Boat trip around the island
The islets of Cal and Farol seen up close, with a stop for snorkeling in protected waters. Turtle sightings are common; dolphins, occasional.
Summer didn't end.
It just moved.
Plan your Porto Santo escape
Porto Santo offers far more than its 9 km of continuous golden beach: therapeutic sand baths, an 18-hole golf course designed by Seve Ballesteros, jeep tours to volcanic viewpoints, boat trips to protected islets, and a swimming season that extends into November. Most visitors need 2 to 3 days to see it properly, longer for a full course of wellness treatments.
- 9 km of continuous sand across six named sections, from Penedo to Ribeiro Salgado
- Voted Best Beach in Europe 2022 by European Best Destinations
- Biogenic, organogenic sand, rich in calcium, strontium and iodine — unlike the quartz sand of continental Europe
- UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, 42 km2, around 5,000 residents
- About 15 minutes by air from Madeira, or 2h15–2h30 by ferry
Discover Porto Santo
A sample of what an itinerary can combine — presented to show range, not to sell one by one.
Snorkeling & diving
High visibility along the west coast; Zimbralinho is a reference point among divers.
To verify: pedestrian access to Zimbralinho before including it.
Kayak & stand-up paddle
Calm waters on the south coast, with consistent conditions well beyond the summer months.
Jeep & 4x4 tour
Access to viewpoints and the north coast along tracks a standard car can't reach.
Guided hike — Pico Branco & Terra Chã
A linear trail (PR1), about 3 hours, with views over the north coast and volcanic bombs visible in the pyroclastic deposits at Terra Chã. The island's most striking trail.
Pico Castelo hike
About an hour's climb, with views over the airport, the golf course, the southern beaches and the northern cliffs. Excellent at the end of the day.
Sand baths (psammotherapy)
Sessions of about 20 minutes in the biogenic, mineral-rich sand, warmed by the sun. Several sessions are usually recommended, which is one reason to plan a longer stay.
Thalassotherapy
Sand is collected, treated and heated to 40C at a dedicated centre — it works even on days without beach weather, a genuine low-season argument.
Horse riding
On the beach at low tide, and inland — an equestrian centre operates alongside the golf course.
Poncha tasting
Madeira's signature drink, in the island's own version, with local fruit and an unhurried, local atmosphere.
Golf
An 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Seve Ballesteros, with lakes on the south nine and clifftop basalt views on the north nine.
See more on Golf →Private charter
A private crossing from Madeira, or a full day along the coast — the top-tier product in the sea cluster.
See more on Madeira by sea →The swimming season runs longer than people expect
Sea temperatures average between 22.9C and 23.4C in September and October — the exact figure depends on the source, but the range holds. Thalassotherapy sessions run year-round regardless of beach conditions, using sand collected and warmed at a dedicated centre. That combination is what makes an October or November stay work as well as a July one.
Discover the island
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Ponta da Calheta
Transparent green waters, with a view to the Ilhéu da Cal, once quarried for lime.
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Miradouro das Flores
A viewpoint over Ponta da Calheta and the Ilhéu da Cal.
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Miradouro da Portela
The island's postcard view — the whole southern coast and its 9 km of sand.
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Moinhos da Portela
Three windmills that once ground flour for ships bound for the Americas.
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Prismas basálticos do Pico Ana Ferreira
Columnar basalt, predominantly hexagonal — one of Portugal's geological landmarks.
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Fonte da Areia
Sandstone formations unique in the archipelago, with a viewpoint over the north coast.
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Formações de Morenos
Basaltic lava dykes and pyroclastic layers from the eruption that formed the island, with an on-site interpretive panel.
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Natural pools (Porto das Salemas)
Visible at low tide, on the island's rockier stretches.
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UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
A status covering the entire island.
How to get there
Porto Santo is reachable from Madeira two ways. By air, the flight from Funchal takes about 15 minutes. By sea, Porto Santo Line operates the ferry crossing (the Lobo Marinho), taking roughly 2h15 to 2h30 depending on conditions. Schedules and fares vary by season and day of the week — check directly with Porto Santo Line before finalizing dates, rather than relying on a fixed timetable. Some direct seasonal flights from northern Europe have been referenced for past seasons; confirm current-year routes before including them in any itinerary.
How many days, and is it worth it
Two to three days is enough to cover the beach, a jeep tour, one or two hikes, and a first wellness session. Porto Santo rewards longer stays mainly through repetition: several sand-bath sessions are usually recommended for a noticeable effect, which is the practical argument for four days or more rather than a rushed day trip. As a standalone destination or as an add-on to a Madeira itinerary, it works either way — the flight is short enough that a day trip is possible, but it undersells what the island actually offers.
Plan your Porto Santo escape
Every itinerary here is illustrative, not a menu. DMC Madeira combines beach time, wellness, golf, hiking and the sea into a single tailor-made program, with the logistics — transfers, timing, ferry or flight — handled end to end.
Porto Santo for the trade
DMC Madeira builds Porto Santo into incentive programs, group travel and MICE itineraries departing from or combined with Madeira: private charters, wellness-led group days, and golf logistics for corporate groups. For high-profile clients, discreet arrangements can be organized on request.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do in Porto Santo besides the beach?
Therapeutic sand baths, thalassotherapy, a Seve Ballesteros golf course, jeep and buggy tours, guided hikes to Pico Branco and Pico Castelo, boat trips, snorkeling, and volcanic viewpoints across the island.
Is Porto Santo worth visiting?
Yes. It was voted Europe's best beach in 2022, its biogenic sand is unique in continental Europe, and it combines wellness, golf, hiking and volcanic geology in a 42 km2 island reachable from Madeira in about 15 minutes by air.
How many days do you need in Porto Santo?
Two to three days covers the beach, a jeep tour and one or two wellness sessions. Longer stays are recommended if the goal is a full course of therapeutic sand baths.
Is Porto Santo sand really therapeutic?
The sand is of biogenic and organogenic origin, rich in calcium, strontium, iodine and magnesium, unlike the quartz sand found across continental Europe. Sand baths and thalassotherapy sessions using this sand are offered at a dedicated centre on the island.
Can you swim in Porto Santo in October or November?
Yes. Sea temperatures average between 22.9C and 23.4C in September and October, and thalassotherapy sessions run year-round regardless of beach conditions.
How do you get from Madeira to Porto Santo?
By air, the flight from Funchal takes about 15 minutes. By sea, the Porto Santo Line ferry (the Lobo Marinho) takes approximately 2h15 to 2h30, with schedules varying by season.
Is there golf in Porto Santo?
Yes. An 18-hole, par 72 course designed by Seve Ballesteros, opened in 2004, with an additional 9-hole par 3 course. It has hosted the Madeira Islands Open.