Many think of Madeira as a hiking destination, which it is.. boasting some incredible hikes.. however, it is also home to some gorgeous and truly unique beaches. The tropical climate means the water is often warm, and even if the temperature isn’t that high, the humidity means a beach day is always a good idea. We visited numerous beaches during our road tripping around Madeira, and after our stay, we think that one is clearly head and shoulders about the rest. Enter.. the black sand Seixal Beach. Picture this.. a wide sandy beach of striking dark colour. Calm waves lap at the shores, locals laugh and play in the shallows, a soccer match is going on between young Portuguese on the sand.. this is summer in Madeira! The sand merges with clear, warm, blue waters inviting you to jump in. The beach is flanked by mountains and lush greenery, with the small Seixal town sitting behind on the hill.
Seixal Beach is truly an incredible scene, right up there with one of the most picturesque places in Madeira. There a couple of things to know when considering a visit to this charming beach.
- Where is the black sand beach of Madeira: Located at the base of a town call Seixal, the black sand beach is 45 minutes drive from Funchal and 15 minutes drive from Porto Moniz.
- Where to park in Seixal: Now this is a challenge. If you are visiting in peak season, we advise you to arrive relatively early e.g. before 11am, as there is very limited parking space. There are some parks at the base of the hill near the beach, but these fill up instantly. There is also a parking around at the top of the town around 1km walk away. However, your best option will likely be to park along the main road as close to the wall as you can, and walk down the sets of stairs to the beach.. it’s about a 10 minute walk. We did this, and didn’t get a ticket. There’s no signs, and the locals were happily parking here for the day.. make of that what you will.
- Is Seixal Beach family friendly: Generally, yes. The beach has a wide strip of sand, and we observed many families happily enjoying the beach. However, while the waters are generally calm, the do deapen relatively quickly, and there are some small waves, so we urge you to keep an eye on your children.
- Don’t miss.. the view point at the top of the hill. Right before the turn off down into the Seixal town is an area you can pull across to the side and have a view of the town below. This is probably the best view of Seixal and the Seixal Beach.. a must when visiting the area!
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