Founded in the 15th century, the village was only accessible by boat or on foot until a road connecting it to São Vicente was built after the Second World War. Nowadays there are plenty of reasons to visit, from the famous natural swimming pools to the Madeira Aquarium that houses more than 70 different aquatic species. There’s also the São João Baptista Fort, built to protect Porto Moniz from pirates. Adventurous travelers can join a guided 4x4 tour of the surrounding area, which will take you through the volcanic landscape to find hidden waterfalls. Finish off your day of exploring by watching the sunset over the ocean.
Porto Moniz is located on the northwest tip of Madeira, almost diagonally opposite Madeira’s Funchal (FNC) airport, a scenic 26-mile (42-kilometer) drive through the forested highlands. If you’d prefer not to drive on the sometimes-narrow roads you can join a guided tour of the island that includes transport. Taxis are widely available on the island, and a twice daily bus links the village with the capital, Funchal.
The island of Madeira is located in the Atlantic Ocean between Portugal and the Canary Islands, and enjoys good weather year-round. It’s a popular winter sun destination for European travelers and most attractions, shops, hotels, and restaurants are open outside of peak season.
Experience life above the clouds at Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third highest mountain. On a clear day you can see all the way to the neighboring island of Porto Santo, some 30 miles (48 kilometers) away. Keen hikers can take the well-marked (and very windy) trail that leads across the peak to the adjacent Pico Ruivo (the island’s highest peak) through spectacular scenery.