Porto Santo Island holidays

Porto Santo is only 11 kilometres long, and its main beach – the aptly named Porto Santo Beach – stretches along the east coast for 10 of them. Locals don’t just come here to sunbathe, though. Apparently, the island’s sands have healing properties, and residents claim the soft grains have been scientifically proven to banish aches and pains, and ease rheumatism and arthritis.

Vila Baleira is the island’s only town, so it makes sense for it to claim the busiest stretch of Porto Santo Beach. Despite its popularity, though, this section never gets overcrowded. Its sands run parallel to a café-dotted promenade, so you’ve plenty of options when you want to grab a bite to eat.

Praia de Calheta, Porto Santo Beach’s most southerly section, comes to a halt in a cul-de-sac of boulders and white-crested waves. These remote sands don’t welcome many visitors during the day, but the sunsets do draw a local or two. Because of the beach’s geographical location, it’s said to be the best place on the island to see them.

The pier in Vila Baleira is the place to head to if you’re hunting for traditional souvenirs. Popular buys here include wicker ornaments, clay figurines, and the island’s signature palm-woven dolls. Alternatively, catch a ferry over to Madeira for the day, and spend some time trawling Funchal’s Farmer’s Market.

If you’re in need of a bit of retail therapy, head down to Rua Joao Goncalves Zarco in Vila Baleira. It's the island's main shopping street and home to a list of local fashion shops and boutiques.

Porto Santo doesn’t come with a huge shopping scene, so you’ll need to hop across to Madeira if you’re after a proper shop. There’s a whole host of shopping centres in the capital – La Vie Shopping Centre’s a top pick for top-end buys.

Vila Baleira’s main square, Largo do Pelhourino, starts to twinkle at dusk. Restaurant owners hang their lanterns up, and café tables spill out on to the cobbles. Down by the seafront, most of the eateries treat visitors to ocean-facing terraces. After dinner, find a bar in one of the old town’s backstreets and listen to the local lingo.

If you’re staying up late, Vila Baleira’s quayside is the place to be. The bars are packed in the summer months, and there’s always a good atmosphere.

Porto Santo inherited the recipe for this traditional round bread from neighbouring Madeira. It’s made with sweet potato and baked on a flat stone, and comes smothered in hot garlic butter.

Epetada is a more sophisticated version of your typical kebab. Tender chunks of garlic-infused beef are slid onto a skewer alongside crunchy onions and bell peppers. The secret to the nutty flavour of the meat is in the method of cooking – locals grill it over laurel wood.

This steaming seafood stew is made with clams, vegetables, and spicy chorizo. It’s all tossed in a clam-shaped copper pan and served steaming hot. Just like North African tagines, Cataplana is the name of both the recipe and the pan it’s cooked in, and it’s usually the table centrepiece at local parties.

Fresh-as-it-comes fish is a menu staple in Porto Santo. And you have to try espada while you’re here. This dark-skinned, razor-toothed fish doesn’t look particularly appetising, but it’s delicious when it’s grilled and soaked in lemon juice. If you’re feeling adventurous, eat it the traditional way – with banana and a sticky passion-fruit sauce.

This alcoholic drink is made from sugar cane juice, honey, sugar, lemon rind and fruit juice – so, unsurprisingly, it’s got a pretty sweet taste. All the ingredients are mixed together with a special muddling tool called a mexelote – it originates from Madeira, and the Portuguese reckon it cures the common cold.