Praia da Ribeira de Natal: A Quiet Beach and Swim Spot in East Madeira

One of my favourite hobbies in Madeira is trying to find swimming spots that aren’t crowded. And that’s how I happened upon Praia da Ribeira de Natal, a small but sweet swimming spot between Machico and Caniçal on the east coast.

This pebble beach is within walking distance of Caniçal, but somehow, I almost always visit it from Machico. That’s because you can hike there directly from the summit of Pico do Facho in 1 – 2 hours.

In this post, I’ll explain how to get there (by hiking, from Caniçal or by car) and what to expect, from swimming conditions and facilities to its cute little seasonal beach bar.

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Where is Praia da Ribeira de Natal?

Ribeira de Natal beach is properly tucked away on the southwest side of the fishing town of Caniçal. It’s quite far from most of Madeira’s main tourist areas, so if you see anyone here at all, they’ll most likely be locals, expats or digital nomads staying on the east coast.

The beach sits between Caniçal and Machico. From the centre of Caniçal, you can walk to Praia da Ribeira de Natal in less than 10 minutes along the coastal promenade. It’s much closer to Caniçal than Prainha Beach, a beautiful black-sand cove that requires a 10-minute bus ride or short drive.

From Machico, however, you’ll either need to drive, take a bus to Caniçal, or walk along the trail from Machico, via the summit of a small mountain called Pico do Facho. (This is one of my favourite things to do in Machico).

What Is the Beach Like?

Praia da Ribeira de Natal is a pebble beach backed by a concrete promenade and a small seasonal beach bar. The tide often comes all the way up to the beach wall, so you’ll notice that people don’t sunbathe on the pebbles themselves but on the concrete above.

There’s a long concrete pier extending out from the promenade. You can walk out there and climb into the water using the ladder. Behind the beach, there are lovely green peaks so it’s quite a scenic spot despite the pebbles and concrete.

Can You Swim at Praia da Ribeira de Natal?

I like to swim from the concrete pier. Entering the water across the pebbles looks quite difficult, and I haven’t seen anyone attempt it.

During the summer, a square-shaped inflatable platform is placed out in the water, so I usually do a breaststroke from the pier to the inflatable and lie in the sun there, which is nicer than sitting on the concrete.

A few notes about the pier, though: the water isn’t always deep enough to jump in, depending on the tide. If it’s too shallow, I simply climb down the metal ladder on the side of the pier.

The pier is also popular with local fishermen, so if anyone is fishing, I’m careful to watch for lines and usually try to strike up a quick conversation to make sure I’m not getting in their way.

The water here is usually very pleasant on sunny days with light winds. It’s quite deep when you enter it from the pier, so you need to be a confident open-water swimmer. Usually the waves aren’t very big, but if there’s a strong well I’d skip swimming altogether. The beach isn’t lifeguarded, so it’s not a place to take risks.

Facilities at Ribeira de Natal

At the back of the beach is a small beach bar, which is open during peak periods only. I’d say it’s open about 1 in 4 times I’ve been there, usually on weekends or local fiesta days, when it does attract a decent crowd.

It’s genuinely a really cute spot, with its blue-painted shutters and an outdoor seating area with benches painted white, blue, pink and yellow.

There are toilets and changing rooms at the back of the bar, although they’re not always open. Cold-water showers are available down by the pier.

If you need to use the toilets when the facilities are closed, you’ll need to walk 10 – 15 minutes to the public loos in Caniçal.

Finally, there’s also a diving centre that operates out of Ribeira de Natal beach called Scorpio Madeira. They run scuba experiences and diving courses.

How to Get to Ribeira de Natal Beach

There are three main ways to get to the beach, and I’ll begin with my favourite – the hike!

Hiking From Machico via Pico do Facho

There’s a hike from Machico to Ribeira De Natal Beach that takes around 4 – 5 hours out and back, although I swear I’ve done it in under three hours on occasion.

The trail goes via Pico do Facho, the small mountain on the east side of Machico Bay. Although you can skip the section up Pico do Facho if you really want to, and just park at the summit – this skips the hardest climb and makes the hike significantly easier and shorter.

It’s easy to follow the hike to Praia da Ribeira de Natal on AllTrails, and I write about it in more detail in my guide to the Pico do Facho hike.

To summarise, after hiking up Pico do Facho (or parking at the summit), you’ll join a quiet dirt trail behind the summit of the mountain that leads towards Caniçal, with the São Lourenço peninsula on the horizon.

It’s a well-worn path that takes you over a set of green hills above the ocean. There’s only one section towards the beach where it’s easy to lose the path. Even though I’ve done the hike three or four times now, I still find myself checking the map.

I personally love hikes where I can cool off halfway through, so I always pack my swimming costume and take a dip at the beach before hiking back to Machico.

By Car

The easier alternative is to drive. The road to Praia da Ribeira de Natal is well-maintained. There are plenty of parking spaces at the beach, and I’ve never seen the car park completely full.

Without a Car

If you’re visiting Madeira without a car, you can either hike from Machico or take the bus to Caniçal.

From Funchal or Machico, you can take SIGA bus no.113 to Caniçal. Once you’re in the centre of Caniçal, walk west along the promenade for 10 minutes until you reach the beach.

One time, after hiking from Machico, I managed to call a Bolt from Caniçal back to Machico. However, that’s fairly unusual, as there aren’t many tourists staying in Caniçal, so drivers don’t hang around the area long.

Is Praia da Ribeira de Natal Worth Visiting?

If you want to go for a swim without competing for parking, Praia da Ribeira de Natal is absolutely worth visiting.

It’s a very quiet spot, and while it doesn’t have a sandy beach, it’s quick and easy to get into the water from the pier. The views are also lovely, with a green hill on one side of the bay.

That being said, facilities are limited – especially when the beach bar is closed – so it’s best suited to a brief 1-2-hour stop rather than a full beach day.

Personally, I like Ribeira de Natal beach as an extension to the Pico do Facho hike in Machico, or as a quiet place to swim after exploring the east coast.

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