{"id":3633,"date":"2026-09-20T00:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-09-19T23:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guiailhadamadeira.com\/how-many-islands-are-in-the-madeira-archipelago-complete-map-and-which-ones-you-can-visit\/"},"modified":"2026-09-20T00:00:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-19T23:00:56","slug":"how-many-islands-are-in-the-madeira-archipelago-complete-map-and-which-ones-you-can-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guiailhadamadeira.com\/pt-br\/how-many-islands-are-in-the-madeira-archipelago-complete-map-and-which-ones-you-can-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Islands Are in the Madeira Archipelago? Which Ones You Can Visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

How many islands are in Madeira archipelago?<\/h2>\n

The clearest answer to how many islands are in Madeira archipelago<\/strong> is seven principal islands<\/strong>. Madeira\u2019s 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 Ilh\u00e9u de Fora in the Selvagens, separately.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A practical map of Madeira\u2019s island groups<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Island or group<\/th>\nWhat it includes<\/th>\nPosition from Madeira Island<\/th>\nCan visitors go?<\/th>\nPractical access<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Madeira<\/td>\nThe main island<\/td>\nCentre of the archipelago<\/td>\nYes, independently<\/td>\nFly into Madeira Airport or arrive by cruise ship; stay in Funchal or around the island.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Porto Santo<\/td>\nOne inhabited island<\/td>\nNortheast of Madeira<\/td>\nYes, independently<\/td>\nFlights or the Funchal\u2013Porto Santo ferry. A 2026 adult return ferry fare starts at \u20ac72.02 from April to September, before the applicable fuel surcharge.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Desertas<\/td>\nIlh\u00e9u Ch\u00e3o, Deserta Grande and Bugio<\/td>\nSoutheast of Madeira<\/td>\nYes, only with authorised access<\/td>\nLicensed sea excursions run seasonally; private vessels require prior IFCN authorisation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Selvagens<\/td>\nSelvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena, plus islets including Ilh\u00e9u de Fora<\/td>\nAbout 250 km south of Madeira<\/td>\nExceptionally, with prior authorisation<\/td>\nNo regular tourist ferry; access is by authorised private or specialist maritime expedition.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Porto Santo islets<\/td>\nSix protected islets, including Ilh\u00e9u de Cima and Ilh\u00e9u da Cal<\/td>\nOff Porto Santo<\/td>\nGenerally viewed from sea or on dive trips<\/td>\nThey form part of Porto Santo\u2019s protected marine-area network and are not independent day-trip destinations.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

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 \u201cseven islands\u201d answer used by Madeira\u2019s official regional classification.<\/p>\n

Madeira and Porto Santo: the two islands you can visit freely<\/h2>\n

Madeira Island<\/strong> 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\u2019s mountain roads<\/a> before hiring a car.<\/p>\n

Porto Santo<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u20ac72.02 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.<\/p>\n

The Desertas: visitable, but only through the right channel<\/h2>\n

The Desertas are the three stark islands southeast of Madeira: Ilh\u00e9u Ch\u00e3o, Deserta Grande and Bugio<\/strong>. Their cliffs, exposed slopes and surrounding sea support exceptional wildlife, including one of the region\u2019s key Mediterranean monk-seal habitats. The whole group is a nature reserve with full ecological protection.<\/p>\n

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 \u20ac90 per adult in September 2026. It includes time at Deserta Grande, but conditions and landing arrangements remain subject to the reserve\u2019s rules and the sea state.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Selvagens: a reserve, not a day trip<\/h2>\n

The Selvagens are Madeira\u2019s remotest islands and Portugal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Authorised visitors who land at Selvagem Grande do so at Ba\u00eda 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.<\/p>\n

How to choose the right island experience<\/h2>\n

Choose Madeira<\/strong> if you want variety: hiking, towns, viewpoints, food and active sightseeing. Choose Porto Santo<\/strong> for a beach-focused break or a slower two-island itinerary. Consider the Desertas<\/strong> if you enjoy a full day at sea and understand that wildlife, weather and reserve rules shape the experience. Treat the Selvagens<\/strong> as a specialist expedition for keen naturalists rather than a standard excursion.<\/p>\n