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Beaches & Islands
Porto Santo, Selvagens and Desertas: the hidden islands near Madeira
Three islands, three completely different worlds.
Madeira is an archipelago, and its other islands are three entirely different experiences. Porto Santo is the beach island, the Desertas are the safari island, and the Selvagens are the extreme. Here is how to choose, and what each one is really like.
In short
Madeira is an archipelago, and its other islands are three entirely different experiences. Porto Santo is the beach island: 9 km of golden sand, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, about two hours by ferry or 25 minutes by air. The Desertas are the safari island: a nature reserve a day's boat trip away, home to one of the rarest seals in the world. The Selvagens are the extreme: a remote reserve some 280 km away, nearly inaccessible, and that is exactly what makes them mythical.
Which to choose
| Porto Santo | Desertas | Selvagens | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distance | ~40 km (2h15 ferry, 25 min flight) | ~25 km (day trip) | ~280 km (expedition) |
| Experience | Beach, wellness, golf, rest | Wildlife, nature reserve | Untouched nature, rare adventure |
| Sleep there? | Yes, hotels and local accommodation | No | No |
| Who for | Families, couples, anyone who needs to stop | Nature enthusiasts, photographers | Determined naturalists and sailors |
| Logistical effort | Low | Medium (book a licensed operator) | High (permit plus expedition) |
Porto Santo: the golden island
It is the perfect counterpoint to Madeira. Where the main island is vertical, green and dramatic, Porto Santo is horizontal, golden and serene. The 9 km continuous beach is among the Seven Wonders of Portugal, and the whole island, its six islets and the surrounding marine area have been a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since October 2020. Beyond the beach there is 27-hole golf, diving around the islets, coastal trails, wellness built on the therapeutic sand, and the house where Columbus lived.
How long: a day feels short, two or three nights is the sweet spot, a week to properly switch off.
We cover the full inventory of the island in "Is Porto Santo only a beach?", the crossing in "Ferry or flight?", and the shoulder season in "The discreet island".
Desertas: the safari island
Some 25 km to the south-east, the three Desertas Islands draw the horizon seen from Funchal, and almost everyone photographs them without knowing what lives there. They are a nature reserve, inhabited only by nature wardens, and their treasure is the colony of Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest seals on the planet, brought back from the edge of extinction. They are visited on full-day trips with licensed maritime operators from Funchal, often with dolphins accompanying the journey. There are no hotels, no cafés and no signal: that is the point.
We tell the full story, including the world's largest wolf spider, in "The islands of silence".
Selvagens: the edge of the map
Some 280 km to the south, closer to the Canaries than to Madeira, the Selvagens are one of Portugal's oldest nature reserves, protected since 1971. They host one of the largest colonies of Cory's shearwater in the world and receive very few visitors a year: a visit requires authorisation from the conservation authorities and a long ocean crossing, normally on organised expeditions or licensed private vessels. This is not a holiday destination, it is a pilgrimage for lovers of absolute nature.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see all three on one trip?
Porto Santo and the Desertas, yes, on separate days. The Selvagens require their own planning and do not fit a conventional trip.
Which should I choose if I only have time for one?
Porto Santo, without hesitation. It is the only one where you can stay, and the only one that works for every kind of traveller.
Can I visit the Desertas independently?
Only with your own vessel and following the reserve's rules. For most visitors, the route is via licensed operators, who know the zones and the approach rules for the wildlife.
From a day of golden sand to an expedition to the islands of silence, we design the logistics for you.
Discover Porto Santo See Madeira by Sea