Praia de Machico

Praia de Machico is a sheltered sandy beach in Machico, on Madeira’s east coast, with golden sand brought from Morocco. A breakwater helps keep the bay calm for swimming and water activities, making the beach a practical choice for families and visitors with mobility needs. Facilities include toilets, showers, changing rooms and a volleyball court. Nearby cafés and restaurants add options for a meal, and planes pass low across the bay. For a quieter stretch of shore, a pebble beach lies close by.

A sandy shore in Madeira

Madeira’s coastline is known for its volcanic shores, so Praia de Machico’s golden sand is unusual. The sand was brought from Morocco to create a gently sloping beach in a crescent-shaped bay. Breakwaters shelter the shore and help keep the water calm for swimming and other water activities.

The beach sits below Machico, a town with a place in the island’s early Portuguese history. The explorers João Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira landed here in 1419. The bay gives the beach a clear connection to that story, as well as a sheltered setting for a swim.

Facilities and nearby shore

Toilets, showers and changing rooms make it easier to spend time at the beach, and there is also a volleyball court. Families can use the gently sloping sand and calm water; facilities also cater to visitors with disabilities. Cafés and restaurants are close by, though they can get busy.

A pebble beach sits beside the sandy one, with stronger waves. It is an option if you prefer a less crowded place to sit or want a different shoreline. From the bay, you can also watch planes pass low overhead as they approach or leave the airport.