Funchal to Porto Moniz by car

North through São Vicente. The fastest road runs from Funchal to São Vicente on the north coast in about 38 minutes, then west along the coast to Porto Moniz. The other way round the island, along the south coast to Calheta, takes about 36 minutes to Calheta and then runs north up the west side, which makes it the longer of the two.

Going out through São Vicente and back through Calheta links the two routes into a loop of the west. Fuel stations are thickest in the east of the island, so fill up before heading west.

The VE2, a via expresso of 14.05 km and an alternative to the old coast road on this stretch. Its limit is 80 km/h outside towns, as on all the via expresso roads of Madeira, about half of whose length runs in tunnels. From São Vicente, Porto Moniz is about 19 minutes and 15.8 km, and Seixal, on the way, is about 10 minutes.

In São Vicente, the ER104 from Ribeira Brava ends at the Pé do Passo roundabout, by the caves and Volcanism Centre, which are closed indefinitely for maintenance.

At times. On 20 August 2026 a rockfall on the VE2 at Seixal struck several vehicles and closed the road, which reopened the same evening after the cliff was inspected. An earlier one on 15 May 2026, at Sítio da Pedra near the João Delgado tunnel, hit a car, and rockfalls there have been frequent in recent years.

Cliff clearing has closed the road for about 30 minutes at a time, between São Vicente and Seixal in December 2024 and near the João Delgado tunnel in May 2026. In storms the quays at Porto Moniz and Seixal close as well.

From Porto Moniz, Calheta is about 34 minutes and 32.5 km down the west side, and from Calheta the south coast leads back to Funchal.

Yes, on the ER105, which runs from Porto Moniz over Paul da Serra and through the Encumeada to Serra de Água, where it meets the ER104 between Ribeira Brava and São Vicente. Paul da Serra is the island's only plateau, at around 1,500 m, and three tunnels of 437 m, 159 m and 98 m sit on the ER105 between Bica da Cana and the Encumeada.

The plateau roads close in bad weather: on 3 March 2026 the ER105 between Estanquinhos and Bica da Cana and the ER209 between Malhadinha and Paul da Serra were shut for snow and ice. Fanal, in the laurel forest listed as UNESCO World Heritage since December 1999, lies between Ribeira da Janela and the plateau at about 1,135 m, on the asphalt ER209.

The PR13 trail follows the ER209 for 10.8 km from Paul da Serra to Fanal, and walking it costs 4.50 euros for visitors over 12, booked online on the SIMplifica portal.

The municipal natural pools charge 3 euros for anyone over 3 (1.50 euros with a student card or a Cartão 65, and nothing with a disability card of 60% or more) and are open all year, from 9:00 to 17:00 in winter and to 19:00 in summer time. The Cachalote pools next to them are free, and the main pools have a car park of their own. The main pools have a sun deck of about 3,217 square metres and a swimming area of 3,800 square metres, about 2 m deep, with lifeguards always present.

The town has 144 paid parking spaces on blue lines, charged every day from 9:00 to 19:00 at 0.80 euros an hour; the meters take coins only, an unpaid space is charged the daily rate plus 100%, and about 70% of the town's parking is free. The Aquário da Madeira, in a rebuilt fort, opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00, at 7 euros and 4 euros for ages 5 to 14 and from 65.

From Porto Moniz, Seixal is about 13 minutes and São Vicente 20. Seixal has a black-sand beach by its harbour with free access, and the Clube Naval natural pool there is free from 10:00 to 19:00. The drive back to Funchal takes about 58 minutes, and to the airport about 70.

About 70 minutes and 65.9 km by the fastest road without traffic, and about 60.4 km on the way back. Most cars carry no mileage limit, and the few that do show the daily cap on the car's page.

For car rental in Porto Moniz itself, the town is a delivery point, as are São Vicente and Santana on the north coast and Calheta on the west coast, each with fewer cars than the airport. The car's page shows its delivery charge before you book, and that charge is paid at the handover rather than in the online advance.

Yes. Two Rodoeste bus lines run from Funchal to Porto Moniz every day except 25 December. Line 139, renumbered 340 out and 341 back, leaves Funchal at 09:00 and runs via Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, the Encumeada, São Vicente, Seixal and Ribeira da Janela, reaching Porto Moniz at 12:30; it returns at 17:00 on weekdays, reaching Funchal at 19:15, and at 17:30 at weekends and on holidays, reaching Funchal at 19:40.

Line 80, renumbered 380 out and 381 back, leaves Funchal at 10:00 via Calheta and reaches Porto Moniz at 13:05 on weekdays and 12:45 at weekends; it leaves Porto Moniz at 16:00. A third line, 150, links São Vicente and Porto Moniz. These are the 2026 timetables, and bus times change.

Porto Moniz has sights for a dry day as well as the natural pools. The Aquário da Madeira occupies a rebuilt fort, first built in 1730, and keeps more than 90 native species in 12 display tanks. The Espaço Multiusos, the former Ciência Viva centre, has an exhibition on the Laurissilva, Madeira's laurel forest; it opens daily from 10:00 to 18:00, holidays included, closes on 25 December and charges 3.50 euros. At the mouth of the Ribeira da Janela there is a pebble beach with open access, and toilets and showers from 9:00 to 19:00.