Planning a Trip

Arriving

By Plane -- The flight from Madeira to the little Campo de Cima airport (tel. 29/198-01-20), Strada Regionale 101 at Porto Santo, takes only 15 minutes. (The views are spectacular.) Always reserve well in advance for July and August, when beach lovers descend en masse. Flights generally cost 65€ ($85) one-way and 130€ ($169) round-trip. In peak season, count on eight flights per day; frequency diminishes in the off season. For ticket reservations and information, call tel. 70/722-72-82 or 29/620-97-20. The airport lies right outside of town, a 30-minute walk from the center. Taxis meet all arriving flights, and a fare into town typically costs 5€ ($6.50). There is no bus service from the airport to the center of town.

By Boat -- Regularly scheduled ferry service connects Madeira and Porto Santo. The Lobo Marinho departs Funchal Harbor daily. Tickets cost 60€ ($78) round-trip if you return the same day. If you stay more than 1 night, a round-trip ticket costs 49€ ($64).

Saturday through Thursday, the ferry usually departs Madeira at 8am and arrives in Porto Santo at 10:30am. The departure from Madeira on Friday isn't until 7pm. During the month of August, a ferry departs Madeira at 8am daily. Always check the schedules for return trips from Porto Santo, which vary. Tickets can be purchased at the Lobo Marinho office, Rua da Praia, Funchal (tel. 29/121-03-00; www.portosantoline.pt), Monday to Friday from 9am to 12:30pm and 2:30 to 6pm. On weekends, you can buy a ticket at any travel agency in Funchal.

The boats arrive at a little port about a 30-minute walk from the center of town. Taxis await arriving boats and will take you into the center or to one of the nearby hotels for 5€ ($6.50). There is also bus service into the center, which costs 1€ ($1.30) per passenger.

Visitor Information

The tourist office is on Avenida Doutor Manuel Júnior (tel. 29/198-51-89; www.madeiratourism.org) in Vila Baleira, the island's capital. It's open Monday to Friday 9am to 5:30pm, and Saturday from 10am to 12:30pm.

Getting Around

Most visitors get around on foot or rely on a taxi (tel. 29/198-23-34) for excursions. In town, you can usually pick up a taxi along Rua Doctor Nuno Teixeira. Car rentals can be arranged at Moinho, at Porto Santo Airport (tel. 29/198-27-80).