Would you take a dip in a volcanic lava pool? The lava-formed sea water at the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools is a must-stop visit on your trip to Madeira. Read our full guide on this natural beauty…you don’t want to miss out on it during your backpacking travels on the island.
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What are the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools?
The natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz are saltwater pools created in lava formations by the ocean, in the municipality of Porto Moniz. As the name suggests, the pools are filled naturally thanks to the generous tides of the ocean and waves that splash into them on days of rough seas.
People flock to the pools at Porto Moniz for enjoying a day by the water, enjoying these gorgeous views and for relaxing. This is not a party beach. It has a laidback vibe and attracts visitors looking for a peaceful day in the sun. What’s fun about spending the day here, instead of at a beach, is that you get to walk along the boardwalk-of-a-path and wet your toes in the different depths of these open waters.
Porto Moniz natural pools
There are several natural pools in Madeira, but the ones of Porto Moniz are arguably the island’s most beautiful ones. Why? Well, the water is absolutely pristine and the average annual water temperature is between 20 and 21º C – nice and refreshing!
It’s good to know the pools are both shallow and deep so you can choose to either sit, lounge or swim in the salty water.
Also! There are services near the natural pools. These include a locker area, showers and bars, which make it a perfect environment to enjoy Madeira and take it easy from your hikes.
Why choosing a natural pool over the beach?
Madeira is a gem of an island in the Atlantic Ocean so it HAS to have plenty of stunning beaches, right? Well, that isn’t entirely true.
The island of Madeira does feature some beautiful beaches, like the one of Calhau da Lapa or the ones listed in our Madeira Bucket List. However, being a volcanic, mountainous island, most of the beaches are rocky and often have waves with the strength of the Hulk.
A natural pool gives you the chance to swim in Madeira’s crystal clear waters without worrying about the waves and, possibly, getting pushed up against sharp rocks.
Also, most beaches in Madeira are pebble beaches, where you can’t really lay and relax. A natural pool like the ones of Porto Moniz have plenty of space to chill and lounge.
How to get to the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools?
🚗 Get to Porto Moniz by car
Porto Moniz is located on the north-eastern side of the island, and it’s one of the farthest places from Funchal. It takes just over 50 minutes to cover the 49km between Porto Moniz and Madeira’s capital by car.
You can park your car in Porto Moniz, next to the pools. Keep in mind that the parking spaces with blue lines are paid parking. There are nearby machines for your to pay in the parking lot. You can pay with coins or by card using the machines located in the parking lot.
TIP: Check out this free parking to enjoy the pools hassle-free.
🚌 Is there a bus from Funchal to Porto Moniz?
Yes! You can reach Porto Moniz from Funchal by bus with the so called “Carreira n° 80“, a bus route operated by Rodoeste. Bus n°80 leaves from Funchal at 10:00 am once a day, every day of the week. The journey takes about 3h 15min (from Monday to Friday) and is slightly shorter on the weekends because the bus makes fewer stops.
The bus from Funchal to Porto Moniz costs €6 ($7 USD).
Check out the timetable here.
📍 Porto Moniz natural swimming pools exact location:
This map shows you the exact location of the Porto Moniz natural pools:
Porto Moniz natural swimming pools entrance fee
The entrance fee for natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz is €3 EUR ($3.2 USD)per person (it used to be €1.5 EUR/$1.6 USD until 2021). Here, the number 5 reigns king: a beach umbrella will cost you €5 EUR ($5.3 USD), so will a beach bed, and a locker room too for the day.
You can check out the full table below for more services and prices:
Honestly, we didn’t feel the need to pay for anything extra other than the €3 EUR ($3.2 USD) entrance fee, which makes the natural pools of Porto Moniz a very affordable place to go to in Madeira.
Porto Moniz natural swimming pools opening times
The lava pools of Porto Moniz are open all year round between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm during the winter months and 9:00 am and 7:00 pm during the summer time.
What to bring to the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools?
You won’t need many things at the Porto Moniz swimming pools other than your beach essentials. The area is dotted with bars and restaurants, so there is no risk of not being able to get what you need, like food and drink, while you’re there.
Your essentials to pack are:
- a swimsuit
- towel
- sunscreen and/or hat for sun protection
- flip flops
- mask & snorkel
Other natural pools in Madeira
Given its rocky nature, Madeirans have built several tidal pools across the island. The most beautiful ones being Seixal natural pools and Piscinas Naturais da Doca do Cavacas. There is also another site with natural pools in Porto Moniz itself, called Aquarium Natural Swimming Pools.
The ones of Seixal are particularly interesting as they are just as charming but not as popular as the ones in Porto Moniz. This makes Seixal natural pools a great alternative during high season.
