{"id":3458,"date":"2026-07-19T00:01:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T23:01:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/guiailhadamadeira.com\/seixal-black-sand-beach\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T00:02:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T23:02:01","slug":"praia-de-areia-preta-do-seixal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/guiailhadamadeira.com\/pt\/seixal-black-sand-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"Praia do Seixal, Madeira: a enseada de areia preta e as piscinas naturais da ilha"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seixal is home to one of Madeira’s only natural sand beaches, a strip of black volcanic sand tucked beneath cliffs on the wild north coast.<\/strong> Just a few minutes away, lava-carved natural pools known as Po\u00e7as das Lesmas offer sheltered swimming beneath a dramatic stone arch, while the V\u00e9u da Noiva waterfall spills into the Atlantic a short drive down the coast road. In this updated guide: what makes Seixal’s beach different from Madeira’s pebble coves, how to reach the village and its pools, what the water and weather are really like on this side of the island, and the practical details to plan a half-day or full-day stop.<\/p>\n

\"Black
Seixal’s black sand beach, framed by the steep green cliffs typical of Madeira’s north coast. Image: frame from the video by Rutas del Mundo, embedded below<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

O que distingue a praia do Seixal<\/h2>\n

Most of Madeira’s coastline is pebbles or man-made shingle, so a stretch of genuine black sand is unusual enough to draw visitors from across the island. The beach is described as an unrivalled stretch of black sand on the north coast, with a notable length that allows for a swim in fresh, clear water with a striking view where the green of the mountain meets the blue of the sea. This beach stands out from others thanks to its magnificent black volcanic sand and dramatic landscape of towering green cliffs. It sits right next to the small fishing harbour, so boats, nets and the working rhythm of the village are part of the scene, not a backdrop.<\/p>\n

Po\u00e7as das Lesmas: as piscinas naturais<\/h2>\n

The Seixal Natural Pools, also known as Po\u00e7as das Lesmas, are found near Laje Beach, often referred to as “Jamaica Beach,” in a sheltered area where volcanic rock formations create natural pools with a unique shape. The dark tones of the rocks contrast beautifully with the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean. A lava arch separates the main pool from smaller, shallower ones nearby, and even if you don’t swim, it’s worth walking the paths between the lava rocks for the views over the sea and the lush cliffs so typical of Madeira.<\/p>\n

Access has changed recently. In 2024 the Seixal Natural Swimming Pools began to have lifeguard supervision, an improvement that justifies paying an entrance fee. The parish council now charges two euros fifty to enter the Po\u00e7as das Lesmas beach, money that goes towards the lifeguards who keep bathers safe at one of Madeira’s more hazardous beaches. Residents of the parish keep free access; everyone else pays the small fee at the gate. Take care at high tide and in strong winds, when larger waves can break into the pools even if the water between them looks calm \u2014 so be careful.<\/p>\n

Como chegar l\u00e1<\/h2>\n

O Seixal situa-se na estrada costeira ER101, entre S\u00e3o Vicente e Porto Moniz, do outro lado da t\u00faneis<\/a> that cut through Madeira’s mountainous interior. It’s roughly a 41-kilometre drive taking around 40 minutes from Funchal, following the VR1 motorway towards S\u00e3o Vicente and then the coastal road westward. Public buses do reach the village, but journeys from Funchal can take upwards of two and a half hours with transfers, so a rental car is by far the most practical option if you want to combine Seixal with other north coast stops in a single day.<\/p>\n

O estacionamento \u00e9 o principal desafio assim que se chega. Existem alguns lugares de estacionamento acima das piscinas, mas a estrada de acesso tem um declive acentuado de 33%; em alternativa, h\u00e1 alguns lugares de estacionamento ao longo da estrada na parte superior, embora sejam limitados, pelo que se recomenda chegar cedo. Quanto \u00e0 praia propriamente dita, existe um parque de estacionamento junto ao porto, com uma estrada asfaltada \u00edngreme e escadas como alternativas para descer at\u00e9 ao n\u00edvel do mar.<\/p>\n

Surf, caiaque e o complexo balnear<\/h2>\n

Seixal isn’t only about swimming. The free-access Complexo Balnear do Seixal has a natural pool and support bar, where you can rent kayaks and diving equipment. Being next to the shelter harbour and Clube Naval do Seixal gives access to facilities including kayaks, a support bar and showers, and it’s a spot with strong year-round demand from bodyboarders, stand-up paddlers and kayakers. A local surf school also operates from the beach for lessons in the whitewater close to shore, making this a good introduction point for beginners away from the busier south coast breaks.<\/p>\n

