Porto da Cruz | Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind

Porto da Cruz / Maiata

Porto da CruzOffline

North Coast

By car

This page is the bathing-complex camera.

Visit Madeira’s Machico page, read on 7 October 2026, puts Porto da Cruz among five parishes: Água de Pena, Caniçal, Machico, Porto da Cruz, and part of Santo António da Serra. About 20 mil inhabitants on 68 km². It does not print a driving time from Funchal to the parish, and it does not print a kilometre to the beach.

The getting-around page, read the same day, says "Todas as vias rápidas e principais estradas da Madeira são gratuitas", for residents or for visitors. It gives the airport to Funchal as cerca de 20 a 25 minutos, by Aerobus, taxi, transfer, or hire car. It also names Uber and Bolt. It does not print a time from the airport, or from Funchal, to Porto da Cruz.

The ER101 sheet, dated 18-11-2016 and still the page online on 7 October 2026, runs the coast road through Machico — Porto da Cruz — Faial — Santana. On that sheet the VE1 row is Concessionária Viaexpresso, S.A., from Machico (Fazenda ER106) to Santana (Rib. S. Jorge). The row prints no length and no exit number. The Viaexpresso page, read the same day, says VE1 is 20,7 km, from the VR1, em Machico to Ribeira de São Jorge. Outside towns the expressway limit on that page is 80 km/h. The link with the VR1 is a nó desnivelado. Access to the places the road crosses is by cruzamentos de nível or by a rotunda. It does not name a Porto da Cruz exit.

ER110, titled Camacha — S. Roque do Faial on the 18-11-2016 network, has an itinerary through Referta (ER101) — Porto da Cruz — Moinhos (ER101). The sheet for that road is a Via Regular of the Direção Regional de Estradas, from Camacha (Vale Paraíso ER205) to Moinhos (ER101), and the total length is 26700 m. That length is the whole road. It is not a printed distance from Funchal to the sand. ER108, titled Acesso ao Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, is VR2, from Câmara de Lobos (ER101) to Estreito de Câmara de Lobos, 2501 m. That sheet is the road to Estreito de Câmara de Lobos. It is not the road to this parish.

By bus

The Porto da Cruz rows are on the CAM page of the renumbering sheet, headed CAM - COMPANHIA DE AUTOCARROS DA MADEIRA, in force from 09/03/2026. 53 826/836 Funchal / Porto Da Cruz / Faial - Via Portela. 78 825 Funchal / Porto Da Cruz / Faial - Via St. Serra. 133 802 Santana / Porto Da Cruz. 206/207 785 Porto Da Cruz - Achada - Larano. 208 827 Funchal / Porto Da Cruz / Faial - Via Maroços (Ida). 837 Funchal / Porto Da Cruz - Faial Via Maroços (Volta). The pages read on 7 October 2026 do not use the name SAM for these rows. The PDF files are named sam_208.pdf, sam_78.pdf and sam_207.pdf. The header that could be read in each of them is COMPANHIA DE AUTOCARROS DA MADEIRA.

SIGA’s pages that day: Funchal / Porto da Cruz - Faial: 208, 827, 837, sam_208.pdf. Porto da Cruz - Faial: 78, 825, sam_78.pdf. Porto da Cruz - Referta - Porto da Cruz: 207, 785, sam_207.pdf. Each page says the timetable viewer is still in development. The clock columns in those PDFs did not yield a departure that could be copied cleanly. No departure is copied here. Open the PDF before you travel.

The SIGA notice of 20/03/2026 says the new numbers do not change the route or the timetable, and that the new numbers have three digits. Stops change over to the new numbers gradually, digital first. The same pages give these phones for timetable trouble: Horários do Funchal +351 291 705 555. SIGA Rodoeste +351 291 220 148. CAM +351 291 201 151. imt@madeira.gov.pt, +351 291 145 180, 9:00 - 12:30 / 14:00 - 17:30. The beach page does not print a walking time from a stop to the sand.

Parking

The getting-around page describes parking colours for the island, not a tariff for this parish: white lines are free, some of them for residents only, blue lines are paid, and yellow lines mean you cannot stop. Payment is generally Monday to Friday 8h–20h and Saturday 8h–14h. Sunday and holidays are free. Pay at the meter or in the iPark Driver app. The Alagoa page and the bathing-complex page both say estacionamento na via pública. Neither prints a count of spaces, or a charge, for a car park. The Maiata page does not print a car park. Leave the lane clear.

