Swim Camp Madeira Island

7 Days, Multiple Departures

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Swim Camp Madeira Island
  • About
  • Gallery
  • Itinerary
  • Location
  • Things to keep in mind
  • FAQ

This adventure, which has been carefully prepared by our team, starts on a Sunday and ends the following Sunday morning. During this unforgettable week, you will swim in the most beautiful places in the region, where the water varies between crystal clear dark blue and turquoise, and where you can explore the caves and natural arches of the cliffs – the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve, Ponta de São Lourenço and the Garajau Nature Reserve are just some of these places.

This is a perfect experience for those who want to discover still unexplored and quiet areas in Portugal and enjoy the pleasant sub-tropical climate of the island.

The lodge is situated in the heart of the Garajau Nature Reserve, whose bay also offers an excellent place for swimming.

About

Safety

• Personal accident insurance

• Accompaniment of experienced guides

• Open water sessions are accompanied by a boat and 1 kayak

Food

• Breakfasts

• Lunches (only water included; other drinks have an extra cost. NOTE: Vegetarian option)

• Bottles of water, nuts, bananas and Madeira honey cake during swimming moments

Accommodation

• 6 nights at Hotel Sentido Galosol (Accommodation is subject to availability and you can change to a similar accommodation)

• Twin rooms with garden view for all guests. Upgrade to single or sea view (extra charge)

Transport

• On land: throughout the trip, in a 9-seater van or similar

• At sea: by boat, outside of swimming times

Other

•Photographs

Equipment

•Flights

• Personal expenses and gratuities

• Dinners and meals not specified

• Anything not mentioned in the previous section

• Extra activities

• Personal travel insurance

• Eco Tourist Tax

We will meet you at Madeira Airport.

Food

• Breakfasts

• Lunches (only water included; other drinks have an extra cost. NOTE: Vegetarian option)

• Bottles of water, nuts, bananas and Madeira honey cake during swimming moments

Accommodation

• 6 nights at Hotel Sentido Galosol (Accommodation is subject to availability and you can change to a similar accommodation)

• Twin rooms with garden view for all guests. Upgrade to single or sea view (extra charge)


In addition to your daily clothes, we also recommend that you bring the following items:

• Swimsuit/Swim Shorts(x2)

• Swimming goggles (x2)*

• Neoprene wetsuit (optional);

• Swim buoy;

• Hat and sunglasses;

• Highly water-resistant sunscreen

• Towels (x2)

• Small waterproof pouch

• Sweater/sweatshirt/hoody

• Waterproof/windproof jacket

• Hiking shoes/sneakers

*We advise you to bring a clear lens and a tinted lens for different light conditions

Online, telephone and email bookings

All bookings are subject to availability. Bookings can be made either online through our booking system. Bookings must be made by persons aged 18 or above. We welcome guests from the age of 16. All guests aged below 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

A binding contract comes into existence once we have received from you all payments applicable at the time of booking and we have sent our booking confirmation to you. It is your responsibility to check your booking confirmation upon receipt. Please inform us immediately if any information appears to be incorrect as it may not be possible to make any changes subsequently.

Payment Terms

At the time of booking, you must either pay (i) the total published holiday price or (ii) a deposit of 20% (30% for Multi-Day Trips) of the published holiday price (the “Deposit”), with the balance of the published holiday price payable 60 days (90 days for Multi-Day Trips) before the start of your Swimming Holidays (the “Due Date”). For all bookings made less than 60 days (90 days for Multi-Day Trips) before the start of your Swimming Holidays, you must pay the published holiday price at the time of booking. If we do not receive payment by the Due Date, we reserve the right to cancel your booking immediately and you will forfeit your Deposit. We may agree to extend the Due Date at your request. If, however, you subsequently fail to pay the balance we shall consider the booking cancelled and you will be liable to pay the applicable cancellation charges. These set out below at section 7 (“Cancellation by you”).

Method of payment

You must pay the Deposit for your holiday by credit and debit cards, or bank transfer at the time of booking. Full details will be provided on payment request. We do not accept cash.

Friendly, fun swim adventure

I took part in a swim adventure at Desertas. We travelled there from Madeira by motorised rib and swam for a couple of hours, by the side of the island and through some caves. Mayra and Joao were wonderful hosts and the pilot of the rib highly skilled. I was only non Portuguese speaker in the group but it didn’t matter, I was made very welcome among a very friendly group. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

Date of experience: November 2022

We had a great swim with Mayra

We had a great swim with Mayra. Her enthusiasm and love for the ocean was great to see. She was very good at making my wife comfortable after she started off a bit nervous. We saw loads of cool fish and enjoyed a very nice swim.

