Porto Santo

Porto Santo, Madeira

The tiny island of Porto Santo lies just off Madeira's north east coast. Renowned for continuing sand dunes and a long stretch of beach that extends for nearly 9 kilometers all along an inspirational shoreline; this tranquil, unspoiled beauty spot exudes a low key ambiance and is the ideal location to relax unwind and escape from it all.

The capital of Porto Santa is Vila Baleira, a little town nestling around a port where all the hotels and most of the restaurants are found. Christopher Columbus met his wife - the governor's daughter - here, and it's easy to see how love could come into flower amid such romantic setting. His stone house is now a museum, containing paintings, maps and engravings.