Beaches on Madeira and Pools in Madeira

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Calheta beach

Madeira Beaches and Pools
Being the island paradise that it is, Madeira has an extensive choice of beaches and pools scattered about for your enjoyment. Whether you are hoping to lounge around and soak up the sun or go swimming in the clear waters, there is a perfect beach or pool for everybody's wants and needs.

If you are looking for only soft sandy beaches you have come to the wrong place! Madeira's beaches are mostly pebble beaches best known for their crystal clear waters and ideal temperatures. Madeira has a few small sandy beaches, both natural and artificial. Porto Santo Island is well known for its long sandy beaches. Flip through the following tabs provided to find the beach that will be perfect for you today!
Funchal Area - Madeira Beaches
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Lido PoolQuinta MagnÃ³liaPonta Gorda PoolPraia Formosa Doca do Cavacas
    The Lido swimming pool is the most popular bathing area in Funchal and one of the best on Madeira Island. The Lido pools includes large and a small seawater pools that are filled daily and it has access to the sea. The Lido pool complex, a local favorite as well as with the tourists, offers sun beds, parasols, kindergarten, table tennis, diving centre, slides, shops, restaurant, three snack bars, lifeguards, parking and more.
    Quinta MagnÃ³lia is certainly one of the most pleasant enjoyable areas in Funchal. This beautiful park offers a swimming pool and a large kiddy pool, tennis, squash, mini-golf, running track, kindergarten. All of these activities are to be found within the magical botanical gardens. During the summer, visitors can enjoy a large solarium and terraced snack area. Here you will find the usual facilities : changing rooms, lockers, parasols, sun beds, parking and lifeguards.
    This is one of the most recent pool complex built on Madeira Island, and is located in the enchanting Lido-Praia Formosa promenade. Visitors will find two swimming pools, one kids pool, access to the sea, sandy, beds and parasols as well as snack bars and restaurants.
    The Formosa beach area is about 10 minutes drive from the city centre. Praia Formosa has three small sandy beaches and a large pebbled beach.
    During the summer time Formosa beach hosts all kinds of sports activities, contests and nightlife which keeps it very busy. It has the blue flag certificate for good water quality and lifeguard service. There is a first aid centre, kindergarten, changing rooms, snack bars, sports areas and parking.
    Gomesâ Pools better known as "Doca do Cavacas" is small bathing complex with natural pools, direct access to the sea and a tunnel to Formosa beach. Due to the fact that this area is surrounded by cliffs, the pools create an enchanting environment. This beach is rather small so if the crowds get too much you can always cross the tunnel and move to the Formosa beach.
This beach offers the essentials such as showers, WC, changing rooms, lifeguard as well as restaurants and bars.
East of Funchal - Madeira Beaches
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Galo BeachBarreirinhaHeader 3Header 4Header 5
    This private beach belongs to a resort hotel in CaniÃ§o and it is only accessible through the panorama elevator. It has a seawater swimming pool, a diving base, ocean access, bar, games, kid's pool, changing rooms, lifeguard service, medical center, besides the swimming facilities you can also find a seafood restaurant, some shops, mini-market and a terrace cafÃ© perfect for sunsets.
    Parking can be a bit of an issue so it's better to arrive early.
    The Barreirinha complex is located at the east side of Funchal and offers good conditions and all necessary services to visitors.
    It's overlooking the pier and next to the SÃ£o Tiago Fortress making it very convenient for a dive before going back to the hotel.
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West Coast - Madeira Beaches
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Calhau da LapaRibeira BravaPonta do SolMadalena do MarCalheta
    Located at the bottom of a steep slope, Calhau da Lapa, or Limpet Stone, beach offers crystal clear waters in a peaceful scenery. As the path is not fully pathed it is advisable to wear walking shoes to access the beach.
    The facilities are few to nonexistent on this beach adding to the powerful serenity of the location.
    Great location! This beach is located in the center of Ribeira Brava near all the restaurants and bars. The parking space is a bit limited to plan ahead. Great facilities, two sandy areas for sport matches, canoes, and lifeguard service.
    The Ponta do Sol beach, Sun Point, is a good choice for those who prefer peace and quiet. Known for its good weather conditions year round, Ponta do Sol keeps tourists coming back for it's warm waters and friendly environment. Changing rooms and restaurants close by. Parking in the area is not a problem.
    Madalena do Mar beach has a newly constructed sea front making the endless rows of tents and overcrowded beaches a thing of the past. Here one can enjoy a great sun deck, pier leading to the beach, sporting areas and a children's playground.
    Calheta is a man-made beach with golden sand brought from Morocco, and mainland Portugal. Sand of this type only occurs naturally in Madeira on one beach, PraÃnha.
    Calheta offers a wide variety of services including equipment rental. In Calheta you also will find some good seafood restaurants serving Madeira specialties. This beach can get pretty busy weekends during the summer, so if your time is more flexible it is best to come during the week.
West Point and North Coast - Madeira Beaches
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Jardim & PaÃºl do MarPorto MonizLajeSÃ£o VicentePonta Delgada
    Jardim do Mar area has three beaches : Portinho, Enseada and Ponta Jardim. This area is the surfing spot in Madeira, becoming known world wide when it hosted the 2000 Red Bull Big Wave Challenge.
    This beaches attract mostly surfers and people looking for some privacy and isolation as the usual services and facilities are not to be found here.
    PaÃºl do Mar beach, also known as the Ribeira das Galinhas, is one of the last in the south coast. There are no facilities, no services, but if you make it all the way here you get what you are looking for, the beach practically for yourself.

