Porto Santo is the second largest island in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, with an area of 42.48 km² inhabited by 5,483 people. Its capital is Vila Baleira.
The beginning of Porto Santo's history is still shrouded in mystery. The best-known version points to a storm in 1418, which included the sailors Infante D. Henrique, João Gonçalves Zarco, Tristão Vaz and Bartolomeu Perestrelo, who were going to another destination when they were surprised by a storm that made them deviate from the initial course.
After hours and days barely spent, they arrive at an island that they named Porto Santo ("Saint Port").
Another version, historically argued, points to earlier times when a vessel would have found safe harbor on the island, after a violent storm. According to this version, before the Portuguese began its settlement, the island was already called Porto Santo. This fact is evidenced in the so-called “Atlas Medicis”, from around 1370.
The island stands out for its extensive sandy beach, about nine kilometers long. It is a beautiful beach with fine yellow sand that runs along the entire south coast of the island, between the port and Calheta. Above all, it offers peace and a contagious charm that does not leave anyone who visits it indifferent. A reminder about the temperature of the sea water: it is truly temperate throughout the year. The climate is dry and stable, with little temperature variation between seasons, so it is normal to go to the beach all year round.
You can go to Porto Santo by boat (Ferry) that will take 2h30m.
Tickets can be bought at Porto Santo Line.