Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
The small town of Porto Moniz is home to some of the best natural pools in Madeira. Both the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools and Cachalote Natural Pools are volcanic lava pools formed over the course of thousands of years. These picturesque pools are a beautiful place for a swim, and are some of the top attractions on the north coast of Madeira. Both spots are included in our amazing 5 day Madeira itinerary, along with the nearby Seixal Natural Pools – which offer a similar scenic swimming experience. This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting the Porto Moniz Natural Pools in Madeira.
Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools Information
There are two sets of natural pools in Porto Moniz, the paid Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools and the free Cachalote Natural Pools. We recommend visiting both pools during your stay in Madeira, and you can find out more information about both below.
Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools
The better known of the two sets of pools is the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. Formed over thousands of years by the cooling of lava, these pools are constantly replenished with fresh seawater from the Atlantic Ocean.
From the pools you can enjoy panoramic coastal views whilst swimming in the crystal-clear waters. Covering an area of approximately 3800 square metres, the pools have a depth of roughly 2 metres.
The Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools have an entrance fee of €3 per person, which includes access to a variety of facilities including a bar, changing rooms, a playground, and first aid station. Sun loungers and parasols are also available for hire, and there is a lifeguard on duty on-site.
If you don’t want to go for a swim then you can see these pools from nearby to the entrance without having to pay the entrance fee.
Porto Moniz Natural Pools Opening Hours – 9am-7pm during summer and 9am-5pm during winter.
Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools
The Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools are also located in Porto Moniz, and are a collection of lava pools formed by volcanic rocks. Like other natural pools in Madeira, the pools are constantly replenished by fresh crystal-clear seawater from the Atlantic Ocean.
Offering some lovely views out to sea and along Madeira’s coastline, the pools provide a stunning place to swim. The pools here aren’t fully connected, meaning there are different sections to get in and go for a swim.
Also known as the Piscinas Naturais do Aquário (Aquarium Natural Swimming Pools), in our opinion the Cachalote pools are the more impressive of the Porto Moniz Lava Pools. They have a more rugged and natural feel to them compared to the paid pools, but it can be slightly harder to get in and out of the pools – so make sure to take care when doing so.
The Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools are completely free to visit, but there are no real facilities here other than an outdoor shower. There is no specific area for leaving your belongings either, so leave any valuables in your car where necessary.
Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools Opening Hours – 9am-7pm.
How to get to the Porto Moniz Natural Pools
The town of Porto Moniz is located in the northwest corner of Madeira. It’s approximately a one-hour drive from Funchal to Porto Moniz, so it’s an easy day trip from the island’s capital city. If you’re looking for other easy trips then check out our guide to the best day trips in Madeira!
It’s best to rent a car during your stay in Madeira, as this gives you the ability to explore different parts of the island. There are buses on the island, but unfortunately they are quite slow and so it would take around 3 hours by bus from Funchal to Porto Moniz.
Having driven in Madeira ourselves, we can safely say it isn’t as difficult or scary as some people make out. If you stick to main roads and rent an automatic car to help with the steep roads, then driving on the island is fairly easy.
Renting a car in Madeira is very affordable, which makes it the most budget-friendly and efficient way to get around the island. We recommend booking your rental via the Discover Cars website, as they compare between a number of local operators to get you the best price.
Click here to get a quote for your trip in seconds on the Discover Cars website!
The quickest way to drive to Porto Moniz from Funchal is to take the VE4, which is the main road connecting the south of Madeira to the north coast. Parking is available near the pools, which you can find out more about below.
Porto Moniz Parking
There is a reasonable amount of public parking available in Porto Moniz, with both free and paid parking spaces available.
One of the free car parks is located next to the SPAR, and is close-by to the Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools but within walking distance of both sets of pools. Click here to see the exact location of the car park.
More free parking is available in the town close-by to the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools, which is convenient if you are visiting the paid pools. Click here to see the location of this car park.
If there are no spaces in these car parks then there are also paid options available, with the best option being the paid parking near the SPAR. Parking here is fairly inexpensive, costing just 80 cents per hour but it is a cash only car park. Click here to see the exact location of the paid parking area.
All of these parking areas are within walking distance of both the Porto Moniz Natural Pools and the Cachalote Natural Swimming Pools, so you can visit both sets of lava pools without needing to drive elsewhere!
Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools Tours
If you don’t want to rent a car during your trip then thankfully there are some great tours in Madeira that visit the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. Tours tend to be more expensive than renting a car and driving yourself, but they are a good alternative if you don’t drive.
It’s normally best to book tours in advance to guarantee your spot for your preferred dates, and thankfully it’s easy to book online via either Viator or Get Your Guide. Both offer some of the best rated tours in Madeira, with slightly different itineraries and options.
Viator offer a tour that includes a visit to the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools, as well as some of the other best places to visit in Madeira including the Fanal Forest and the Seixal Natural Pools. This tour costs just €59 per person and includes pick-up and drop-off in Funchal. Click here to book this brilliant tour on the Viator website!
Get Your Guide offer a similar tour, which visits the Porto Moniz Natural Pools, as well as the Fanal Forest, Seixal Pools, the Cabo Girao skywalk, and more! This guided tour costs €70 per person and includes pick-up and drop-off in Funchal. Click here to book this amazing trip on the Get Your Guide website!
In cases of bad weather or rough seas, the pools may close for safety reasons. The pools are filled with seawater via waves, so it can be unsafe to swim here at times – hence why the pools are sometimes closed.
If the pools are closed you won’t be able to swim in them during your tour, but this would be the same if you rented a car and visited on the same day.
Tips for visiting
Weather conditions – As we have already mentioned, in cases of bad weather and rough seas the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools may be closed. This is for safety reasons as the waves can make the pools dangerous for swimming.
If both the paid swimming pools and the free Cachalote Porto Moniz Lava Pools are closed, then you will only be able to admire them without swimming. Ideally try and plan your visit for a day with good weather, but if that’s not possible the pools are still quite picturesque and worth a quick visit if you are nearby.
Changing rooms and facilities – Only the paid Porto Moniz Natural Pools have changing rooms and facilities, but there is a free public toilet next to the SPAR in town. If you are only visiting the free Porto Moniz Lava Pools then you can use these to change before and after your visit.
Seixal Natural Pools – Make sure to combine your trip with a visit to Seixal to enjoy even more scenic natural pools. Seixal is less than a 15-minute drive from Porto Moniz, so it’s easy to combine the two.
Water shoes – If you are visiting the free Cachalote Natural Pools then it’s a good idea to wear water shoes. The way in and out of the pools can be slippery and a bit rocky, so wearing shoes can protect your feet and make it easier to get in and out of the water.
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