Resting on the rugged northwestern edge of the island of Madeira, Porto Moniz is a picturesque town shaped by sheer basalt cliffs, narrow ravines, and constant Atlantic swells. Originally a 16th-century fishing and farming village, it spread across terraced slopes where vine-growing and subsistence crops once dominated. The town’s most prominent feature is its natural lava pools—sea-filled basins formed by volcanic rock and made accessible with walkways, ladders, and changing facilities. Nearby, the Madeira Aquarium occupies a restored 18th-century fort and contains tanks showcasing a multitude of marine species native to Macaronesian waters. Restaurants along the seafront serve scabbardfish, octopus, and dishes rooted in local fishing traditions. About 15 kilometres inland, Achadas da Cruz sits at 576 metres and connects by cable car to Fajã da Quebrada Nova, a narrow coastal plain used for traditional agriculture, reachable only by the steep descent or a strenuous footpath. Within Porto Moniz itself, Miradouro da Santa offers a panoramic lookout beside a roadside chapel, with views over the lava pools and Atlantic horizon. Although not inside the municipality, the Levada da Ribeira da Janela trail begins to the east, and follows a historic irrigation channel through the UNESCO-listed Laurissilva forest.