    Porto Moniz natural volcanic pools are filled daily by the tide with crystal clear water. With an excellent set up and a rare beauty, these natural pools are a perfect place for a relaxing swim, sunbathing or just a photo opportunity.
    This complex provides a kindergarten, disabled access, changing rooms, showers, a snack bar, a first aid, life guard and parking. Even if you don't feel like having a dip, Porto Moniz is worth a visit.
    The beach of Laje in the village of Seixal is hidden between rocks and is of a unique beauty. This black sand beach stands out amongst the others with it's clear waters tranquility found here. It does not offer many facilities, but does have a nice boulevard lined with palm trees.

    The beach area in SÃ£o Vicente is very popular with surfers for its sizable swell. Visitors can also enjoy a nautical sports facility, a solarium, a cafÃ© and bar, a sun deck and a promenade between Varadouro and BaÃa dos Juncos.
    Ponta Delgada offers a bathing facility that includes two seawater pools, sunbathing areas, bar, locker rooms and first-aid facilities.
Northeast Coast - Madeira Beaches
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SÃ£o JorgeRibeira do FaialLagoa BeachCaniÃ§alQuinta do Lorde
    The SÃ£o Jorge River offers a bathing complex situated at the river mouth, with three swimming pools and a restaurant. From here you will be able to take in the fantastic view of the landscape from the sea to the green valleys and mountains.
    There is sea access but it is not the best place to swim as the sea is often quite rough and uninviting. The north coast of Madeira is unpopular with most sea goers with the exception of surfers.
     Spend a summer night out at the SÃ£o Jorge beach area as it gets quite a crowd with its two popular late night bars : Calhau and Neptuno.
    Ribeira do Faial has a swimming pool, a restaurant, changing rooms, first-aid facilities, sunbathing areas, a sand playing field for football, handball and volleyball, go-kart nearby, as well as a multi-purpose pavilion for other activities.

    Porto da Cruz is known for its magnificent mountains and local wine. It has a black sand beach called Praia da Lagoa, with excellent access to the sea, a sundeck, restaurants and showers. Near the beach is a bathing complex with two swimming pools, changing rooms and bathrooms.
    In CaniÃ§al there is a swimming pool with seawater access, one for adults and one for children, a snack bar, changing rooms, solarium, sun beds and shades.
    Quinta do Lorde is four kilometers from CanigÃ§al, on the easternmost edge of Madeira. The Quinta do Lorde complex consists of a small hotel, an inn, a yacht club with a marina as well as private parking space.
    For a small fee, the bathing facilities include an indoor and outdoor pool, a bar and a terrace. This area is bordered by the natural reserve of Ponta de SÃ£o LourenÃ§o, a sight to see.
Southeast Coast - Madeira Beaches
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PraÃnhaMachicoWater ParkSanta CruzReis Magos
    Sandy Beach!!! PraÃnha (Little Beach) is a great small beach with black sand located near the area of Ponta de SÃ£o LourenÃ§o. The landscape surrounding this area is much more arid the the rest of Madeira.
    This beach has changing rooms, restaurant service, parasols and sun beds, no surveillance. The access to the beach is a bit tricky with lots of stairs to go up and down. Bring walking shoes.
    The bay of Machico has a very nice beach and a couple of swimming pools to offer its visitors. Machicos beach is located close to Madeira airport and has a restaurant and bar, changing rooms, showers, sporting practice area, pedal boats, jet skis, sun beds, parasols, car park, lifeguards and a first aid centre.

The Santa Cruz Aqua Park is a welcome addition to the island. Spend a sunny day sliding down one of the many large aqua slides, pick up some speed with the aqua toboggans, splash through one of the many swimming pools or float slowly down the lazy river.

Prices range from 3â¬ for children up to 6,50 â¬ for adults, and seniors can enjoy it for free.
    In Santa Cruz there are two main beaches, the well known Palmeiras Beach and Ribeira da Boaventura Beach.
    In Palmeiras Beach there is a pebbled beach, a swimming pool and playground, a treasure island, a climbing area and lifeguards. The pool area is open daily and the beach is a public domain. You can also go for a pedal boat ride or a nice walk along the coast.
    Ribeira da Boaventura (next to the Water Park) has two swimming pools, a sundeck, locker rooms and food court. Sea access through a small sheltered bay between the nautical area and the swimming pools.
    The Wise Kings Beach is a small fisherman's beach in CaniÃ§o, with the essential facilities to have a nice day at the beach, and it is awarded with the blue flag, for outstanding water quality. This beach has lifeguard surveillance, a first aid centre, a sports area, sunshades, restaurant, snack bar, bathroom for disabled people and a parking lot.
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Madeira Beaches and Pools

Funchal Area - Madeira Beaches

East of Funchal - Madeira Beaches

West Coast - Madeira Beaches

West Point and North Coast - Madeira Beaches

Northeast Coast - Madeira Beaches

Southeast Coast - Madeira Beaches

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