Seixal is one of the most amazing places that I’ve ever experienced. It’s a super cool black sand beach. The black sand comes from lava and basalt that has been broken down by the movement of the ocean for years. There’s something about the colour of the sand that makes you think the beach is going to be colder (it’s all in my head, I know) but it is most certainly not. In fact, the water temperature in December hovers around 20C.
If you are visiting Madeira, you are most likely staying in Funchal. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Madeira to Funcal. I would not only suggest, but highly recommend combining a trip to the beaches of Seixal with a visit to the Porto Moniz Natural Pools. The towering, lush, green cliffs compared to the black sandy beach is why Madeira is sometimes referred to as the Hawaii of Europe. Even on the island itself, it is still a fairly unusual sight.
The waterfall that you can see in my photos is called Véu da Noiva (Bridal Veil) and there’s a great viewpoint for it just a few kilometers from the beach.
It is one of the only places that I’ve ever visited that I thought “man, I really wish I had a drone for this!” I think it was my biggest “pinch me” moment from my time in Madeira because the beauty of the area was truly staggering!
Have you ever swam on a black sand beach?
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