovered that it's a truly special island. With its breathtaking golden sandy beaches and dramatic volcanic landscape, Porto Santo offers the perfect escape. This charming island, part of the Madeira archipelago, is just a 2.5-hour ferry ride away. Embarking on a holiday in Porto Santo promises an ideal blend of relaxation and adventure. Learn about the numerous activities to enjoy on Porto Santo island in this article.
When the ferry approached Porto Santo, a little after 10:30 a.m., I saw the island's huge volcanic cone jutting out. Wow! What a welcome to this rugged island. I couldn’t wait to start exploring this hidden gem in the Atlantic Ocean.
During our two-day getaway, we stayed at Vila Baleira, which was the perfect location for us to explore the beaches, natural pools, and hikes of the island. As it's only a small island, 11km long and 6km wide, it is very easy to move around, either by car or bicycle. However, be aware that there are hilly parts in Porto Santo that can be challenging to explore by bike.
The first thing we had to do was walk along the stunning 9 km-long golden beach. In comparison to Madeira, it is so nice to have this beautiful sandy beach right in front of the hotel! There were lots of water sports going on, and lots of people were windsurfing, kayaking and snorkelling.
While visiting Porto Santo, our main goal was to explore the island and its hiking trails. We decided to start with the ascent of Pico de Ana Ferreira, the highest point on the western side of Porto Santo, rising to an impressive 283 meters above sea level. The rock formations of Pico de Ana Ferreira, sculpted by ancient volcanic activity, proved to be both fascinating and sturdy to traverse. These awe-inspiring rock columns, with their pentagonal organ pipe-like shapes, stand as a testament to the island's volcanic history, offering a glimpse into its geological past. But besides hiking up to the summit of Pico de Ana Ferreira, which offers an incredible view of Porto Santo, there are many other things to do in the nearby area. “The Organ Pipes”, for example, are an easy spot to visit if you don’t want to hike up to the summit. These remarkable basalt columns are the exposed chimney of the volcano and are revealed after millions of years of erosion.
Another beautiful spot we visited was the windmills of Porto Santo, known as the “Moinhos de Vento.” These windmills were used to grind grain in the past, but nowadays, they are a picturesque landmark in Porto Santo.
After lunch, we explored the Casa Colombo – Porto Santo Museum to learn about the history of Porto Santo Island. The house is said to have been the former residence of Christopher Columbus and his wife Filipa, daughter of the first governor of Porto Santo. It was amazing to uncover the island's rich cultural and historical insights.
As the day was slowly coming to an end, we wanted to go to a nice spot for sunset. Miradouro das Flores viewpoint looked very good in the pictures that we’d seen, and after we arrived, we knew we were in for a treat! The cliffs were gleaming in golden light, and after the sun had set, the sky put on a beautiful, colourful show. It was the perfect ending to our first day exploring Porto Santo!
The next day, it was time for two other fun activities: hiking to Terra Chã and kayaking to explore the stunning coastline of Porto Santo. First, we set off to the Northeastern part of the island to hike PR1 - Vereda do Pico Branco & Terra Chã. This trail takes you through the greenest part of the island to stunning coastal views surrounded by trees. The 5-kilometre out-and-back trail with a 300-meter incline was a lovely morning activity.
After our morning hike, we returned to the hotel to prepare for the next adventure of the day: kayaking in the ocean! It was my first time kayaking in the sea, and let me tell you, it's quite different from kayaking on a calm lake. Having said that, it was amazing to explore Porto Santo from a different perspective and see the impressive rock formations and natural caves along the coast. We also visited a beach that is usually hard to reach. It was full of adventure vibes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend it if you enjoy a little adventure during your Porto Santo holiday.
We ended the day by searching for a good spot to watch the sunset. This time, we visited the Furado Norte Viewpoint, which offered excellent views of the Lighthouse of Ilhéu de Ferro. This historic lighthouse is situated on a small island off the west coast of Porto Santo. We had the place to ourselves and found a perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful ocean views. As the sun set, the sky turned vibrant shades of orange and purple, providing a perfect conclusion to our wonderful time on Porto Santo Island. It was time to head back to Madeira Island and continue our adventure on these beautiful Atlantic islands.
