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Visit Porto Santo

Activities19

In the water, on the water and on land: everything you can do on the island; bookings and prices with each activity.

  • Jeep tours

    The island off the roads, by 4×4: dirt tracks, the northern viewpoints, Fonte da Areia, Serra de Dentro and the western coves, Zimbralinho and Morenos.

  • Kayak

    Calm, clear, turquoise water and mild sea temperatures all year: paddle along the coast towards Zimbralinho or Ilhéu da Cal, in a Biosphere Reserve since 2020. Local tourist-entertainment companies hire out the equipment.

  • Horse riding

    At the foot of Pico de Ana Ferreira: an open-air arena, rides for every level, lessons for beginners, horses suited to children and hippotherapy.

  • Boat trips

    Round the island by sea: the six islets, the northern cliffs, the caves of Ilhéu da Cal and coves you cannot reach any other way. A generally calm sea, departures from Porto Santo harbour.

  • Golf

    Designed by Severiano Ballesteros and opened in October 2004: 18 holes over 6,434 m plus a 9-hole par 3, fairways facing the ocean and the island's wind as opponent; host of the Madeira Islands Open in 2009.

  • Hiking

    Three classified PS PR trails: the mule path to Pico Branco and Terra Chã, the forest loop of Pico do Castelo and the Levada do Pico do Castelo. Since 1 January 2026 access is booked in 30-minute slots on SIMplifica: €4.50, free for residents and children up to 12.

  • Karting

    A karting track reopened to the public in 2023, for an afternoon of speed with family or friends.

  • Quad

    Alongside cars and scooters, quad bikes can be rented on the island from the local rental companies to explore it at your own pace.

  • Tennis

    The Complexo de Ténis, on the ER 111 at Campo de Baixo, has a main show court with stands plus secondary tennis courts and padel courts.

  • Padel

    Padel courts are part of the Campo de Baixo tennis complex, on the ER 111.

  • Snorkelling

    Mask, snorkel and a calm, clear sea: from Calheta beach towards the caves of Ilhéu da Cal, or along the rocks of the coves, you meet sea bream, salema and sometimes a ray.

  • Scuba diving

    Water clear to 40 m, two wrecks laid on purpose 30 m down — an old cargo ship and an 85 m corvette — and the drop-offs of the islets, in a marine reserve where groupers, sea bream and jacks fear no one.

  • Dolphin & whale watching

    Dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds can be spotted all year round on quiet boat trips that also call at near-untouched spots such as Ilhéu da Cal or Ilhéu de Ferro.

  • Stand-up paddle

    Standing on a board with a paddle, in calm warm water: quick to learn and suited to all ages, stand-up paddle reaches spots that other craft cannot and lets you watch marine life along the shore.

  • Surf, windsurf & kite

    Porto Santo's sea is calm with low swell, ideal for windsurfing and sought after all year; kitesurfing is also possible here, and wing foil is the booming newcomer along the long sandy beach.

  • Cycling & e-bike

    A bike path runs beside the ER 111 from Ribeiro Cochino to Praia da Calheta — 4,565 m of red resin, 2.5 m wide, opened on 30 August 2004 — on almost flat ground. Rental shops offer city, mountain and electric bikes.

  • Sand therapy (psammotherapy)

    Hot-sand baths are a Porto Santo tradition: the biogenic carbonate sand heats to 65 °C at the surface in summer and stays around 40 °C at 10 cm down, releasing calcium, magnesium and strontium into sweat. Since 2008 the Hotel Porto Santo geomedicine centre offers 20-minute tub baths at 40–42 °C under medical advice.

  • Quinta das Palmeiras

    @qtdaspalmeiraspsanto

    A small botanical garden and a small zoo west of the airport, over more than 5,000 m². The project is Carlos Alfonso's: water had to be brought in by tanker lorry to grow palms, erucaria and metrosideros. There is a pond with swans and ducks, and pigeons, parrots and macaws.

  • Jet ski

    For a fast ride along the 9 km of beach, in a generally calm sea.

Special offers

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Offers reserved for our community arrive with our first partners.

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