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Porto santo

  • Porto Santo

      The island of Porto Santo is the second largest island of the Madeira Archipelago. It is located 50 km from Madeira.   The Island was named by Portuguese explorer João Gonçalves Zarco when his ship collided into the island in 1418.  The island was named Porto Santo, the Holy Port, in gratitude for the ships safe arrival after a storm at sea.

      Porto Santo is also known as the Golden Island due to it's beautiful sandy beaches.      The island measures 11km in length and 6 km in width with a population around 5,000.  The main urban centre is the town of Vila Baleira where many shops, restaurants and accommodations can be found. 

          Porto Santo has an amazing coastline and is home to long beaches of golden sand, unlike those of Madeira.  These sands have become known for their therapeutic properties.  The island's climate is calm and welcoming with stable temperatures throughout the year.  Locals and tourists visit these beaches year round.

      If relaxing on the beach is not your idea of a holiday, Porto Santo has much more to offer.  Porto Santo is known world wide for it     golfing facilities.  Visitors can also take part in a long list of water sports, shopping, hiking and walking as well as horse back riding.  Porto Santo offers something for everyone.

        The island has an airport which serves flights to and from  Funchal.  Conveniently enough for travelers and residents, the flight takes only 15 minutes!      Porto Santo is a great place for a day trip from Madeira or to spend the whole holiday!  For more info :

    Porto Santo Tourist Office
    Avenida Henrique Vieira e Castro
    9400 Porto Santo
    Open Mon to Fri - 9.00 to 17.30
    Sat 10.00 to 12.30
    Tel: 351 291 982 361