You can read more about it on our Seixal natural pools – full guide.
Best time to visit Porto Moniz natural swimming pools
You can visit the pools of Porto Moniz all year long. During winter months the temperature drops a bit, so expect to find bot the air and the water slightly colder.
GEOGRAPHY MATTERS: Porto Moniz is located on the northern side of the island, an area that experiences early sunsets, especially during winter months. The sun also rises later in the morning.
We are talking about a significant difference. On a regular day, the sun in Porto Moniz sets over one hour and a half earlier. Keep that in mind if you’re planning to visit Porto Moniz in the afternoon.
HIGH SEASON: Porto Moniz is a popular place in Madeira, so don’t expect to have it to yourself during high season. If you want to try to enjoy these pools without many people around, consider visiting them during the earliest hours of the day. The late afternoon might also be a good time, as many of the people visiting are part of day trips and won’t stay until late.
Our tips for Porto Moniz natural pools
- IN WINTER: Visit Porto Moniz natural pools during the central hours of the day. Porto Moniz isn’t very crowded during the low season and temperatures will be warmer.
- DURING SUMMER: Get there early. Porto Moniz is a very popular place in Madeira and the best way to enjoy the pools is when there aren’t many people around.
- Take advantage of the free parking near the pools.
- Check out the board to jump into the ocean, on days of calm seas.
Is it safe?
The pools of Porto Moniz are overall very safe. Inside the pools, the lava rocks aren’t particularly sharp, as they have been smoothened over the years.
On the edge of the pool, you need to pay more attention, especially when the sea is rough. Waves can push you off, and falling in the ocean among big waves and sharp rocks is very dangerous.
Where to stay in Porto Moniz?
You might consider staying in Porto Moniz overnight, for the weekend, or even for a few days.
Staying for a while in Porto Moniz is a good idea because it’s way cheaper than Funchal, it’s beautiful and it’s a great base to explore the lesser-known western side of Madeira.
There are also some great options when it comes to accommodations in the area. Here are some of our favourites:
▪️ Aqua Natura Madeira – Double from €81 EUR ($86 USD)
Stunning hotel overlooking the natural pools of Porto Moniz. It features a rooftop restaurant, a bar, gym and more services and amenities.
▪️ Aqua Natura Bay – Double from €73 per night ($77 USD)
A 4-star hotel on the eastern side of Porto Moniz. Great value for money and awesome reviews.
▪️ Hotel Euro Moniz – Double from €50 per night ($53 USD)
Considering a hostel in Funchal will cost you about €20 EUR ($21 USD)/night per person, Hotel Euro Moniz is a huge bargain.
▪️ Perola View Inn – Double from €53 EUR ($56 USD)/night
Beautiful boutique hotel in the heart of Porto Moniz. Great location and awesome deal.
Check availability for your dates below:
Booking.comThe old pools of Porto Moniz: Aquarium Natural Swimming Pools
These pools are located at the entrance of the town of Porto Moniz. They are often mistaken for the ones shown on this blog, as they are quite similar and they show up as a related result on google. People also mistakenly upload photos of one place to the other google location (and vice versa), making the situation even more murky.
Aquarium natural swimming pools are a smaller, wilder and an older version of the new Porto Moniz natural pools. One such pool is the Piscinas Naturais Velhas, located only 500m from the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools.
We’ve pinned the exact location below:
What to do nearby?
The north-western side of Madeira is full of hidden gems, most of which are often overlooked in favour of tourist attractions close to Funchal. Here, we’ve listed the ones we liked the most:
▪️ Achadas da Cruz – A stunning walk by the ocean, only accessible with the steepest cable car in Europe.
▪️ Praia da Ribeira da Janela – An interesting rock formation by the beach, in the town of Ribeira da Janela.
▪️ Seixal Natural Pools – Smaller but beautiful natural pools located in the town of Seixal, with a rock arch. Check out this beautiful place!
▪️ Fanal Forest – The enchanted Laurisilva forest of Madeira.
▪️ Levada das 25 Fontes & Risco Waterfall: The most popular levada in Madeira! Read more!
▪️ Garganta Funda – An impressive waterfall near the sea.
▪️ Vereda do Pesqueiro – Located in Ponta do Pargo, don’t miss one of Madeira’s most beautiful coastal hikes. Click here for the full guide.
Are you looking for more suggestions? Check out our ultimate Madeira bucket list.
[…] western Madeira, between Ponta do Pargo and Porto Moniz. It is a 10km (20 minutes) drive from the Porto Moniz natural swimming pools, and 11km (20 minutes) from the Vereda do Pesqueiro. Below you can find the exact location of […]