Desertas Islands

Desertas Islands is the name of the group of three small islands that are located southeast of Madeira Island: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio.

Why Desertas Island is so well known?

The islands were the private property of two English families of Madeira, from 1894 to 1971, then were bought by the Portuguese State and converted into a Nature Reserve. While the protection of these islands was motivated by the urgency of taking measures for the conservation of the monk seal, its objective is the protection and preservation of all wildlife and unique flora and includes several species rare and endemic.

What does exist in Desertas Islands?

The Desert Islands are one of the last refuges of the monk seal (Monachus monachus), a colony estimated at 23 animals that are in the process of restocking. This space is also an important nesting site for seabirds. North of Deserta Grande Valley in Castanheira, the Tarantula is of desertion (Lycosa ingens), a species endemic to this island. These islands also feature a variety of plants.

Fauna in Desertas Islands

Fishes 

• Chromis (Chromis limbata and Abudefduf luridus)
• Golden grey mullet (Liza aurata)
• Bogue (Boops boops)
• White seabream (Diplodus sp)
• Rouper (Serranus atricauda)
• Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense)

Seabirds 

• The Cory’s shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis)
• The Madeiran storm petrel (Oceanodroma castro)
• The Bulwer's petrel (Bulweria bulwerii) 

• The Canary Island kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis)
• The buzzard (Buteo buteo harterti)
• The Fea's (Petrel Pterodroma deserta)

• The barn owl (Tyto alba schmitzi)
• The kestrel(Falco tinnunculus)

Invertebrates 

Flora

Getting there

Try our full-day catamaran tour to know this island and observe some of these animals especially dolphins and whales along the way.

Recommended to take with you on the tour

• Windbreaker jacket
• Waterproof footwear
• Camera
• Swimsuit
• Beach towel
• Sunscreen