January 5, 2024

Gallery
About The Host

Mayra Santos and crew offer an impressive portfolio of swimming locations throughout Madeira, ranging from relaxing and rejuvenating holidays to tours designed to challenge and motivate the most daring adventurers.

If you can't find a trip that suits your needs or dates, ask us about our custom tours – we can arrange weeks for schools, birthdays and groups. We are here to offer you a wonderful swimming experience and an unforgettable trip. Each tour has a selection of dives, some of which will be able to challenge you and others that will undoubtedly inspire you.

Itinerary

Days 1 to 7

Day 1 - Welcome!

Welcome to the Pearl of the Atlantic!

We will meet you at Madeira Airport. We will then take you to Caniço, where you will check into the hotel. During a pleasant lunch at the hotel's restaurant, you will meet your guides and the other swimmers for an introductory safety briefing and clarification of doubts about the adventure we are about to start. Afterwards, we'll have a swimming session at the Lido Galomar Bathing Complex. The best cared for aquarium on the island, the Garajau, here we will swim in the stunning Garajau Partial Nature Reserve. The waters here are especially calm and crystal clear, which makes our itinerary to Garajau beach magical.

During your stay at the hotel, you will be served a buffet-style breakfast every morning, accompanied by a beautiful sunrise overlooking the Desertas Islands. Afterwards, we will travel on our boat to the swimming spot, which is different every day.

Day 2 - Cabo Girão

We will begin to explore the south coast of the island, connecting the iconic Calhau da Lapa to the Fajãs of Cabo Girão, passing at the foot of the imposing Fajã dos Padres.

Cabo Girão is the highest cliff in Europe and one of the highest in the world. It is a unique place, with an imposing landscape, and the path through the waters that connect it to Fajã dos Padres has as much marine life as it has tranquility and silence, due to its relative isolation. Swimming in this area is an indescribable experience.

After a typical lunch in Caniçal, we will return to the hotel, where the swimmers will have the rest of the day free and will be able, for example, to enjoy a late afternoon in the hotel pool to recharge batteries for the adventures of the next days.

Day 3 - Desertas Islands

Expedition to the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve

We leave the Quinta do Lorde Marina, in a small boat, bound for the Desertas Islands Nature Reserve.

The Desertas are a sub-archipelago within the archipelago of Madeira, consisting of three small islands that make up this nature reserve. And, if visiting this protected territory is in itself a privilege, having the opportunity to swim in this place is a sublime experience.

As we approach Deserta Grande, we will start our emblematic adventure, where you will become one of the few swimmers to have the opportunity to swim in this place, so rich in marine life.

We will anchor in the bay in front of the research center and the watchman's house, both heritage sites of the Madeira Natural Park. A pleasant and traditional lunch will be served on site, followed by an interesting guided tour of the island. We will then return to Madeira, in the company of dolphins and whales, which will be able to accompany us throughout the route.

Day 4 - Ponta de São Lourenço

Ponta de São Lourenço, the easternmost peninsula of the island of Madeira.

This day marks the beginning of our expedition through the Pearl of the Atlantic, which has as its destination the Ponta de São Lourenço Nature Reserve. This will be an exciting way to start our trip, as we are surrounded by the imposing cliffs that dominate the volcanic and arid landscape of this area.

During the morning, we'll swim along the bay, passing by the Pigeon Cave. This first swim will end in the idyllic bay of Cais do Sardinha, where we will have lunch overlooking the Atlantic. In the afternoon, you can take the opportunity to relax and get to know the surrounding area, through a short walk along the São Lourenço peninsula, from where we will continue our journey to the other side of the steep and isolated Morro do Furado.

Day 5 - Ponta do Pargo

The dizzying views of Ponta do Pargo.

On the sixth day of our wild swimming adventure, we will explore the southwest corner of the island. During the morning, we will swim to Ponta do Pargo and Fajã da Ovelha.

A regional lunch will be served in Calheta and the afternoon will take us back to the highest cape in Europe: Cabo Girão.

Day 6 - Northwest of Madeira

The beauty of Madeira's North Coast and its waterfalls.

This will be the seventh and last day of our adventure.

To end this sea excursion in beauty, there is nothing better than going to the northwest corner of the island. We will board our boat at Porto Moniz, passing through the iconic Ribeira da Janela Islet towards our starting point. We will swim from Seixal, passing through the imposing waterfall of the "Véu da Noiva" towards São Vicente. Here, the scenery is of a breathtaking green hillside. After this swimming session, we will head for a typical lunch overlooking the unmissable natural pools of Porto Moniz, formed by volcanic lava. After lunch, we'll head to a hidden treasure – the Slug Pool – and spend the afternoon bathing in that paradisiacal natural pool.

