A Desertas boat trip is a day at sea with a possible authorised visit on land, not a ferry that gives you unrestricted access to an island. Read the itinerary with that distinction in mind. The boat, conditions and permissions shape the visit as much as the destination does.
A reserve visit has its own rules
The IFCN’s current visiting information requires prior authorisation and directs requests through the SIMplifica service. It describes guided visits on an interpretive route. Buying a commercial outing is not a reason to assume you can leave that route or explore another island independently.
Ask the operator who arranges the required permission and what the planned landing involves. Authorisation and a workable landing are separate matters: permission does not calm the sea or make a transfer from the boat suitable for every passenger.
One example: the VMT full-day catamaran
VMT’s GetYourGuide listing describes a nine-hour outing from Funchal, including a catamaran cruise and lunch, with a guided visit at Deserta Grande in the itinerary. Its check-in instructions identify the VMT kiosk at Pier 8, below Praça do Povo, thirty minutes before departure. Read the instructions attached to your actual booking in case they change.
The listing also says the programme can change and describes cancellation provisions for bad weather or insufficient passengers. It marks the activity as unsuitable for wheelchair users and people with mobility impairments. Someone who needs assistance should discuss the boat and transfer arrangements directly before booking, rather than relying on a general photograph of a spacious deck.
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Read the Desertas catamaran itinerary and booking conditions
Decide whether you want the journey as well as the landing
The crossing is a substantial part of a full-day experience. If your interest depends entirely on walking on land, ask what happens if the vessel reaches the islands but cannot land. Is the outing still the day you want, and what do the booking terms say about that situation?
Wildlife belongs to the reserve, not to the list of guaranteed inclusions. Learning about monk-seal conservation is different from being promised a seal sighting. Likewise, a dolphin seen on the crossing would be an encounter, not proof that this is the same product as a dedicated whale-watching trip.
Pack for the hours outside
Follow the operator’s packing advice and luggage limits. Keep a windproof layer and sun protection accessible, rather than buried under everything you might need after landing. Confirm dietary needs before the day if lunch is part of the booking. Anyone unsure about their suitability for a long boat trip should resolve that before paying.
Give the outing the day it needs, including check-in and the return to your accommodation. Porto Santo in a day is a different island journey, with different transport and time ashore. Choose the experience you actually want rather than treating the two as interchangeable ways of leaving Madeira for a few hours.
IFCN guidance and the named activity listing checked on 15 October 2026. Landing, weather, access and itinerary remain subject to the relevant authorities and operator.
Featured photo: André Moniz Vieira · Source · CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo date: 2022-04-08. Resized and converted to WebP; theme thumbnails may be cropped.
