Porto Santo Island
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| Porto Santo Island There are Port(s) of Entry here
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 Satellite View of Porto Santo |
Porto Santo is the second inhabited island of the Madeira archipelago. The Madeira archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal.
For more details see Madeira.
Charts
See Madeira.
Weather
See Madeira.
Passages
Islands
– port of entry || 
– harbour || 
– marina || 
– anchorage ||- Desertas Islands |
– needs data | - Savage Islands | – needs data |
Communication
Add here VHF channel for coastguard, harbor masters. etc.
Also see World Cruiser's Nets.
The approach to Porto Santo is straightforward, even, at night.
Entrance
Porto Santo Harbor is a port of entry into Portugal. The customs authorities are within the harbor complex. They are very prompt, efficient, and friendly.
For more details see Portugal.
Berthing
The harbor of Porto Santo is not only closer to Gibraltar but it is more comfortable than Funchal.
There are two possibilities here: the marina (within the harbor) or anchoring off inside the harbor.
Warning: With strong easterly winds a bad swell development.
Ports
Porto Santo Harbor
This is a large harbor. The Porto Santo Marina is within the harbor.
Caution: Watch out for some metal buoys at the harbor entrance.Marinas & Yacht Clubs
Anchorages
You can anchor off within the harbor.
Amenities
| Facilities | |
|---|---|
| Water | At the pontoons of the marina |
| Electricity | At the pontoons of the marina |
| Toilets | In marina |
| Showers | In marina |
| Laundry | Drop your laundry at the Pato Bravo restaurant, within the harbor |
| Garbage | There are bins around the marina |
| Supplies | |
| Fuel | There is a fuel station within the harbor along the main breakwater. The fuel comes from subterranean tanks but it is pumped by a trailer to which hoses are connected. Ask for the fuel man either at the marina office or at the restaurant. The fuel concession is independent of the marina. |
| Bottled gas | In town |
| Chandlers | None, however the marina has a few parts |
| Services | |
| Repairs | Limited, ask at the marina office |
| Internet | Also, at the Club Nautico within the harbor you can use their PCs and iMacs and they will let you connect your computer to their DSL line. |
| Mobile connectivity | ? |
| Vehicle rentals | In the town |
Provisioning
In the town there is also a good supermarket where you can get supplies, including the famous Madeira wine.
Eating out
- Reasonable food at the Pato Bravo, within the harbor
- The best restaurant on the island is reputed to be the O Calhetas at the Punta da Calheta. It is good.
- Good food also at the Forno in town 20 minutes walk from the harbor
Transportation
- There are daily flights and ferries, weather permitting, to Funchal in Madeira Grande
- From Madeira Grande there regular flights to Lisbon and other European cities.
Tourism
History
Give a short history of the island.
Places to Visit
In Porto Santo
A must see in the town is Christopher Columbus' house, which is now a museum. It is not very big but it has several displays that outline the long history of the Madeira islands.
A motor-scooter is an ideal way of touring the island.
Starting from the marina and go along the NE to Sera de Fore and to Pico do Cabrita. There is a rough footpath up to Pico Branco along the steep cliffs. From there you will be treated to a nice view of the rocks and the surf. The NE side of the island, is very desolate and it is almost a moonscape. Continued on to Canacha and Pico do Costela, with nice pinewoods.
Going W along the south coast to Punta da Calheta, another place with very impressive breaking waves. The waves break on the shallows between Porto Santo and the little island Ilheu de Braixa. On the way back it is worth deviating N then W, over the hills to Cabeca do Zimbrallnho, with a view of Braixa and beyond. Then ride to Morenos, a desert like area with lots of cacti and aloes.
Visit Madeira Grande
It is easy to visit Madeira Grande from Porto Santo. While your boat is safe in the marina you can take the catamaran ferry to Funchal. Just make sure the marina knows that you will be gone and that you have secured your yacht against easterly winds.
Friends
Contact details of "Cruiser's Friends" that can be contacted for local information or assistance.
Forums
List links to discussion threads on partnering forums. (see link for requirements)
Links
- Porto Santo Island at the Wikipedia
- Porto Santo at the Wikivoyage
- Christopher Columbus' house
References
See Madeira.
Comments
We welcome users' contributions to the Wiki. Please click on Comments to view other users' comments, add your own personal experiences or recommend any changes to this page following your visit.
- We spent a rather pleasant week in Porto Santo waiting out a gale but he fetch within the harbor was fierce. --Istioploos
Verified by
Date of member's last visit to Porto Santo Island and this page's details validated:
- January 2005 --Istioploos
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Names: Istioploos |
