The island of Porto Santo is an increasingly popular destination these days.
Known as the golden island, Porto Santo was officially discovered in 1418 when the Portuguese caravels of João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira arrived there. The name Porto Santo is due to the island providing a safe harbor for navigators who crossed the Atlantic during that period.
Nowadays it is very popular due to its golden sand and its warm waters, it's its calm and turquoise sea that makes it an ideal place for water activities, namely boat trips.
Let's explore the boat trips in Porto Santo a little.
Ferry to Porto Santo
First of all, we have to talk about the most famous trip, the crossing between Madeira Island and Porto Santo Island.
For those who are in Madeira and want to visit Porto Santo, even if only for a few hours, it is possible to take the ferry “Lobo Marinho” as one of the best options. The trip takes about 2h and 30 minutes, leaving Funchal at around 8:00h, arriving in Porto Santo at 10:30h. This crossing allows the traveler to have views of the entire southeastern coast of Madeira Island until crossing Ponta de São Lourenço after which, the ferry heads north to Porto Santo Island. It is possible to see it emerge, small at first, and growing more and more on the horizon.BOOK HERE
Upon seeing the island for the first time, we are faced with a radically different landscape from Madeira Island: this is an arid island, without forest, but with long and breathtaking golden sand beaches.
Don't miss the opportunity to visit it for a day or even stay for another day at its placid pace and supreme relaxation. This is the ideal place to recharge batteries.
You can book this experience here.
Speedboat tours in Porto Santo
Once in Porto Santo you can enjoy its calm seas by taking a boat trip. The option of speedboat rides is perhaps the best.
There are trips every day, twice a day, at 10:00h and 14:00h. On these trips you will have the opportunity to take a trip along the coast of Porto Santo Island and explore it a little.
Mr. Nélio, the experienced guide responsible for these trips, is attentive and knows the secrets hidden on the coast of this island.
The trip starts in the harbor of Porto Santo, but includes transfer from the hotel for those who need it. From the port, the boat leaves towards Calheta, here you can see the famous golden sand beach of Porto Santo and the turquoise waters that surround it. Shortly after, there is the first stop next to Porto da Morena, a small bay where you can observe very interesting millenary geological formations on its slope.
Right next door, or so it seems, as it skirts the imposing, rocky southwest coast, is the famous Zimbralinho beach. A true hidden treasure, much sought after by those lucky enough to know of its existence for diving and snorkeling in these transparent waters, which therefore offer enviable visibility. The beach here is made up of small pebbles, in contrast to the beach that we find upon arrival in Porto Santo, and is protected by basalt rock cliffs. Access is much easier when done by boat, as the alternative is a path that is not always easily accessible.
The next stop on this semi-rigid tour is Ponta da Canavieira at the western end of Porto Santo. This place is right next to Ilhéu de Ferro, the main stop on this trip.
It is on the islet of Ferro that visitors are invited to take a dip and snorkel for about 25 minutes. There is nothing like its clear waters to practice these activities. The islet itself protects swimmers from any major swells, making it the perfect place to cool off during this boat trip.
Once recovered from diving in the Atlantic waters, the boat heads south to Ilhéu da Cal. This islet owes its name to its history: it was the site of limestone mining and lime production since the 17th century. This activity, long-abandoned (in the 70s) left traces in the caves made on the side of the islet. Today it is a protected area.
It is possible to visit these caves dug into the hillside by boat. A fascinating experience for history buffs. The entrance can sometimes be a little claustrophobic, but it is one of the highlights of this tour of Porto Santo by boat.
Although it is not the purpose of this boat trip, it is possible to observe the marine life that resides in these waters during it. It is not uncommon to see seabirds, spotted dolphins or bottlenose dolphins or even turtles. When this happens, our guide is always careful to talk a little about the animals, but above all, respect their presence, leaving them free to keep their distance or, if they wish, approach them on the boat. BOOK HERE
A boat trip costs €45 per adult.
An experience not to be missed!
You can book this experience here.
Boat trip to the Lighthouse Islet in Porto Santo
Similar to the previous experience, this one is also done on a speedboat.
We leave by boat from the harbor of Porto Santo and head east this time, towards Ilhéu de Cima or Ilhéu do Farol. The trip takes about 20 minutes until we reach the small landing stage at Ilhéu de Cima. We can see on its slopes the Pedra do Sol, a rock formation that resembles the sun and was formed many millions of years ago, it is estimated that about 18 million years ago when the lava came into contact with the cold sea.
Here the group will leave with a guide to begin the visit to the lighthouse. Like the other islets in Porto Santo, Ilhéu de Cima is also part of the Natura 2000 Network and is protected.
On this islet we can find undergrowth typical to the Macaronesia islands, some rock carrots, rock gouge and marmulano. According to the guide, Ilhéu de Cima was known as Ilhéu dos Dragoeiros when the first navigators arrived in Porto Santo because it was a very abundant species in this place, reaching an impressive size according to the chroniclers of the time. The dragon trees ended up being victims of deforestation and eventually became extinct on this islet. However, there is a renewed effort to return these plants to the islet, and in recent years the authorities have planted several there, which we can see growing along the way.
The trail starts with a kind of staircase that takes us to the top where the lighthouse is located, at a good 120 meters above sea level.
The lighthouse located there was implemented at the beginning of the 20th century, in 1901, and served as the first guide point for boats coming from the north, which makes its location very important. This lighthouse stopped having a keeper in 1956 and since then no one has lived there.
After the walk and visit to the lighthouse, where the guide will explore its history, visitors will return to the trail towards the pier, where a small picnic with traditional food and some drinks will be waiting. There is also the opportunity to snorkel alongside the pier.
This experience lasts about 3 hours and costs about €35 for adults and €20 for children.
You can book this experience here. BOOK HERE
Fishing Tour in Porto Santo
For those who love fishing or simply want a different activity, there is also the possibility of taking a Fishing Trip in Porto Santo in the island's seas.
There are fishing trips every day with departures typically at 8:00h or 16:30h. The activity lasts for about 4:30h.
It is not a big game fishing or deep-sea fishing activity, we usually stay closer to the coast of Porto Santo. However, the customer has the opportunity to fish for bream, mullet, wrasse, dogfish, grouper, among others.
All equipment is provided, as well as a light meal in the form of sandwiches. BOOK HERE
Come relax with a fishing rod in hand in the seas of Porto Santo!
You can book this experience here.
Yacht Charter in Porto Santo
A final suggestion for anyone who wants to explore Porto Santo in all its glory: a sailboat tour.
This is an option for those who do not want to share the boat with other people and want a more personalized experience.
Sailing in Porto Santo is perhaps the best way to discover the wonderful golden sands of this unique island. In this case, you can do it from your own boat. BOOK HERE
You can rent a sailboat for a half day (3h), full day (7h) trip or even for a romantic sunset. You decide where to go, whether you want to explore the expanse of golden sand, the coves of zimbralinho with its turquoise waters that are difficult to access, the unique islets that surround Porto Santo or even its rocky north coast to the Porto of Salemas or the bay of William.
For those who want, the multi-day rental is also an option. The sailboat is a very comfortable, luxurious option to explore the island of Porto Santo, or even make a trip to the island of Madeira. In this case the sky is the limit.
Prices range from €550 for half-day rentals to €700 for full-day rentals.
You can book this experience here.