Porto Moniz

The town of the far north, between the Laurissilva mountains and the northern sea that pounds its cliffs: from the start its people have lived from fishing, still important in the local economy and celebrated every year at the Semana do Mar, the municipality's biggest cultural and sporting event (canoe races, fishing contests, food). Porto Moniz's image is its natural pools cut into volcanic rock, where seawater renews itself constantly — Blue Flag 2026, bathing season from 15 April to 15 October — completed by the free Cachalote pools, the Madeira Aquarium (more than 90 species of the archipelago) and the Centro de Ciência Viva with its Laurissilva exhibition. The Santinha and Pico viewpoints overlook it. Ilhéu Mole, a Natural Monument, closes the picture.