Madeira - Facts
Madeira FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: If coming from outside the EU (or non-EU flagged), contact the marina at your intended port of entry 24 hours in advance. See Clearance for details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: If non-EU/Schengen then generally you will need a visa. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? All four marinas are ports of entry: Calheta, Funchal, Quinta do Lorde and Porto Santo.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no entry or exit fees, other than a 70 Euro lighthouse tax and visa fees. See fees for details.
What security concerns should I know about? Madeira is generally a safe country. See Security for more info.
Madeira Facts for Sailors
- Madeira is a Portuguese group of four islands located just off the west coast of Africa in the North Atlantic.
- Only two islands of this volcanic archipelago are inhabited, the largest, Madeira Grande, which gives its name to the whole group, and Porto Santo, 28 NM to the northeast.
- The main island of Madeira is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs, pebbly beaches and settlements on deltas of the Fajã River. The smaller islands of the main group are Ilha Chao, Ilha Deserta Grande, and Ilheu de Bugio. The Madeira wine produced here is world famous.
- The population is approx. 270,000. Portuguese is the national language, but English is widely spoken.
- Madeira operates on UTC and a summertime zone of UTC +1.
- The weather is subtropical. For more details see Weather below.
- The majority of yachts arrive here during October and November on their way to the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, while some leave direct from the main port Funchal to cross the Atlantic.
- There has also been an increase in the number of American boats cruising the Atlantic circle of Bermuda, Azores, Madeira and Canary Islands during the summer, while Madeira has also become a popular port of call in the spring, for yachts returning to Europe after wintering in the Canaries.
- The Ilhas Selvagens, a small group of islands 163nm from the island of Madeira and 82NM from the Canary Islands, are a wildlife refuge administered by Madeira. Yachts wishing to visit them can now acquire a permit on site from the guards, however, the Madeira Natural Park recommends that yachts should ask for the permit prior to their arrival. The marinas in Madeira can all assist with this.
- There are only basic repair facilities in Porto Santo and for any work, it is best to sail over to Funchal. There are no facilities or provisioning on any of the other adjacent islands. For more details on yachting services see Yachting Essentials.
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We arrived at Marina Quinta do Lorde on August 14, 2024. This marina is located in one of the windiest areas of the island, where wind gusts can suddenly reach up to 30 knots right at the entrance, alongside strong tidal currents that must be considered when entering. The marina entrance is quite narrow.
The staff at the marina are friendly, and the check-in process is smooth. As we were coming from Spain, we were not required to clear with the authorities, as the marina notified them on our behalf. However, it is essential to contact the Portuguese Maritime Authority via VHF Channel 16 upon entering Madeira waters to inform them of which marina you will be docking at.
This marina is part of a resort complex (currently under renovation) and features a small coffee shop, a dive center, and a whale-watching tour operator. It is relatively isolated, with the nearest market located about 5 km away, so renting a car is advisable for greater mobility. There is a bus stop in front of the complex, and taxis are readily available.
If you wish to sail within Madeira’s waters—such as to Porto Santo, Desertas Islands, and Selvagens Islands—you must register and complete the request forms at https://simplifica.madeira.gov.pt. You can also request scuba diving permits through the same portal. For additional information, you can email info.srtc@madeira.gov.pt.
We cleared out of Madeira via Marina Quinta do Lorde, which kindly filled out the official form for us. Our last port of call before exiting Portuguese waters was the Selvagens Islands, where there is a military base. You must call in on Channel 16 when approaching. In this area, there is only one allowed anchorage area, which is at Ensenada das Cagarras in the southern part of the island. It is necessary to pre-book the single anchorage buoy. If the buoy is occupied, you can drop anchor in the bay, but be aware that the bottom is flat and rocky with limited grip.
Marina Quinta do Lorde is very much open even though the resort is closed.
Marina staff very friendly with good English. Immigration will visit the marina to stamp passports in and out.
Good discounts for Ocean Cruising Club members.
Some interesting links about Madeira:
The Islets of Porto Santo: A treasure to preserve
https://ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/images/Doc_Artigos/Divulgacao/publicacoes/livros/LivroIPSanto.pdf
Ponta de São Lourenço: The most Eastern peninsula of Madeira
https://ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/images/Doc_Artigos/Divulgacao/publicacoes/livros/Livro_PSLourenco_2011.pdf
The Eastern Mountainous Massif of Madeira
https://ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/images/Doc_Artigos/Divulgacao/publicacoes/livros/LivroMMOrientalMadeira.pdf
The Laurissilva of Madeira-World Heritage
https://ifcn.madeira.gov.pt/images/Doc_Artigos/Divulgacao/publicacoes/livros/FLORESTA%20LAURISSILVA.pdf
We arrived from Gibraltar at the Quinta do Lorde Marina 26th May 2017. The Marina can be highly recommended. Everything is in perfect order, there are enough places for visitors. The staff is very helpful and the facilities are first class! The price for one week is moderate. The Marina is integrated in a 5-Star Resort with apartments, hotel and restaurant, very quiet. There is also a very experienced French ship chandler on site, who can manage a lot of problems of the boat.
Bus connection to Funchal. Rent a car by the Marina Office. Small Supermarket in the Marina. Petrol station just at left hand side of the entrance.
The marina Funchal is very crowded and cannot be recommended. Alternatively is Calheta Marina (inform them you are coming first by telephone).
A. Griesemer – SY Gamper