On the water
Open-water swimming
Sea routes from 300 m to 3 km, with their distance, time and difficulty
What it is like here
The south coast is the calm one, with clear water and gentle waves, and the sea on the north coast is livelier. Madeira Ocean & Trails describes 18 open-water routes, from a sheltered 300 m between two pontoons at Calheta beach to 3 km from Praia do Vigário to the foot of Cabo Girão, including two inside the Garajau reserve, where swimming is allowed.
The island also holds long open-water races, among them a 25 km crossing from Santa Cruz to the Desertas and, since 2020, the Madeira Island Ultra Swim.
Before you go
- The Garajau reserve rules apply on the Galomar and Garajau routes: nothing may be taken or harmed, and no litter or noise. Source
Where
- Complexo Balnear Lido – Galomar — 1.5 km each way, about 40 min; medium; inside the Garajau reserve
- Complexo Balnear do Lido — 1.5 km each way, about 40 min; easy; in central Funchal
- Fajã do Cabo Girão — 500 m each way, about 15 min; medium; reached by the Rancho cable car
- Fajã dos Padres - Calhau da Lapa — 1.7 km each way, about 45 min; medium; from the pier at Fajã dos Padres to Calhau da Lapa
- Ponta de S. Lourenço (Percurso 1) — 1.2 km each way, about 40 min; medium; from Cais do Sardinha, right along the coast
- Ponta de S. Lourenço (Percurso 2) — 500 m each way, about 30 min; medium; from Cais do Sardinha to the Morro do Furado arch
- Praia Formosa — 1 km each way, about 30 min; easy; Madeira’s largest public beach, in west Funchal
- Praia da Calheta — 300 m, about 10 min; easy; a sheltered stretch between two pontoons
- Praia da Calheta (Porto Santo) — 2,800 m loop, about 1 h 30 min; medium to difficult; strong currents at times On Porto Santo, which the 3D island does not show yet.
- Praia da Ponta do Sol (quay loop) — 1 km loop around the quay, about 30 min; medium
- Praia da Ponta do Sol (Mito waterfall) — 1.5 km, about 1 h; medium; west along the coast to the Mito waterfall and back
- Praia da Ribeira do Natal (Caniçal) — 2 km loop, about 1 h; medium; past a small cave to the Whale Museum and back
- Praia das Palmeiras (Percurso 1) — 1 km each way, about 30 min; medium; under the airport runway
- Praia das Palmeiras (Percurso 2) — 2 km each way, about 50 min; difficult; on past the first route to Santa Catarina islet
- Praia do Garajau — 1 km each way, about 30 min; difficult; inside the Garajau reserve
- Praia do Vigário — 3 km, about 1 h 30 min; medium; under a natural arch to the beach at the foot of Cabo Girão
- Prainha — 1.5 km, about 1 h; medium; under Rocha do Elefante and along the Dunas da Piedade
- Seixal — 1.8 km loop, about 1 h; difficult; from Seixal’s port beach past the Véu da Noiva waterfall
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