Porto Santo is the smallest inhabited island of the archipelago of Madeira, with an area of 42 km2. This little paradise is located just 50 km away from Madeira, with a long and gorgeous golden beach covering nearly the entire southern coast of this fascinating island.
Its calm, restful atmosphere and renowned therapeutic qualities are always waiting to be experienced and explored by all visitors. A 9-kilometre golden sand, along with a sea of calm, crystalline waters and pleasant temperatures, placed Porto Santo beach on the map of paradisiacal destinations, especially after having been chosen as the best “dune beach” in the contest “7 Wonders – Portuguese Beaches” and one of the 15 best beaches in Europe by the European Best Destination organization. Besides, Porto Santo is also part of UNESCO’s World Biosphere Reserve Network.
With its iconic beach, Porto Santo has so much to offer. Discovering Porto Santo is to immerse oneself in a breathtaking location. If you are looking to stay active during your holidays, you may take a walking tour to the mountains or to climb either Pico Branco or Pico Castelo. If you like adventure, try joining a jeep or bicycle tour. But if you choose to be by the sea, you can practice water sports, such as surfing, windsurfing, SUP or take a boat to do whale watching. On land again, the Porto Santo golf course boasts perfect year-round golfing conditions. Surrounded by serene landscapes and enveloped by sea breeze, it offers unique sporting challenges and superb views.
Porto Santo’s major cultural icon is Christopher’s Columbus House Museum, indicating the presence of America’s discoverer on the island. A visit to the museum, in Vila Baleira, will allow you to get to know the primitive environment in which he once lived.
The safety, along with the warm welcome of its locals, the pleasures that nature has to offer, the beautiful beaches of fine sand, and the calm sea currents, turn Porto Santo island into a privileged location amongst other similar destinations.
Since October 29, 2020, the island of Porto Santo displays the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Award. This award is a source of great pride for Madeira and, in particular, for the island of Porto Santo and its people.
The application of the island of Porto Santo to the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was based on the sharing of interests, know-how, experiences and knowledge, focusing on the peculiarities of Porto Santo, both in its natural heritage (biological and geological), as well as its cultural heritage (material and immaterial).
The management of the Biosphere Reserve on the island of Porto Santo, which will actively involve its people, aims to launch new challenges, based on a recognition of the existing conditions in innovative nature conservation work, in close articulation with the people who live in the territory, consolidating the path made and the work developed over time, with a view to an increasingly sustainable and sustained Porto Santo.
We hope you might be able to visit us in Porto Santo and experience the marvel and beauty of this incredible place. And before the conference, the Regional Government of Madeira kindly organized a number of activities for those who plan to travel to Porto Santo and might arrive early. Here’s a brief description of what is available to you between the 25th and the 27th of April:
Sunday, April 25th 2021
Go for a scenic stroll
Walking tour along Vereda da Terra Chã
If you wish to enjoy more of beautiful Porto Santo island, we challenge to arrive on Friday evening and discover its wonders through our social programme.
09:30
Pick-up at the hotel for walking tour of Vereda da Terra Chã
After the tour, return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Subject to alterations
Sunday, April 25th 2021
Meet Columbus’s Atlantic hideout
Visit to the Christopher Columbus House Museum
The “Christopher Columbus House Museum” is located in an articulated set of constructions, today standardized by works from the 18th and 19th centuries. According to oral tradition, here lived Christopher Columbus when he passed through Porto Santo, after his marriage with Filipa Moniz, daughter of the first captain of Porto Santo, Bartolomeu Perestrelo.
09:30
Visit to the Built Cultural Heritage
After the visit, return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Subject to alterations
Monday, April 26th 2021
Explore Madeira’s Geological Heritage
Visit to Pico de Ana Ferreira
During this tour, we will visit the main viewpoints of the island, with beautiful views over the stunning beach in the south bay and the virgin mountains of the north coast, combining the landscape with the island’s own history.
09:30
Pick-up at the hotel for a Jeep 4×4 tour to visit Pico de Ana Ferreira, Fonte da Areia and Salinas.
After the visit, return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Subject to alterations
Monday, April 26th 2021
Take a look at the future of sustainability
Visit to Buggypower and boat trip
Before going for a boat ride out to sea, a visit to Buggypower, a biotechnology company that produces seaweed. Getting to know Porto Santo in a different way, an island that wants to assert itself more and more as a sustainable destination. Then, we leave the Porto de Abrigo towards the high rocks, the sun stone, access pier to the Ilhéu de Cima, following the pedestrian route to the lighthouse tower.
09:00
Pick-up at the hotel for a boat trip to Ilhéu do Farol / Ilhéu de Cima
After the visit, return to the hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Subject to alterations
Discover more to do in Porto Santo
Watch the video and discover some of the things you can do during your visit to our beautiful island.
this link sends you to Youtube