Balearic Islands
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Destinations
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Portugal
- Porto Santo Island
Porto Santo Island Holidays
from £ 433 pp
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Porto Santo holidays are snail-slow. They pair up wine-tasting and rounds of golf with a load of sand for sunbathing.
Secret escape
Porto Santo may be small, but it’s got Casanova-level charm. Part of the Portuguese Madeira archipelago, this place is probably the closest you’ll get to a desert island in Europe. It’s all volcanic peaks, lunar-like landscapes and sandy beaches.
Cute capital
Even the island’s capital, Vila Baleira, is sleepy. It’s not a city by any stretch – just imagine a huddle of terracotta-topped houses, a white church and a teeny town hall, and you’re not far off. It’s handily pulled up to the biggest beach around, but that’s not the only bait for tourists. One of the island’s first admirers was none other than Christopher Columbus, and there’s a museum dedicated to the explorer.
Sandy sibling
Madeira doesn’t do sand, but Porto Santo steps up to the plate with its mammoth stretch. And it’s quite the platter – covering almost the entire south coast. And right at the island’s tip, you’ve got Ponta da Calheta – a handsome cove with great views and a decent bar. Sands aside, the snorkelling and diving’s the cat’s pyjamas, too.
At a glance
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Strap on a snorkel and explore underwater
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Check out the views from a clifftop viewpoint
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Bury yourself in the sands of Porto Santo Beach
Destinations in Porto Santo Island
Top Destinations
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Vila Baleira
With a bulky beach, charming squares and a perfect-for-sunsets pier, Vila Baleira holidays fall right into the chill-out bracket.
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Cabeco Da Ponta
Tucked on the southern coast of Porto Santo, Cabeco da Ponta holidays combine both the adventure and serenity of Portugal's far-flung islands.
