Ferry from Porto Santo Island to Madeira Islands

About Porto Santo Island

Porto Santo is a small Portuguese island in the Madeira archipelago, situated in the North Atlantic Ocean. Offering a more relaxed atmosphere than the popular Madeira Island, Porto Santo is the ultimate island retreat, boasting almost 9 kilometres of untouched, white-sand beach and a wide range of excellent snorkelling spots. On ‘Madeira’s little sister’, visitors will also find a top-quality golf course and a ruggedly beautiful landscape, ideal for scenic hikes. You can even visit the former home of Christopher Columbus, the Casa Museu Colombo in the small town of Vila Baleira where he lived with his wife in the late 1470s. Porto Santo’s main ferry terminal can be found on the south coast at the eastern end of the beach, where frequent sailings are provided to the capital of Madeira Island, Funchal.

About Madeira Islands

Madeira is a small Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean comprising a namesake island, Porto Santo and a few unpopulated islets. Famed for its year-round mild climate and stunning scenery, Madeira has rightfully earned the nicknames ‘islands of eternal spring’ and ‘pearl of the Atlantic’. It’s also renowned for producing the popular Madeira wine and exquisite cuisine, helping it become one of Portugal’s most visited regions. The capital, Funchal is set before dramatic coastal mountains, boasting beautiful architecture, excellent snorkelling spots and a bustling ‘Old Zone’ with quirky streets and superb restaurants. While Madeira Island is the archipelago’s cultural hub, the idyllic Porto Santo offers nine kilometres of white sandy beach and a refreshingly laidback atmosphere. Ferries run frequently between the ports of Funchal and Porto Santo, operated by a popular local ferry company, making it even easier to explore the beautiful Madeira Islands.