Porto Santo

Vila Baleira, Porto Santo’s main town, may be small in size, but it makes up for it with charm and character, and you can easily explore the historic centre in about an hour or so. Start near the old pier, a favourite spot for locals, and take in views of Porto Santo Beach and the hills in the distance. From there, wander through the town square and past buildings with traditional Madeiran architecture. Around the square, you’ll find several of Vila Baleira’s key sights, including the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Piedade, the town’s main church, the town hall, and the Casa Colombo Museum. The latter is well worth a visit if you’re interested in learning more about the island’s maritime past. Cafés and restaurants nearby offer a chance to sit back and watch the world go by.

Porto Santo’s main beach runs for almost 9 km, stretching nearly the full length of the island, and it’s hard not to end up here at least once a day. The sand is fine and golden, the sea is usually calm, and the scale of it all means there’s always room to spread out, even during summertime. Beach bars and cafés can be found right behind the dunes, and Vila Baleira, the island's main town, is just around the corner, making it easy to combine a swim with a coffee, a snack, or a stroll through the streets.

Stop at Miradouro das Flores and take in how much of Porto Santo fits into a single view. On one side, Ilhéu da Cal sits offshore, its pale cliffs rising around 150 metres straight out of the sea, a reminder of the island’s mining past and now protected and off-limits to visitors. Turn the other way and the view opens right up, with Porto Santo’s peaks, the northeast coast, and the full sweep of the 9 km beach laid out in front of you — an easy stop that delivers more than you expect.

Pico de Ana Ferreira is a peak on Porto Santo, home to one of the island’s most mesmerising natural sights: the Organ Pipes. These vertical, pentagonal basalt columns, formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, rise straight up from the mountainside, perfectly shaped and stacked as if carved by hand. Up close, their size and symmetry are even more impressive. A short trail continues from the base of the columns to the Ana Ferreira Cave near the summit. The cave is huge and offers a fantastic view over the eastern side of Porto Santo, including the island’s peaks.

This is Porto Santo’s most popular walk, though it rarely feels crowded, especially if you go first thing in the morning. The well-marked PR1 trail is around 5 km return and threads through the island’s northeastern hills, crossing a protected Natura 2000 area where you can spot native plants, wildflowers, and seabirds. The route is moderately challenging, with some steady climbs, but nothing too demanding for anyone used to hill walking. The reward comes at the viewpoints. Terra Chã looks out over rugged cliffs and deep blue water, while Pico Branco, the island’s second-highest point, offers wide 360-degree views across Porto Santo and the Atlantic beyond. The whole hike typically takes under three hours at an easy, unhurried pace, and at the top, you'll find a few picnic areas if you want to recharge before heading back.

One of Porto Santo’s best-known viewpoints, Miradouro da Portela, offers sweeping views to the north and south. From here, you can take in the entire southern half of the island, including the 9 km-long beach, and see how the island’s low peaks give it a surprisingly open, almost barren feel. On a clear day, Madeira even appears in the distance. A short walk will bring you to the island’s three remaining traditional windmills. Painted white and red with sturdy stone bases, they’re no longer in use but are wonderfully preserved and make a great spot for photos, framed by both the ocean and the inland hills. Portela gets especially magical at sunrise or sunset, when the light casts the bay in golden hues. It’s also easy to combine this stop with nearby attractions like Porto dos Frades natural pools or the Terra Chã hike.

Explore the island's volcanic tidal pools, where calm, crystal-clear waters gather in rocky hollows along the coast. Porto das Salemas on the north side offers small emerald-coloured pools perfect for a refreshing swim at low tide, while Porto dos Frades on the east coast combines tidal pools with dramatic rock formations and a small seasonal restaurant nearby. Bring water shoes, be sure to check the tide, and enjoy a quieter side of the island away from the beach crowds.

Perched above the northern coast, the Miradouro da Fonte da Areia offers far‑reaching views of the Ilhéu da Fonte de Areia, the cliffs, and the island’s stark, dramatic landscape. The area takes its name from the abundant sand and the spring once considered sacred by locals. Around you, wind‑shaped sandstone formations, made of shell and algae fragments that eventually formed Porto Santo’s beaches, offer a tangible reminder of the island’s volcanic origins.

At 517 metres, Pico do Facho is the highest point on Porto Santo and one of the island’s most spectacular viewpoints. Its name comes from facho, a signal fire once lit here to warn the local population of approaching pirate ships. The trail to the summit is moderately easy, suitable for most walkers who are comfortable with uneven terrain and a bit of uphill hiking. It typically takes around 2 to 2½ hours for a round trip at a leisurely pace. Along the way, the trail offers occasional lookout spots where you can pause to take in the island’s volcanic ridges and sweeping landscapes. Once at the summit, you’ll be treated to full 360-degree views: the island’s long golden beach stretched below, rugged volcanic hills rolling inland, and the Atlantic fading into the horizon.

Take a break from Porto Santo’s dry west at Quinta das Palmeiras, a little oasis of lush gardens and a mini zoo. Spot peacocks strutting past palm trees, parrots squawking overhead, and swans and ducks floating lazily across the ponds. A perfect stop for families or anyone looking for a change of scenery.

The dunes of Porto Santo might not be huge, but they’re a fascinating sight. Fine sand, traces of coral, and layered sediment form natural patterns and small ridges, while the backdrop shifts between low mountains and the Atlantic Ocean. This unique ecosystem is one of the few sandy dune systems in the Madeira Archipelago, and it’s just a short walk from the beach.