The Desertas Islands are visible from Funchal to the South-east, at about 18 miles distant. Looking at them from North-west to South-east (from left to right) there are the Agulha (Nail) Islet, the Chão (floor) Islet, Deserta Grande (the big Deserta) and Bugio.

The Agulha Islet is a pinnacle that once had foolish Madeira people as it resembles a warship and as it did not replied to their signals they had fired against it.

Ilhéu (islet, in Portuguese) Chão is like a small plateau with 96 meters high and about 1 600 meters long.

Photo by Tânia Pestana

Deserta Grande, as the name says, is the largest of those islands, with 10 km long at its greatest width with 1,5 km. It has only one landing place, where there is the house of the Nature guards from the Natural Park of Madeira. Its highest point is 493 meters.

Photo by Tânia Pestana

Bugio is about 7 thousand meters by 800 wide and it highest point is 411 meters and it is the breeding place of Fea’s Petrel, a rare seabird from Madeira. This is the reason why it is more protected than the other islands, so you can only pass around by boat at the depth line of 100 meters.

Photo by Tânia Pestana

Câmara de Lobos, seals’ lair in english, is a very pitoresque fishing village that distance 9 km west from Funchal. The village was named like this due to the monk seals that were very common on this bay, many years ago. In 1950 this typical bay, full of colourful fishing boats, was the subject painted by Mr Winston Churchill). Until 2 years ago, we could see the fisherman’s small houses built on the high rocks that surround the port but know these people were reallocated in a safer place so instead of houses we Câmara de Lobos now have a panoramic garden.

Photo by Hugo Romano

Madeira Archipelago counts already with 5 marinas, one in Porto Santo Island and four in Madeira island. The one in Porto Santo is located inside the harbour and can berth 75 boats.

As for Madeira, the oldest marina, with more than 20 years, is in Funchal, sheltered in the port with 210 slips for yachts and a quay for tourist vessels.

In the south east of Madeira, 12 miles distance from Funchal, in Caniçal, there is a private marina, Quinta do Lorde, with 242 berths.

For the west side of Madeira, we can find two more marinas, one in Lugar de Baixo, Ponta do Sol, and the other in Calheta, both with about 300 moorings for yachts.

In all these marinas you have at least the main facilities like showers, WCs, laundry, restaurant, etc and in some of the marinas you can also find ramps for beaching boats, nautical shops, wi-fi spots, swimming pool, gymn…

Funchal's Marina

Photo by Miguel Fagundes

Porto Santo's Marina

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Calheta's Marina

Photo by Catarina Fagundes

Established in 1501, the village of Ponta do Sol was limited at east by the cliff beside the church up to the mountain ridge excluding all territory that belong to João Esmeraldo which should continue to concern to Funchal. On the west Ponta do Sol was expanded until Ponta do Tristão.

The fertile soil of this village made the production of sugarcanes very important for the economic development of this village. Joined to this agricultural activity the commerce of sugar started to operate big ships that loaded in Ponta do Sol.

A harbour was needed but for this it was necessary a big construction, the so called bridge of Tojo, that would give access to the pier. This edification started to be built in 1848 and until 1874 there was always something more to be done.

Photo by Hugo Romano

Photo by Hugo Romano

The main attraction of Porto Moniz village is its natural swimming pool surrounded by lava rocks and filled in with crystal clear water, by the tide.
Not only for their excellent bathing conditions but also for their beauty, these natural pools are the perfect place for relaxing, swimming, sunbathing or even just for a visit. This beach complex also provides a kindergarten and facilities for the disabled.

Photo by Miguel Fagundes