Just 380 meters from the Island of Porto Santo (Portugal) you can find Ilhéu de Cima, a small islet in the southeast part of of the Porto Santo island. The islet is an interesting area to visit when you are visiting Porto Santo island, there are however some rules to follow due to being a protected area.
The islet is well known for its lighthouse, built in 1900, that can be seen from most of the island of Porto Santo.
The visit to the islet it done, tipically, from the Porto Santo Port.
A quick boat gets to it a few minutes.
When arriving, there is a stairway that provides access to the central part of the islet. When following the winding stairway to the islet top, an interesting view over Porto Santo island, and the islet itself, can be admired.
When walking around, one should follow the marked paths, not to disturb animals and plants.
From the central part of the islet, you get a nice perpective of the Porto Santo island.
After just a few minutes you reach the lighthouse. It works alone, with minimal maintenance, so the only inhabitants are the tiny (and plentiful) lizards.
The return follows the same stairway, towards the islet boarding spot.
You can bring snorkel gear, as the boarding spot is a nice place to snorkel.
August 2, 2024
Pedro Coelho