Porto Moniz is a municipality in the northern part of the island of Madeira. It comprises the parishes of Porto Moniz, Achadas da Cruz, Ribeira da Janela and Seixal.
It is a beautiful area with waterfalls, lakes, and forests as far as the eye can see, but it also has levadas and paths to discover a unique rugged landscape.
In this blog post, you’ll find five suggestions of what to see and do in Porto Moniz so that you can plan your trip.
But one thing is for sure you will fall in love with the north coast of Madeira!
What to see in Porto Moniz
The natural pools in Porto Moniz
First of all, you should know that there are two areas with natural pools. The area with sunbeds and changing rooms has a paid entrance, but if you walk a few meters, you will find other natural pools that are free.
These simple pools are supplied with water from the Atlantic each time the tide rises, so the water is replaced frequently.
The natural pools are located in the center, and you can park your car nearby.
Try to forget about the water temperature and get the courage to dive in these clear waters because it’s an incredible feeling.
The Cable Car in Achadas da Cruz
The cable car at Achadas da Cruz connects you to Fajã da Quebrada Nova, some agricultural land that lies by the sea, so if you like dramatic descents, this cable car is for you.
Furthermore, as it is not as well known as the cable car that goes to Fajã dos Padres, it has less traffic and fewer tourists.
You can also reach Fajã da Quebrada Nova by walking along Vereda do Calhau and Vereda da Ladeira, but you will miss the cable car descent.
The Ribeira da Janela
Ribeira da Janela is an amazing place to visit in Porto Moniz, and there is a lot to explore in that area, so go ahead with time.
Put the Ribeira da Janela car park on the GPS and leave your rental car there.
Go up the stairs and look for the statue of the virgin.
Enter the rock, cross it and see how magnificent the landscape is. The Creator spared no effort in this area, so after exploring the place, go to Praia da Ribeira da Janela to see the islanders up close.
By the way, the smallest islet is called Ilheuzinho, followed by Ilhéu da Rib and finally Ilhéu da Ribeira da Janela.
The Laurissilva Forest and the Fanal
he Laurissilva Forest is the primitive forest of Madeira Island. As it is a protected area, it is necessary to be careful when visiting.
It is important not to damage it, and you must pay attention to your safety.
In any case, some areas are easily accessible by car, such as Fanal.
The Bride’s Veil Waterfall (Cascata do Véu da Noiva)
You can find the Véu da Noiva Waterfall between Seixal and Porto Moniz.
It has the particularity that the waterfall precipitates into the Atlantic Ocean after crossing a cliff which causes a considerable amount of foam to form.
The best place to see the Véu da Noiva Waterfall is from the Véu da Noiva Viewpoint, on the old road between Seixal and Porto Moniz.
Extra tip: after the tunnel towards Porto Moniz, there is another impressive waterfall.
Where to eat in Porto Moniz
Picado Regional. Bolo do Caco with garlic. Picado de Polvo.
The best restaurants in Porto Moniz are next to the natural pools.
There are several types of restaurants with fresh fish and seafood.
We had lunch at the Restaurante Polo Norte. We chose Bolo do Caco for starters and shared octopus Picado and regional Picado between the four of us.
Although we arrived at the restaurant late, they still served us with a smile on their face.
The food was tasty and the prices acceptable, so this is a restaurant we recommend.
Accommodation in Porto Moniz
When we visited Madeira Island, we stayed at Quinta da Saraiva, a rural tourism house in Câmara de Lobos about 40 km away, and we enjoyed it.
In any case, the offer of hotels in Madeira is quite diverse, so please check the availability and prices below.
More articles about Madeira Island
Finally, are you thinking of visiting the island of Madeira? So, in that case, we take the liberty of suggesting that you read the following articles:
- Traveling to Madeira during the pandemic: cautions
- Quinta da Saraiva: accommodation tip in Madeira
- Cabo Girão skywalk over the highest Promontory in Europe
- Curral das Freiras: visit the central massif of Madeira and the best viewpoints
- Câmara de Lobos Things to do and see: the bay, the islet, the Churchill statue, and more!
- Ribeira Brava: making Madeira poncha in Serra D’Água
- Paul da Serra: visit the Biggest plateau in Madeira
- Madeira Natural Park: visit unique ecosystems in the world
- Madeira Laurissilva Forest: UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Porto Moniz: things to see and do on the North Coast of Madeira Island
- Farmers’ Market in Funchal: Exploring Mercado dos Lavradores
- Funchal Travel Guide: Best Things to See and Do in Madeira 2022
- Ponta de São Lourenço Trail: PR8, boat and lunch at Cais do Sardinha
- Machico Madeira: Whale Museum, Pico do Facho Viewpoint, and more
- Santana Madeira: see typical Madeiran houses
- Madeira Airport (FNC)
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