Porto Moniz: Madeira’s natural lava pools, Seixal and the north-west coast

At Madeira’s north-western tip, the Atlantic crashes against black volcanic rock. In Porto Moniz, pools formed in old lava flows fill with clear seawater, and you can swim in calm water while waves explode just beyond the rocks. It is one of the most photographed places on the island and the best place in Madeira for a sea swim when the south coast feels too ordinary.

The natural pools

There are two sets of pools, a few minutes’ walk apart.

The main pool complex (Piscinas Naturais do Porto Moniz)

• Price: €3 per person in 2026, paid at the gate. Cards are accepted.
• Opening hours: about 9:00 to 17:00 in winter and 9:00 to 19:00 in summer.
• Facilities: changing rooms, lockers, toilets, a café, sunbeds and parasols to rent, and lifeguards in season.
• Good for: families and anyone who wants steps, ladders and a lifeguard.

The free pools by the aquarium (Piscinas do Aquário)

• Free and always open, but with no lifeguard, no facilities and no steps.
• The rocks are sharp and slippery. Water shoes are a must.

The water is the temperature of the sea, from about 18 °C in winter to 23 °C at the end of summer. Pools close when the swell is too big, which happens often in winter. Check the webcam at the Porto Moniz pools and the sea state on our weather page before you drive over.

Other things to do in Porto Moniz

• Aquário da Madeira: a small aquarium inside the old fort by the pools, with fish and other creatures from Madeiran waters. Good on a cooler day or with children.
• The islet viewpoint: the road above the town looks down on the pools and the Ilhéu Mole, the islet with the lighthouse.
• Lunch: the seafront restaurants serve grilled fish, limpets (lapas) and espetada.

Achadas da Cruz cable car

About 15 minutes south of Porto Moniz, the cable car at Achadas da Cruz drops almost vertically down the cliff to a strip of farmland and a pebble beach at the bottom. The ride takes about five minutes and runs every day. It is said to be one of the steepest cable cars in Europe and is not for anyone afraid of heights, but the view straight down the cliff is unforgettable. See all cable cars in Madeira.

Seixal

About 20 minutes east along the coast, Seixal has a black-sand beach beneath green cliffs, a few small natural pools and vineyards on terraces that produce some of the island’s best table wine. On a calm day it is one of the most beautiful swimming spots in Madeira.

The north coast road

The coast road between Porto Moniz, Seixal and São Vicente runs through tunnels and past waterfalls. Stop at the Véu da Noiva viewpoint, where a waterfall falls straight from the cliff into the sea. Continue to São Vicente and its lava caves, or climb to the misty laurel forest at Fanal.

Getting there

• By car: about 1 hour 15 minutes from Funchal, via the expressway to São Vicente and then the coast road. The alternative route over the Paul da Serra plateau and Fanal is slower but spectacular.
• By bus: Rodoeste runs from Funchal to Porto Moniz. The journey is long and there are only a few buses a day, so check the return times before you go.
• On a tour: most west-island tours stop at the pools for an hour or so.

Tips

• The north coast is cooler and windier than Funchal, even in summer. Bring a jumper.
• Arrive in the morning in summer and at weekends. The car parks and the pool complex fill up by midday.
• Make a day of it: Porto Moniz, Seixal and Fanal fit together well, or combine with Ponta do Sol on the way back along the south coast.