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An Introduction to Porto Santo
For those who dream of escaping to a heavenly island of
golden sandy beaches bathed in warm, turquoise waters in
a resort free from the taint of mass tourism, let us
introduce Porto Santo.
Situated about 25 miles to the northeast of Madeira, the little
known island of Porto Santo is a real treasure and not surprisingly
a closely guarded secret by holidaymakers in the know. The island
measures a mere 7 miles by 4 miles and supports an indigenous
population of just 5,000 people. Its diminutive size and remote
position have undoubtedly helped Porto Santo to retain a strong
connection with its past. Evidence of this can be seen by the
practice of folk traditions, the preservation of local architecture,
including the old lime mines and the many wooden windmills
spread around the island, some of which still work today. Porto
Santo’s most notable historical claim to fame, however, is the
house now a museum in the sleepy capital, Vila Baleira, which
commemorates the stay of explorer, Christopher Columbus, on
the island.
With average daily temperatures ranging between 19 and 23
degrees Celsius, and a less undulating landscape than the
neighbouring island of Madeira, Porto Santo basks in sunshine for
most of the year. Often referred to as the "golden island", thanks
to its picture-perfect sandy beach that stretches for more than five
miles, Porto Santo is arguably both a beach and a health resort.
Whilst the island’s laid back atmosphere and aesthetically pleasing
surroundings are conducive to restful minds, the beach sands
allegedly have restorative properties that benefit aches and pains.
Although visitors to the island usually regard it as one large
beach, the Portosantanese differentiate stretches of it by name
and individual attributes, so it is definitely worth exploring.
The clean sea waters that surround Porto Santo are typically very
clear, warm and gentle in nature, providing the ideal conditions to
enjoy activities such as snorkelling, sailing, windsurfing, canoeing,
scuba diving, jet skiing and kite surfing, in addition to deep-sea
fishing at certain times of the year. Other pursuits such as horseriding,
jogging and mountain biking are also available. For golf
enthusiasts there is a fantastic brand new golf course designed by
the world champion, Seve Ballesteros, with 18 holes and a short
circuit of 9 holes. The island also boasts a tennis academy with 8
tennis courts and a horse-riding centre. Porto Santo is a great
place for walkers as its landscape is not too steep to be
demanding or so vast as to be daunting; it is the ideal place to
wander amongst unspoilt landscapes with only livestock for
company.
In relation to its size, Porto Santo is well served by a number of
restaurants that mostly serve Portuguese and Madeiran cuisine,
particularly seafood and grilled meat. The night life on Porto
Santo is characteristically laid back; however, there are a number
of cafés and bars on the island, with those nearest the beach
tending to be the liveliest. As you might expect, Porto Santo’s
shopping opportunities are low-key and souvenirs are most likely
to be found in the capital, Vila Baleira which has a small market,
supermarket and a few old fashioned shops.
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