\"Po\u00e7as
The lava arch and natural pools of Po\u00e7as das Lesmas, a short drive from Seixal’s black sand beach. Image: frame from the video by Rutas del Mundo, embedded below<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nas proximidades: o miradouro do V\u00e9u da Noiva e a realidade da costa norte<\/h2>\n

Just along the coast towards S\u00e3o Vicente, the V\u00e9u da Noiva viewpoint gives one of the north coast’s most photographed scenes. The waterfall that falls down the slope towards the sea was named for its height and the abundance of water gushing out, resembling the romantic veil of a wedding dress against its green surroundings. The viewpoint is open 24 hours with no entrance fee, just like many other nature attractions in Madeira, and the viewing platform is easy to reach and even wheelchair friendly. On a clear day you can also see back towards Seixal itself from here.<\/p>\n

O tempo \u00e9 o \u00fanico sen\u00e3o a ter em conta em todo este tro\u00e7o da costa. A costa norte da Madeira \u00e9 muito mais exposta \u00e0s nuvens, ao vento e \u00e0 chuva do que o abrigado Funchal, e as condi\u00e7\u00f5es podem mudar rapidamente ao longo do dia. As manh\u00e3s tendem a ser o momento mais calmo para fotografar a areia preta e as piscinas naturais, antes de o vento ganhar for\u00e7a \u00e0 tarde; consultar uma previs\u00e3o meteorol\u00f3gica de curto prazo antes de partir \u00e9 mais \u00fatil aqui do que em quase qualquer outro local da ilha.<\/p>\n

Informa\u00e7\u00f5es pr\u00e1ticas num relance<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Localiza\u00e7\u00e3o<\/strong><\/td>\nFreguesia do Seixal, concelho de Porto Moniz, costa norte da Madeira<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Dist\u00e2ncia do Funchal<\/strong><\/td>\nCerca de 40 km, aproximadamente 40 a 50 minutos de carro pela VR1\/ER101<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tipo de praia<\/strong><\/td>\nAreia vulc\u00e2nica preta natural, sem supervis\u00e3o<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Taxa de entrada em Po\u00e7as das Lesmas<\/strong><\/td>\n2,50 \u20ac para visitantes (gr\u00e1tis para os residentes da freguesia do Seixal)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Instala\u00e7\u00f5es<\/strong><\/td>\nChuveiros, casas de banho, bar e aluguer de caiaques e pranchas de surf no Clube Naval do Seixal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Miradouro do V\u00e9u da Noiva<\/strong><\/td>\nEntrada gratuita, aberto 24 horas por dia, pequeno parque de estacionamento e quiosque de lembran\u00e7as<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Melhor altura para visitar<\/strong><\/td>\nDe manh\u00e3, l\u00e1 fora, a tempestade de inverno intensifica-se<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n
    \n
  • Chegue cedo para arranjar estacionamento<\/strong> \u2014 os lugares acima das piscinas e junto ao cais ficam rapidamente ocupados assim que as carrinhas de excurs\u00e3o chegam, e a estrada de acesso \u00edngreme obriga quem chega mais tarde a dar voltas durante algum tempo.<\/li>\n
  • Use sapatos de \u00e1gua com sola de borracha<\/strong> \u2014 as rochas de lava \u00e0 volta das Po\u00e7as das Lesmas podem ser pontiagudas e o fundo da piscina \u00e9 irregular em alguns pontos.<\/li>\n
  • Verifique a mar\u00e9 e o swell antes de nadar<\/strong> \u2014 as ondas podem invadir inesperadamente as piscinas quando o mar est\u00e1 agitado, mesmo quando a \u00e1gua parece calma vista de longe.<\/li>\n
  • Combine-o com o V\u00e9u da Noiva<\/strong> \u2014 o miradouro fica a apenas alguns minutos pela estrada costeira e a visita \u00e9 gratuita.<\/li>\n
  • Traga dinheiro para pagar a entrada e para o bar junto ao cais<\/strong> \u2014 Os terminais de cart\u00e3o nem sempre s\u00e3o fi\u00e1veis neste recanto rural da ilha.<\/li>\n
  • Leva um casaco, mesmo no ver\u00e3o<\/strong> \u2014 a costa norte \u00e9 visivelmente mais ventosa e mais fresca do que o Funchal, especialmente quando o sol se p\u00f5e por tr\u00e1s das fal\u00e9sias \u00e0 tarde.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Veja: O Seixal em v\u00eddeo<\/h2>\n

    Para ter uma ideia visual da areia preta, das fal\u00e9sias e das piscinas naturais antes de partir, este cap\u00edtulo de um guia mais abrangente sobre a Madeira apresenta o Seixal no contexto do resto da costa norte.<\/p>\n