Praia do Porto Santo: 9 km of natural golden sand

No. It is on Porto Santo, a separate island roughly 43 km north-east of Madeira. Both islands belong to the Madeira archipelago and to the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal, but Porto Santo is a distinct island with its own airport (PXO) and ferry link.

No. Porto Santo's sand is entirely natural and of biogenic carbonate origin, built from the broken shells, calcareous algae and marine fossils of an ancient shallow-water carbonate platform. The imported Moroccan sand story belongs to Praia da Calheta and Praia de Machico on Madeira island, which are engineered beaches.

About 9 km, running almost unbroken along the island's southern shore from Vila Baleira in the north-east to Ponta da Calheta in the south-west. It is one of the longest natural sand beaches in the Atlantic islands.

The island has a long tradition of psammotherapy, hot sand baths taken for rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints. Research on the sand's carbonate mineralogy and trace elements, published by Portuguese university teams, has examined its geomedical potential. Treat it as a traditional therapy with supporting geochemical study rather than a proven medical cure.

By sea on the Lobo Marinho ferry from Funchal, about 2h15 each way, usually daily in season; or by air, a roughly 15-minute flight from Madeira airport (FNC) to Porto Santo (PXO). From Vila Baleira the sand starts a few minutes' walk from the ferry terminal.

Yes, it is the most family-friendly beach in the archipelago. The sea shelves very gradually, waves are usually small on the sheltered south shore, and there is enough space that even in August it never feels packed. Lifeguards cover the main access points in season and there is little shade, so bring an umbrella.

Take the Porto Santo Line ferry from Funchal (about 2h15) or a roughly 15-minute flight from Madeira airport (FNC) to Porto Santo (PXO).

The island has a long psammotherapy (hot sand bath) tradition for rheumatic complaints, and Portuguese university research has studied the geomedical potential of its biogenic carbonate sand. It is a traditional therapy with supporting geochemical study, not a proven cure.

Yes: Praia do Porto Santo has a seasonal lifeguard and facilities such as lifeguard, cafe, showers, parking and watersports, which makes it well suited to families.

Praia do Porto Santo is a sand site on Porto Santo, the second inhabited island of the Madeira archipelago, about 43 km north-east of Madeira island. Unlike Madeira's volcanic shoreline, Porto Santo's sand is natural: biogenic carbonate grains built up from shells, calcareous algae and marine fossils, not imported.

Yes, there are free car parks and roadside spaces along the beach road between Vila Baleira and Ponta da Calheta. The island is small enough that many visitors use a bike, buggy or the local bus instead.