The Aqua Natura Madeiran Hotel is stands in perfect harmony with the sea of Porto Moniz.
When talking about Porto Moniz, one cannot help but mention its natural pools. They take the town’s name well beyond the northern coast of the island and make it famous the world round. After all, there is very good reason why those pools were considered to be among the 14 most wonderful natural pools by one of the leading tourism websites!
Seagulls fly high above volcanic rocks as they struggle against the crashing of the waves and regard the foam falling on the natural pools. This is the scenery one wakes up to after spending a night at the Aqua Natura Madeiran Hotel.
The weather is heavenly, and coupled with the sea and nature would surely make poets gasp in awe. It is precisely this perfect harmony of the sea’s blue and the green of the hills surrounding the town that the décor tries to capture. Equipped with modern furniture, all 25 bedrooms and suites have a view of the Atlantic Ocean, joining comfort and finesse under a single concept of nature.
The symbiosis between hotel and water is almost perfect. Aqua Nature has a series of partnerships offering a variety of sea-related activities. Divers can immerse themselves in the Madeira Aquarium’s main tank or, it is their first time, have their diving baptism in the natural pools. More independent souls have the opportunity to rent snorkelling equipment and use it in the natural pools. In both cases, the service is free. There are also boat rides around the northern coast of the island, in search of cetaceans.
Away from the town’s hustle and bustle, the hotel is an ideal place to rest and relax, be it in harmony with nature, or with a massage, either in your own room or in the massage parlour. The offer is wide ranging and includes bamboo massages as well as Indian head massages. There is also ictiotherapy, reflexology, dressings in seaweed, geothermal massages (with hot rocks) and the Madeira wine massage.
To further the relaxation of both your body and mind, there is a well-equipped gym, sauna and Jacuzzi, the latter two located in the hotel’s upper floor. Also in that floor is the solarium.
The restaurant also enjoys a view of the pools and has a casual and relaxed atmosphere, two things that will help you make the most of the delicious dishes prepared with local products.
With nature always taking first place, the Aqua Natura Madeiran Hotel prides itself on its ecological sustainability policies and was awarded a green key award in 2014. As such, it comes as no surprise that guests who stay on the hotel for longer periods of time are given the chance of driving two electric automobiles to explore the northern coast of the island.
Because it is ideally located close to a series of walking paths, there are those who ignore the sea altogether and venture the closest tracks such as the ‘Levada do Moinho (Ribeira da Cruz-Lamaceiros)’ and that of ‘Fanal (Assobiadores – Paul da Serra – Fanal)’. But for those not wishing to venture the mountains, there will always be the sea and the hotel.
Late in the afternoon, your bedroom window will give you a view of one of the most beautiful spectacles of nature: sunset. And when it is time to get some more rest there is a small card reminding you that there is ‘Only you and the ocean, side by side. Have a good night’.
