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PORTO SANTO

Porto Santo - Self Catering beachfront Villas and Holiday Apartments.

Holidaying in Porto Santo

Escape to Porto Santo, Madeira’s sister island, known for its 9km stretch of golden sand and natural healing properties. Choose from stylish beachfront apartments or spacious villas just steps from the sea. Ideal for nature lovers, wellness seekers, or anyone looking for a peaceful beach holiday in Portugal.

Porto Santo is one of the Madeiran peoples best, kept secret. Unlike Madeira, much of the landscape is flat and the island enjoys a huge 9km stretch of golden, sandy beach. The capital of the island is Vila Baleira and its here you will find most of the hotels and restaurants although nothing is really that far away.
The island can be reached by plane or by ferry from Madeira. The ferry journey is around 2 ½ hours from Funchal and is a great way to see the coast of Madeira and also the occasional dolphin, flying fish and whale.
Once you reach the island it's only a short journey to all of our properties and minutes from a new relaxed you. If you thought Madeira was laid back then Porto Santo is perfectly horizontal.

A walk on the golden sands of Porto Santo

Places to see in Porto Santo

Well the first thing you will notice and probably do is head straight to the beach. This amazing stretch of “mostly empty” beach is fantastic for a stroll or catching some rays. The sand is also known to boast therapeutic properties and there are many little coves, natural pools and hidden bays to discover. Once you have had enough of chilling on the beach – it really is difficult to remove yourself from here – you should hire a 4 x 4 or rental car and take a drive around the island. You will find a number of viewpoints (Miradouras) around the island where you can see for miles and you may even pass by one of the few locals around.
Honestly there’s not much to see and that is pretty much the attraction of this island. The complete lack of touristy commercialisation is what attracts guests to this dreamy little island.

Things to do in Porto Santo

Seriously, if you have come to Porto Santo expecting to fill your days with trips and adventure then you've probably booked the wrong island. This gorgeous island is all about relaxation.
Studies have shown that the sand and surrounding waters are rich in Calcium, Magnesium and Iodine which give them the therapeutic properties needed to help the human body recover from stress and other ailments. There are a number of spas capitalising on this, most of which are based in the main hotels but they are all happy to take appointments from guests not staying. So why not treat yourself to some hydro massage at Vilabaleira or beauty facials at Pestana’s Porto Santo Hotel.
There are also a number of small taverns and restaurants that are worth a visit, Most notably are Bar Joao do Cabeco or the Panorama Restaurant, as well as a few fun beach bars with amazing views see O Corsario. In the summer the island population swells with Madeiran tourists who have popped over to enjoy the sun and beach.
Christopher Columbus once lived on the island with his Portuguese wife and their home is now one of the islands museums. Its worth paying a visit if you really cant take anymore rest and relaxation.