Day 7 - See you soon, Madeira!

Goodbye, Madeira!

Our wild swimming odyssey is about to end. After breakfast, your host will transport you to Madeira Airport in time for your flight home.

We are sure that we have provided you with the best program with diversified activities for a wonderful holiday.

Location
Things to keep in mind

If you wish to cancel your booking, you must provide us with written notice as soon as possible. Cancellation will take effect from the date of receipt of your written notice. In all cases of cancellation, you will forfeit your Deposit.

If you cancel your booking 90 days or less before your holiday is due to start, a cancellation fee will be immediately payable to us. Cancellation fees are expressed as a percentage of the total holiday cost (as published at the time of booking), as follows:

Receipt of cancellation notice before departure Cancellation charge payable

  • more than 90 days 30% Deposit
  • 61-89 days 70%
  • 60 days 100%

If, after our booking confirmation has been issued, you wish to make any changes to your booking, you must send us a written request. All changes are subject to a 35 EUR and 70 EUR (for Multi-Day Trips) administration fee per person. If you wish to transfer to another Adventure Swimming Holidays or change your departure date, you must send us a written request at least 80 days (120 days for Multi-Day Trips) before the start of your booked Adventure Holidays. We will endeavor to accommodate your request, subject to availability. If the published holiday price of the holiday or date that you wish to change to is more expensive than your original booking (as at the date of receipt of your request), you must also pay the difference in price. Your new booking must be taken within the same calendar year.

Transfer your booking to another person(s)​

This option is available providing the following below conditions are met:

a) you notify us in writing at least 80 days before the trip departure (120 days for Multi-Day Trips) and give us the authority to make the transfer;

b) your request is accompanied by all documents related to another person’s booking (“transferee”), with full name and contact details;

c) this transfer option only applies towards a new transferee’s booking and not towards already existing booking (customer booked already);

d) the transferee accepts the transfer and these booking conditions, and fulfils any conditions that apply to the booking and our terms and conditions;

e) the transfer fee for such a change is subject to a 35 EUR and 70 EUR (for Multi-Day Trips) fee per person (transferring person).

Please note that any request to transfer your existing booking (either to another date or another person) will be treated as a cancellation if such notice is received within 80 days of departure (120 days for Multi-Day Trips) and will be subject to cancellation charges.

Cancellation by Host

We always try to avoid cancelling bookings or making changes to our published itineraries. However, arrangements for your Adventure Swimming Holidays are made many months in advance and it may be necessary in exceptional circumstances for us to cancel or make changes to your booking. Subject to section 10 below (“Force majeure”), if we cancel or make a significant change to your booking, we will endeavor to provide you with reasonable notice of such cancellation or change and we will offer you (at your request) an alternative Adventure Swimming Holidays, subject to availability and except where such cancellation or significant change is beyond our control (see “force majeure” below). You will not be required to make any additional payment if the alternative Adventure Swimming Holidays is more expensive than your original booking.

Subject to section 10 below (“Force majeure”), if we cancel your booking up to 26 days before the start of your holiday, you will be entitled to a full refund of all monies received from you to date. If we cancel your booking 25 days or less before the start of your holiday, you will be entitled to a full refund of all monies received from you to date plus minimum compensation of 35 EUR per person.

Force majeure

We regret that we are unable to accept liability or pay compensation where our failure to perform our obligations under this contract is caused by or affected by, or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature arising out of, circumstances beyond our control. For the purposes of these booking conditions, circumstances beyond our control, or “force majeure”, means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events are likely to include (whether actual or threatened) war, civil strife, riot, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, pandemic spread, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, technical problems with transport, closure or congestion or restriction of airports, national parks, monuments, roads, ports or airspace, adverse weather conditions, volcanic eruption, airport, port or airspace closures, and all similar events outside our control.


Communications with us

All bookings made online will be confirmed by e-mail, and all subsequent communications will be made via email. Telephone bookings will also be confirmed by e-mail unless otherwise advised at the time of booking. You must inform us at the time of booking if you wish to be contacted by post. All references in these booking conditions to “send” include both email and post, as appropriate.

Before you travel

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking and your responsibility to ensure that you have suitable insurance cover for the travel arrangements and activities that you have booked with us. You must hold a valid comprehensive insurance cover for an adventure sports activity including “open water swimming”. Your policy must include medical expenses (including transportation), emergency repatriation, travel illness and personal accident on the tour. You will be asked to provide us with your insurance details (company name, policy number and 24-hour contact) before undertaking any swimming activities.

Passport and visa requirements

It is your responsibility to check up to date travel and visa requirements and to ensure that you have any visa required for entry into your country of destination.

FAQ