Aquário da Madeira

The aquarium of Porto Moniz, in the old fort of São João Baptista, with the marine biodiversity of Madeira.

In the old fort of São João Baptista, at the entrance of Porto Moniz, the Aquário da Madeira keeps the life of the island’s seas: dozens of tanks where the marine species of the archipelago swim, from the coasts of the north to the depths of the Atlantic. Part of the aquarium lives in the stone rooms of the fort, on the seafront beside the famous natural pools of Porto Moniz.

The aquarium

The aquarium opened in 2005, on the waterfront of Porto Moniz, and shows the biodiversity of the seas of Madeira in a circuit of tanks with the species of the archipelago — fish of the rocky coasts, of the sandy bottoms and of the open sea. The building joins the old fort and the seafront of the village, next to the natural pools, and the visit is a journey through the underwater world of the island, with the work of knowledge and conservation of the marine life of Madeira.

What to see

The tanks with the marine species of Madeira.
The old fort of São João Baptista, over the sea.
The natural pools of Porto Moniz, beside the aquarium.
The seafront and the cliffs of the north coast of the island.

Visiting

The aquarium is at the entrance of Porto Moniz, on the north coast of Madeira, within reach of Funchal by the roads of the island; the times and tickets follow the official information of the municipality. A visit combines well with a swim in the natural pools and a journey along the north-western coast.