Alagoa, the pools, and Maiata

Alagoa, read on 7 October 2026, is in the parish of Porto da Cruz, municipality of Machico. Visit Madeira says volcanic natural sand, areia negra, and that the season and the currents can leave calhau rolado. It lists access to the sea, a restaurant area, a bar, changing rooms, toilets, sun loungers and parasols for rent, a playground, and public parking. It does not print a price for a lounger. It says the beach is popular with surfers. It does not name a lifeguard.

The bathing complex is on the Passeio Marítimo do Porto da Cruz. Visit Madeira gives it two pools, a larger one for adults and one sized for children, plus changing rooms, showers, toilets, a bar, loungers and parasols for rent, and estacionamento na via pública. It does not print a ticket price, and it does not name a lifeguard. The 2026 annex does not print a row under the name of the complex.

Maiata is in the same parish. Visit Madeira says black sand mixed with pebbles, and that the waves are why people come. The Portuguese page says the beach não dispõe de quaisquer infraestruturas de apoio ou vigilância. Surf schools work there. The surf page, read the same day, names both Alagoa and Maiata, for iniciante and intermédio, and it says fundo de areia. It does not print a wave height.

Portaria n.º 206/2026, 13 de maio de 2026. PTMU7X Alagoa, dash, 8 de junho a 27 de setembro. PTMT8M Maiata, dash, 8 de junho a 27 de setembro. não está assegurada a vigilância a banhistas. A praia de banhos is a beach where lifeguards are present during the bathing season. A dash in that column means the water was not qualified as one. On 7 October 2026 that season had ended. The ordinance does not say who is on the sand once it has ended.

The mill and Penha d’Águia

Engenhos do Norte, read on 7 October 2026, is in the parish of Porto da Cruz. Built in 1927, with 19th-century machinery, one of three old mills still working, making sugar-cane brandy, or rum. Entre março e maio, visitors can watch the process. The rest of the year the machines can be seen with fewer safety limits, and interactive devices explain them. Casa do Rum is next door for a taste. The page does not print a ticket price or opening hours.

Penha d’Águia sits between Porto da Cruz and Faial, in Machico. Visit Madeira says a height próxima dos 600 metros, and the details line says aproximadamente 600 metros. Vereda da Penha d’Águia starts at Caminho D. Sebastião, and the page gives 2h30. It is a steep dirt path, for walkers with the fitness for it. The page does not print a fee.

What the cameras show

Three cameras, three frames. The YouTube oembed read on 7 October 2026: Praia da Alagoa Porto da Cruz HD Webcam. Porto da Cruz Bathing Complex | Baía do Bago. Madeira-Web Beaches. 1280×720, 16:9. Madeira | Praia da Maiata. Paul do Mar, Ponta Pequena e Jardim do Mar. The thumbnail downloaded that day for the Alagoa camera, and the one for the bathing-complex camera, was 1280 by 720. The Beachcam page is headed Madeira | Praia da Maiata. A description on that same page names Paul do Mar, Ponta Pequena e Jardim do Mar. Those are other breaks. The heading is Maiata. The Beachcam page did not print a frame size.

Use the Alagoa frame for the sand and the mountain behind it. Use the bathing-complex frame for the two pools. Use the Maiata frame for that beach. None of them is a free space in the car park, and none of them is a lifeguard flag. Image by Madeira-Web Beaches Live. Image by Beachcam.

Sources, read 7 October 2026

Wind5 km/h

Air Temp20°C

Cloud36%

07:03 WET

Picture is off for now

What this picture is for

The view: A public lookout for this spot. Use the picture to judge cloud, light, and how busy it looks.
Useful for: Check the weather and the crowds before you go.
It will not show: You only see what this camera faces. Side paths and indoor queues are out of the picture.
After dark you mostly see whatever lights are on.
The camera: Image by Madeira-Web Beaches Live
Getting there: Follow the signs for the viewpoint. Read the parking notices when you arrive.

This picture

Favorable Conditions07:03

What does this picture show, and what does it leave out?

Warm twilight light over the bay with calm sheltered south coast conditions.

