Last Updated on April 29, 2024 by Sam
The Seixal Natural Pools are one of a number of beautiful natural swimming pools in Madeira. Found on the north coast of the island in the village of Seixal, these unique naturally-formed pools are incredibly picturesque. Compared to the other natural pools in Madeira, the Seixal Natural Pools normally aren’t as busy – particularly if you visit early in the morning. Their impressive natural beauty makes them worth a visit even if you don’t plan on going for a swim, which is why the pools are included on our 5 day Madeira itinerary along with the Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools. This guide covers everything you need to know about visiting the Seixal Natural Pools in Madeira.
Seixal Natural Pools Information
The Seixal Natural Pools are one of the most stunning natural attractions on the island of Madeira. They consist of a series of tidal pools naturally formed amongst volcanic rock on the island’s coastline.
Their location on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean allows waves to regularly refill the pools with crystal-clear seawater. The result is essentially natural infinity pools with brilliant views out to sea.
It’s an incredibly picturesque spot for a swim, and even if you don’t fancy getting in it’s still a beautiful place to visit. The surrounding landscape is impressive, in particular an archway formed of volcanic rock which arches over one of the pools.
Seixal Natural Pools Entrance Fee
There is no entrance fee to the Seixal Natural Pools, making them completely free to visit – as is the case with many of Maderia’s natural attractions. The pools are also known as Poças das Lesmas and Piscinas Naturais do Seixal, but thankfully are completely free to all visitors!
How to get to the Seixal Natural Pools
The Seixal Natural Pools are located in the small village of Seixal on the north coast of Madeira. It’s approximately a 45-minute drive from Funchal to Seixal, so it’s easy to visit on a day trip from the island’s capital city. Discover some other great trips and tours with our guide to the best day trips in Madeira!
We strongly recommend renting a car during your time In Madeira, as this way you can explore the island at your own pace. Although there are buses on the island, they take much longer to get where you need to go – for example it takes around 2½ hours from Funchal to Seixal by bus.
Thankfully driving in Madeira isn’t as difficult as some people say, especially if you stick to main roads and rent an automatic car to help with driving on some of the steep roads. It’s very affordable to rent a car in Madeira, and we recommend using the Discover Cars website to find the best deal as they compare between a number of operators to get you the best price.
Click here to get a rental car quote in seconds on the Discover Cars website!
If you are coming from Funchal you will want to take the VE4 – the main road which connects the south of the island to the north. It takes around 45 minutes to drive from Funchal to Seixal, and free parking is available near the natural pools.
Parking
There are two free parking areas near the Seixal Natural Pools, one roadside parking area with 12 spaces at Miradouro da Ribeira da Laje and then a larger car park by the pools themselves. We recommend using the roadside parking if possible, as the car park by the pools involves driving down a very steep road with a 33% decline. Click here to see the parking location on Google Maps!
It’s around a 5-10 minute walk down to the Seixual Natural Pools from the roadside parking area in the village of Seixal. The walk is fairly steep, so if you don’t fancy a steep walk down and back up then you may prefer to drive to the car park nearer the pools.
Seixal Natural Pool Tours
If driving isn’t an option then there are some great tours that visit some of Madeira’s highlights including the Seixal Natural Pools. Both Viator and Get Your Guide offer tours with consistently brilliant reviews, each with a slightly different itinerary.
The Viator tour costs just €59 per person, and includes visits to the Fanal Forest, the Porto Moniz pools, the Seixal Natural Pools, some scenic viewpoints, and more! Click here to book this amazing tour on the Viator website!
Get Your Guide offer a tour for €70 per person, which visits the Seixal Pools along with the Cabo Girao skywalk, the Fanal Forest, Porto Moniz, and more! Click here to check out this fantastic tour on the Get Your Guide website!
One thing to be aware of is that sometimes due to weather conditions it may not be possible to visit or swim in the Seixal Natural Pools on these tours. The pools are sometimes closed if there are strong waves or bad weather, which may mean you don’t get to visit them as part of your tour.
If the weather is good though you should be able to swim in these beautiful pools as part of either tour.
Tips for visiting
Seixal Promenade – Make sure to walk along the promenade to get views of the Seixal Natural Pools from above. It only takes a few minutes to walk from the parking area in the village before you can enjoy wonderful views of the pools and the Atlantic Ocean.
Weather conditions may cause closures – In cases of bad weather the pools are closed off to the public to avoid accidents and injuries. It can be dangerous in the pools if there are large waves coming in from the sea, so make sure to respect the closures if they are in place.
Changing rooms and toilets – There are some toilet facilities, which can also be used as changing rooms, located on the road down to the Seixal Natural Pools. These are free of charge and are convenient if you need to change into your swimming gear.
Porto Moniz Swimming Pools – There are more natural pools in the nearby town of Porto Moniz, which are also well worth visiting. It’s less than a 15-minute drive from Seixal to Porto Moniz, so it’s worth visiting both pools on the same day if you can.
On The Rocks Bar/Cafe – There is a small bar/cafe called On The Rocks, which is located by the Seixal Natural Pools. They serve a variety of drinks and fresh food, but the prices are slightly on the expensive side for Madeira.
Water shoes – It’s quite useful to wear water shoes if you have them as it can be quite slippery in and around the pools at times. It is still safe to visit without water shoes, but just take extra care.
No lifeguard – There are no lifeguards at the Seixal Natural Pools, so only get in if you are a confident swimmer. The pools are often fairly calm unless there are large waves from the ocean coming in, but it’s important to be aware that you are responsible for your own safety.
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