Porto Santo
Emigrating to Porto Santo
The neighbor and submunicipality of Madeira: Porto Santo! Did you know that the nickname of this island is "The Golden Island"? Unlike the flower island Madeira, Porto Santo has a dry landscape. The light brown color gives it its distinctive nickname. The island of Porto Santo has 4.474 inhabitants, and its largest town is Vila Baleira.
Why choose this island?
Porto Santo is known for its beautiful white beaches – one of the most stunning in Europe! Many retirees have a second home here, or are so connected to the beach life that they emigrate for it. We’ve put together a top 10 list of reasons for you to consider:
10 reasons to go
- A paradise for beach lovers, voted the most beautiful beach in Europe in 2022.
- The huge amount of stunning nature with much variety.
- The seawater is crystal clear, making it a great spot for divers.
- Porto Santo has beautiful gardens with exotic plants and trees like palms, banana trees, etc.
- The charming towns on the island have traditional architecture, making them a lovely place to live.
- It’s an island with a rich history, where it was attacked by pirates in 1600 and discovered in 1418 by João Gonçalves Zarco.
- All essential services are available on the island, including health centers (but no hospital), shops, and government offices.
- The average home purchase price is €600,000, or €900 per month for rent – a reasonable reflection of prices in the Netherlands.
- Porto Santo is a small island, which gives it a secret charm – definitely a reason to consider emigration.
- The residents of Porto Santo are laid-back and relaxed, so everything moves at a slower pace.
Transport possibilities
We offer you four moving options:
Excellent: Fully taken care of and you determine the moving dates! Everything will be arranged for you. From moving boxes to packing, loading, and unloading.
Comfort: The quality of a certified moving company, but still affordable moving. To reduce costs, various household goods are combined.
Regular: Good option if you plan to help with moving tasks, but still want the most important moving activities to be guaranteed.
Budget: We take care of transportation, you arrange the rest!
Emigrating without stress
Moving is certainly a challenge on its own and requires plenty of work and preparation. On top of that, you're moving to an island south of Europe! There are some additional factors to consider:
First, you're moving by sea instead of land, and don’t forget the bureaucracy of island living. Islanders tend to take their time… Logistically, it’s a bit more complicated than moving to mainland Spain, where trucks travel daily. So, carefully think about what you will need in the coming period, as later purchases will be significantly more expensive. Anything that has to be transported over the water comes with a price increase. Plus, moving always brings stress, let alone a move over such a distance.
In short: our advice is to start early and engage multiple specialists. We want nothing more than for you to be able to emigrate without stress. That’s why we share our experiences with you. From temporary storage of furniture to handling all the paperwork, we’re here for you. From start to finish, door to door.
To take into account...
- Every two weeks, a ship departs from the port of Portugal with the belongings of our customers to the islands of Portugal. The container is loaded onto the ship from the The Port of Rotterdam . On the island of your choice, we have a "unloading crew"—our reliable local partners who will ensure your move is completed smoothly with the same high quality of service you expect from us!
- The expertise of our "packers" lies in the precise and careful packing of your belongings. All cabinets, beds, furniture, etc., will be packed to export standards, ensuring they won't be damaged during the sea voyage. Given the rough waters and handling at the port, having your belongings professionally packed is essential.
- Don’t forget to start learning Portuguese in advance while in the Netherlands, so you can properly prepare. This will certainly earn you extra points with the local population.
- Porto Santo is an island for peace and quiet—there are few activities like theme parks, nightlife, or much business activity. Most things are focused on tourism and the landscape.
- The island has no natural drinking water sources, so water must be purchased in bottles.
- The only way to fly to Porto Santo is via a transfer through Madeira. There is also a boat from Funchal to Porto Santo, which takes about 2.5 hours.
- For a first visit to the island, it is necessary to book a hotel in advance, as the availability is limited.
Are you ready for your Portugese dream?
These are your benefits if you choose us. Halo helps you with:
- A complete stress-free moving experience to your new home on Porto Santo!
- All furniture is carefully packed for sea transport by our professional packers, ensuring that nothing can be damaged during the ocean crossing.
- packing and unpacking your moving boxes by moving professionals;
- safely transporting your valuable possessions to your new 'home';
- checking and fulfilling your moving requirements during this emigration;
- planning the move together so it seamlessly meets your expectations;
- you get a dedicated contact person who can handle all your questions. He or she arranges everything for you. Think of things like temporary storage or a simple parking permit.
