in Madeira, Portugal
Pestana Porto Santo All Inclusive
Updated 1 July 2026
- Baby
- Toddler
- Kid
- Teen
Here is Madeira's secret weapon for beach families: it is not on Madeira at all. Porto Santo, a short flight or a 2h15 ferry away, has nine kilometres of soft golden sand shelving gently into warm, calm water, and the Pestana Porto Santo sits right on it with an all-inclusive formula and a free kids club. If your dream is a classic bucket-and-spade island week, this is where Madeirans themselves go.
Our verdict
Book it for the beach, which no hotel on mainland Madeira can match. A week here with a toddler is about as low-stress as European beach holidays get.
The rooms
Low-rise rooms and family bungalows in gardens leading to the dunes. Ground-floor family rooms with terraces are the ones to request: pram in the shade, kids straight out to the grass.
At a glance
- Beach
- 9 km of sand, on the doorstep
- Board
- All-inclusive
- Kids club
- Included, seasonal programme
- Getting there
- 2h15 ferry or 25 min flight
How the KidProof Score works
Every hotel is rated on eight things families actually care about, then weighted by how much each one drives your choice. Room setup counts the most. The little touches break the ties.
Sleeps how many? Connecting rooms, family suites, a real extra bed?
Clean travel cot, high chair, bottle warmer, changing table, kit to borrow.
Shallow pool or paddling area, playground, kids club (free or paid).
Quick breakfast, kids menus, allergy options, snacks on hand.
Secured windows, protected corners, watched pool, well kept grounds.
Laundry, in-room fridge, stroller access, parking, reliable Wi-Fi.
Close to family attractions, easy transport, park tickets or access.
Welcome gift for the child, staff who talk to kids, themed rooms.
Why families love it
- Direct access to 9 km of golden sandy beach
- All-inclusive with themed dinner nights
- Free kids club and playground in the gardens
- Shallow, calm, warm water for little swimmers
🗓️A day here with kids
- 8:30
Breakfast in the gardens
Eat outside, the mornings are mild nearly all year.
- 9:30
Beach until lunch
The sand right in front of the hotel has loungers and a lifeguard in season.
- 13:00
All-inclusive lunch and quiet hour
Shady garden corners are perfect for pram naps after lunch.
- 16:00
Pool games, then mini disco
The animation team runs family games before the evening kids' disco.
Family things to do nearby
All-day beach life
Nine kilometres of sand mean you can always find an empty stretch, and the water warms nicely by afternoon.
Family bike ride on the flat
Porto Santo is Madeira without the hills: rent bikes with kid seats and follow the coast road to Vila Baleira for ice cream.
Sand-bath tradition
Locals bury themselves in the warm therapeutic sand. Kids find burying a parent even funnier.
Is it right for your kids?
Baby
0 to 1 yr
Soft sand, shallow warm water and garden-level rooms: hard to design a better first beach holiday for a baby.
Toddler
1 to 3 yrs
The gentle shelf means toddlers can paddle for metres before it gets deep, with the pool as backup.
Kid
4 to 11 yrs
Sandcastles on an epic scale, bikes, the kids club and boat trips around the islets fill a week fast.
Teen
12 yrs and up
Watersports and beach volleyball in summer, though teens may find the island very quiet in low season.
Plan your stay
Check prices & bookWe compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Live prices & availability
Stays near Pestana Porto Santo All Inclusive, Estrada Regional 120, Campo de Baixo, Porto Santo, Portugal
We compare Booking, Expedia, Hotels.com and more so you book at the best price. Prices update in real time.
Parents also ask
How do we get to Porto Santo with kids?
Either the 2h15 ferry from Funchal, an adventure in itself, or a 25 minute hop flight from Madeira airport. Many families combine both directions.
Is the sea warm enough for toddlers?
From June to October, comfortably yes. In winter the beach is still lovely for play, but swims move to the heated pool.
Is a week too long on such a small island?
Not with beach-loving kids. Adults wanting variety can split the trip: four nights here, the rest on Madeira proper.
Similar family stays
in Madeira
VidaMar Resort Hotel Madeira
Modern rooms across two towers, nearly all with a sea-view balcony. Family rooms fit four, and the suites add a separate lounge with a sofa bed, which is the setup to ask for with two or more kids.
in Madeira
Dreams Madeira Resort Spa and Marina
A village of rooms, suites and family units spread around a private marina, many with terraces at garden level so kids can run straight out. Family suites sleep four with proper separation between parents and children.
in Madeira
Calheta Beach, Savoy Signature
Fresh, functional rooms, many with balconies over the bay. Family rooms take a cot and an extra bed, and the best trick is booking two connecting rooms, which the hotel handles well for families of five.
Some links are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.