If Madeira and its capital Funchal are the best-known names on Portugal's Atlantic archipelago, its other components are also highly attractive stopovers.
Porto Santo
A short sail from Madeira takes you to the second inhabited land of the archipelago, which, with its adjacent islets, covers just 43 km². Anchor in a superb anchorage, facing a delightful 9-kilometer beach.
A complete change of scenery. Riding a rented quad, we criss-cross the country in all directions, taking full advantage of its wild beauty and reassuring tranquillity. It's pretty arid out here!
The contrast with Madeira, which is covered in almost tropical vegetation, is striking. In the higher elevations, many places offer fantastic views of the deep blue sea. Our boat can sometimes be seen nonchalantly tugging at its chain, an enchanting sight if ever there was one!
Sun, wind and Zoé batteries...
One of Porto Santo's striking originalities is its strong commitment to a virtuous path in terms of energy management. The island naturally benefits from considerable sunshine and a comfortable wind resource.
In recent years, it has therefore embarked on an evolution designed to put its unwanted diesel generators out of work. But, as everyone knows, these renewable energies are intermittent... How to solve the delicate problem of storage? An important partner, Renault, has joined forces with the local authorities to test and develop an original technique. The experiment, currently underway, aims to give Zoé batteries a second life, before they are recycled. All the while, progress is being made towards a desired "fossil-free" situation.
The small Desertas and Selvagens archipelagos
The Selvagens Islands and Desertas are also part of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. With their nature reserve status, these "pebbles" are a popular sanctuary for nesting seabirds, particularly shearwaters. Endemic flora and fauna thrive here, safe from human predators, while offshore, cetaceans abound. Stopovers in these reserves are regulated, so be sure to ask the reserve wardens in advance.