Air Temperature20°C

Wind5 km/h

Cloud36%

Weather nearbyThe picture is the check

What this picture shows

It shows what is in front of the camera. It does not show the rest of the island.

Optimal Hours & Parking

Recommended hours: Golden hour through dusk

Parking access: Standard municipal and roadside parking areas.

Recommended Gear & Footwear

Shoes you can walk in, and something for the sun.

Informational travel guide for visitor planning. Always check official advisories from IFCN, Capitania, and Civil Protection before outdoor mountain or coastal activities.

When to go

Madeira time: 12:00

Visit goal:

Bathing requires open gates and lifeguard duty (green/yellow flag). When red flags fly or ocean swell washes over outer walls, swimming is closed regardless of the hour.

Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea. Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind.

More beach and pool cameras on Madeira Island are on the Madeira beach live cameras page. Madeira beach live cameras

Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea.

Read more about this webcam

Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea.

Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea. Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind.

About this webcam

Quick facts

Location: Porto da Cruz, Madeira
Category: North Coast
Best time to watch: Daytime for swimming/surfing conditions
Coordinates: 32.7725, -16.8286

Weather Information

Madeira has a mild climate year-round. Use the webcams for real-time conditions (visibility, sea state, wind).

About the area

This page belongs to the North Coast category in Madeira and groups 13 related webcams. Use the category link to explore nearby views and compare conditions.

Quick Tips for Visitors

Check local visibility and ocean conditions via the webcam before heading out.
Madeira weather changes fast: bring a light jacket.
Respect signage and local guidance.

Highlights

Public saltwater pools
Black sand/pebble surfing beach
Penha d'Águia above the parish

Nearby attractions

Rum Factory (Engenhos do Norte)
Penha d'Águia hike
Alagoa surf beach

Travel tips

Assess entry and swell before swimming.
Bring sun protection and water.
Respect flags and local notices.

Photo: EduardoGui CC BY 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

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Elevation: Sea level
Coordinates: 32.7725, -16.8286
Region: Porto da Cruz
Camera: Live picture

Frame and highlights

The view

The shore

•Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea.
•Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind.

Highlights

✓Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind.
✓Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea.

Porto da Cruz Pools & Praia da Maiata

Porto da Cruz Waterfront

Overlooks the outdoor saltwater swimming pools and the wide surf beach of Praia da Maiata
Directly exposed to vigorous northern swells rolling into the bay
Waves break heavily against the outer sea walls during high tide and winter storm periods
Provides real-time visibility on pool operations, wave spray, and surf lineup at Maiata

Coast & terrain

Landscape & geography

The road

East of Santana. White water behind the pool is the sea you do not swim.

Related Views

13 webcams in North Coast

Browse all North Coast webcams →

Approach & Planning

Visitor logistics

Before a swim

Pools, with the beach and the cliff behind.
Not the ticket. A still pool is not a still sea.
East of Santana. White water behind the pool is the sea you do not swim.
Image by Madeira-Web Beaches Live.

From our visits

A Local Guide

Location history

The road The decision is the water on the stones, not the colour of the roofs. White water means the terrace, not the steps. A still pool is not a still sea. If the wall is awash, the swim is off, and the picture will not sell you a ticket either way. Funchal can be an easy afternoon while this coast is not. That is normal. Look before the drive, especially if the road goes through the north-coast tunnels or down a steep lane. Black sand and pebbles lose the sun once the cliff takes it, often after the middle of the afternoon. You can see the shade from here. Do not block the lane. The frame is the shore. It is not the inside of a bar and not a promise that the complex is open. An hour is a long time on this coast. Blue water before you left can be white water when you arrive, especially if the swell is from the north and it is still building. Watch a few sets from the terrace before anyone uses the steps. The steps are slippery after rain and after any sea that has been over them. You enter off rock, not off a beach of sand. Keep a dry layer in the car. The wind here does not feel like the marina in Funchal. A full car park means the next village, not a car abandoned in the lane. If shade was the reason you looked, look again after lunch. The cliff decides when the sun goes. Look before you set off, and look again while you can still change the plan. Funchal's sky is a weak guide to the rest of the island. Keep a jacket in the car. Do not leave the car in a lane. When the picture and the town disagree, the picture wins. Ten minutes is a fair second look. An hour can be a different shore.

Photo: EduardoGui CC BY 4.0 Wikimedia Commons