How many islands does Madeira have?
The Madeira archipelago has two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, plus two groups of uninhabited islands: the three Desertas, off Madeira's south-east coast, and the Selvagens, about 250 km to the south. The Desertas and Selvagens are nature reserves, looked after by wardens.
The islands, group by group
- Madeira: the main island, about 57 km long and 22 km wide, with Funchal, the airport and almost all of the region's roughly 250,000 people.
- Porto Santo: north-east of Madeira, with a 9 km golden sand beach and about 5,000 residents. Reach it by ferry from Funchal or a short flight.
- The Desertas: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio, a nature reserve and home of the rare Mediterranean monk seal. Boat trips from Madeira land on Deserta Grande.
- The Selvagens: Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora, closer to the Canary Islands than to Madeira, a strict nature reserve that can only be visited with special permission.
Visiting Porto Santo
Porto Santo is the easy add-on: a calm, dry island with a long sandy beach, the opposite of Madeira's cliffs. Many visitors go for a day or a weekend from Funchal.
One region, two islands to stay on
Together the islands form the Autonomous Region of Madeira, part of Portugal. You can only stay on Madeira and Porto Santo; the Desertas are visited on day trips and the Selvagens need special permission.
FAQ
- How many islands does Madeira have?
- Two inhabited islands, Madeira and Porto Santo, plus the uninhabited Desertas (three islands) and Selvagens (three main islands and islets).
- Can you visit the Desertas Islands?
- Yes, on licensed boat trips from Madeira that land at Deserta Grande, where wardens show visitors around part of the reserve.
- How do you get to Porto Santo?
- By ferry from Funchal or by a short flight from Madeira's airport.