The little sister island located in the North East of the main island of Madeira: Porto Santo. It is the only island that is inhabited with Madeira, whose main town is Vila Baleira. It is about 42 km² in size. It has sandy beaches (it's called the Golden Island!), which are sorely lacking in Madeira, as well as the Pico do Facho in the centre of the island. This island can be reached by ferry or by plane, ideal for a day trip during your trip. Several small islets surround Porto Santo.
Located 11 km southeast of the main island of Madeira: Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio are 3 deserted islands of the archipelago. These islands were not colonisable: the arid climate, the cliffs and the difficulty of access make them uninhabitable for man. They have been designated as nature reserves since 1990, they were private in the past and belonged to 2 English families. They can be seen from Funchal, with Deserta Grande being the highest point at 442m. The islands are protected by the Madeira Natural Park and are home to several protected species, including monk seals, of which there are about 30 individuals living in the caves of these islands.
