The Madeira archipelago has seven principal islands in the official regional count: Madeira, Porto Santo, the three Desertas Islands and the two main Selvagens Islands, plus numerous smaller islets. In reality, only Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited and straightforward for independent travellers. In this updated guide, you will find the island groups laid out clearly, what can genuinely be visited, how boat access works and why protected islands are not places to explore on your own.
- How many islands are in Madeira archipelago?
- A practical map of Madeira’s island groups
- Madeira and Porto Santo: the two islands you can visit freely
- The Desertas: visitable, but only through the right channel
- The Selvagens: a reserve, not a day trip
- How to choose the right island experience
- Preguntas frecuentes
How many islands are in Madeira archipelago?
The clearest answer to how many islands are in Madeira archipelago is seven principal islands. Madeira’s official sustainability material counts Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, three Desertas Islands and two Selvagens Islands, while also making clear that the Selvagens include several additional islets. This is why you may occasionally see a different total in geographic lists: some count individual rocks and islets, especially Ilhéu de Fora in the Selvagens, separately.
For travel planning, think of the archipelago as four distinct island groups. Madeira is the large, mountainous main island where Funchal, the airport, most hotels and the famous levada walks are found. Porto Santo is the smaller inhabited island, known for its long sandy beach. The Desertas and Selvagens are protected nature reserves, not extra holiday islands.
The two inhabited islands are Madeira and Porto Santo; the regional tourism board confirms that the Desertas and Selvagens are important nature reserves rather than settled destinations.
A practical map of Madeira’s island groups
| Island or group | What it includes | Position from Madeira Island | Can visitors go? | Practical access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madeira | The main island | Centre of the archipelago | Yes, independently | Fly into Madeira Airport or arrive by cruise ship; stay in Funchal or around the island. |
| Porto Santo | One inhabited island | Northeast of Madeira | Yes, independently | Flights or the Funchal–Porto Santo ferry. A 2026 adult return ferry fare starts at €72.02 from April to September, before the applicable fuel surcharge. |
| Desertas | Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio | Southeast of Madeira | Yes, only with authorised access | Licensed sea excursions run seasonally; private vessels require prior IFCN authorisation. |
| Selvagens | Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena, plus islets including Ilhéu de Fora | About 250 km south of Madeira | Exceptionally, with prior authorisation | No regular tourist ferry; access is by authorised private or specialist maritime expedition. |
| Porto Santo islets | Six protected islets, including Ilhéu de Cima and Ilhéu da Cal | Off Porto Santo | Generally viewed from sea or on dive trips | They form part of Porto Santo’s protected marine-area network and are not independent day-trip destinations. |
The six islets around Porto Santo are often forgotten in simple archipelago maps. They are protected for their marine habitats and seabird nesting areas, so they should not be added to the “seven islands” answer used by Madeira’s official regional classification.
Madeira and Porto Santo: the two islands you can visit freely
Madeira Island is where nearly every first-time visitor bases themselves. It combines dramatic mountains, villages, gardens, viewpoints, natural swimming areas and a broad choice of accommodation. It is the practical choice for a road-trip holiday, although routes can be steep and weather can change quickly in the highlands; read our guide to driving Madeira’s mountain roads before hiring a car.
Porto Santo is a genuine second island holiday rather than simply a beach excursion. Its nine-kilometre golden beach, drier landscapes and slower pace provide a striking contrast to green, mountainous Madeira.
You can fly between the islands or use the Porto Santo Line ferry from Funchal. In September 2026, the operator lists its one-day return crossing from €72.02 per adult before the monthly fuel surcharge; this is useful for a long beach day, but an overnight stay gives you more time to see Porto Santo beyond the waterfront.
The Desertas: visitable, but only through the right channel
The Desertas are the three stark islands southeast of Madeira: Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. Their cliffs, exposed slopes and surrounding sea support exceptional wildlife, including one of the region’s key Mediterranean monk-seal habitats. The whole group is a nature reserve with full ecological protection.
For most visitors, a licensed boat trip to Deserta Grande is the realistic option. These trips are weather-dependent and usually run seasonally. VMT Madeira lists a nine-hour Desertas excursion from Funchal on Wednesdays and Saturdays, from May to October, priced at €90 per adult in September 2026. It includes time at Deserta Grande, but conditions and landing arrangements remain subject to the reserve’s rules and the sea state.
Do not assume that hiring a boat means you can land wherever you like. The Madeira Forestry and Nature Conservation Institute (IFCN) requires prior authorisation for private and maritime-tourism access. Visits ashore are concentrated around Doca Bay on Deserta Grande and may include an interpretive route with a nature warden; climbing to the top of Deserta Grande is prohibited except in specific authorised situations.
The Selvagens: a reserve, not a day trip
The Selvagens are Madeira’s remotest islands and Portugal’s southernmost territory. They lie around 250 kilometres south of Madeira, a distance that immediately explains why they are not part of normal island-hopping itineraries. The group has two main islands, Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena, alongside several islets and sea stacks.
They are internationally important for nesting seabirds and have been protected as a nature reserve since 1971. There is no regular public ferry from Funchal, no hotel and no independent beach visit. Reaching the islands requires a properly equipped vessel, careful weather planning and prior permission from the managing authority.
Authorised visitors who land at Selvagem Grande do so at Baía das Cagarras and follow an interpretive route with a nature warden. Anchoring is restricted to designated locations, while the anchorage at Selvagem Pequena is deactivated. This is conservation-led travel, not an alternative version of Porto Santo.
How to choose the right island experience
Choose Madeira if you want variety: hiking, towns, viewpoints, food and active sightseeing. Choose Porto Santo for a beach-focused break or a slower two-island itinerary. Consider the Desertas if you enjoy a full day at sea and understand that wildlife, weather and reserve rules shape the experience. Treat the Selvagens as a specialist expedition for keen naturalists rather than a standard excursion.
- Count seven principal islands: this is the most useful official answer, but remember that several protected islets also belong to the wider archipelago.
- Book Porto Santo early in summer: ferry places, cars and accommodation can be limited around weekends and school holidays.
- Expect sea conditions to decide Desertas trips: an advertised sailing date is never a guarantee of a comfortable crossing or a landing.
- Use an authorised operator for protected islands: they arrange access procedures and know the permitted anchoring and landing areas.
- Do not bring a “leave no trace” attitude only in theory: take all rubbish away, do not approach seals or nesting birds, and stay with your guide.
- Keep Porto Santo separate from the islets: boat and diving excursions may show you the protected offshore islets, but that does not mean landings are permitted.
Preguntas frecuentes
Are there seven or eight islands in the Madeira archipelago?
Official regional material counts seven principal islands: Madeira, Porto Santo, three Desertas Islands and two main Selvagens Islands. Some sources reach eight by treating Ilhéu de Fora in the Selvagens as a separate island rather than an islet.
Which Madeira islands are inhabited?
Only Madeira and Porto Santo are inhabited. Madeira is home to the regional capital, Funchal, while Porto Santo has its main settlement in Vila Baleira.
Can you visit the Desertas Islands from Funchal?
Yes, on an authorised maritime-tourism excursion or private boat with prior IFCN authorisation. Landings and movement ashore are controlled to protect the reserve.
Can tourists visit the Selvagens Islands?
Yes, but only with advance authorisation and suitable transport. There is no regular tourist ferry, and visits are tightly managed because the islands are a protected wildlife sanctuary.
Facts and prices verified in September 2026. For practical itinerary ideas, see our Madeira in 5 Days by Car itinerary, our guide to Madeira’s beaches and our advice on taxis, Bolt and private drivers in Madeira.
