On the water
More on the water
Stand-up paddle, windsurfing, kitesurfing, dinghy sailing and big-game fishing
What it is like here
Stand-up paddle is quick to learn, and schools on Madeira and Porto Santo rent boards and teach all year, from touring on calm water to riding waves. Windsurfers and kitesurfers want a calm sea, low swell and steady wind, found mainly on the south coast and on Porto Santo; kites go up in Funchal bay, at Praia Formosa and on Porto Santo. Dinghies, from Lasers and Optimists to Hobie Cats, sail along both islands.
Sport fishing has some 30 years of history here. The sea is 1,000 m deep five minutes from the pier, and in the warmer months blue marlin pass, along with bigeye and other tunas, swordfish and barracuda.
Before you go
- All fishing, sport fishing included, is banned in the Garajau reserve. Source
Who runs it
Members of the tourism board’s association, as Visit Madeira lists them. A list, not a recommendation.
Sources: Visit Madeira · Madeira Ocean & Trails · Checked November 3, 2026