Private Open Water Swimming Experience In Madeira Island

Swim Madeira deserve their 5 star review here. Mayra and João are exceptional people with vast knowledge of the island and the sea. It was a truly unique experience for us - we were 4 friends with mixed abilities which were catered for incredibly well. Mayra (the Ronaldo of the sea!) was born to be in the sea and it felt like a real adventure swimming with her. She is as good fun as she is an amazing swimmer. Thanks a milluon guys! Till next time..x

Amazing Swimcamp in Madeiras open waters. First priority of our host was always our security as swimmers. Eating and drinking (even during the swims) came next. Being our hosts in the beginning, Mayra and João are now- upon leaving this wonderful place- our friends, our swimming family. I'll come back, will bring my local swimmers!

The most spectacular experience!! I cannot recommend ‘Swim Madeira’ camp more highly. It surpassed all expectations. We were a group of 7 swimmers with mixed ability, however you would have never realised this as the team at Swim Madeira team catered to everyone’s needs expertly. Every day was magical, breathtaking scenery and such a personal service. We were taken to parts of Madeira you would not otherwise get to, and swam in crystal clear waters, teeming with fish of all kinds. We were lucky enough to sail beside a pod of beautiful Pilot whales on our last day on the return from the stunning Desertas Islands. Each day we were treated to delicious food and ate in high quality restaurants for lunch. Personal tuition was given to improve stroke and swimming style. We covered impressive distances, however always at a comfortable pace. Mayra Santos and her family are exceptional hosts, their respect and understanding of this precious environment was always top of the agenda. This was a truly wonderful holiday, and a unique experience, - all of the group came away feeling they had been part of something very special. Huge respect for Mayra, João, Nayan, and Natèrcia, for showing us how beautiful Madeira is. 🥰

I had a wonderful experience with Mayra. Her enthusiasm is infectious. And her kind nature put me at ease immediately. Her knowledge of the area is vast, and her knowledge of the sea and swimming is invaluable to somebody new to these waters. If you want a mixture of fun in the water and amazing sea life then Swimadeira is the "go to" guide. Overall, I felt safe, and I knew that Mayra was happy to help whenever needed.

Like you usually hear “the best or nothing”, and we definitely had de the best experience. I wouldn’t trade a swim with Mayra for anything else! 🐬🌊🏊🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Swim Madeira – more than a swim camp Swim Madeira is not just a swim camp – it’s an experience that stays with you, in your body and in your heart. I first came here in October 2025… and the moment I got home, I booked my next trip. And I already know there will be a third, a fourth, and a fifth. Over 8–9 days we swam around 30 km in the Atlantic, through some of the most breathtaking and varied environments I’ve ever experienced. Crystal clear water, dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, natural pools, remote islands… every day felt like a new chapter. The conditions change constantly – calm, choppy, currents, swell – and that’s part of what makes it so real. You don’t just swim, you learn to move with the ocean. And somehow, you always feel safe. That’s because of Mayra and João. They don’t just guide you – they see you. They challenge you, support you, laugh with you, and create an atmosphere where you can grow, both as a swimmer and as a person. Their knowledge, professionalism and presence in the water is exceptional. One of the most special things is the feeling of community. You arrive as strangers and leave as part of something bigger – an ocean family. Warmth, laughter, shared effort, long swims side by side… it’s rare and it’s real. For me, this journey was also personal. Coming back to swims that had challenged me before – and finding strength, rhythm and flow again. That moment when everything clicks… it happened here. Swimming in places like Ponta de São Lourenço, Garajau Nature Reserve, and even the protected Desertas Islands is simply unforgettable. And sometimes, if you’re lucky – dolphins join you. I came for the swimming. I stayed for the feeling. And I will keep coming back. 💙🌊

Mayra Santos, a very accomplished open water swimmer, provided in the water direction and coaching. Joao Duarte, a wonderful coach, provides support and instruction from a kayak. Both of them are so enthusiastic and fun to be around. They ensure an enjoyable experience in the water and on land.

Can’t thank Mayra enough for the most amazing swimming experiences this week. We visited two beautiful locations. Mayas knowledge of the local environment is remarkable. I felt safe every moment and she made the whole thing so fun. This was literally a bucket list experience but I plan to return next year. Also the training tips were so effective I really improved my stroke over the course of a couple of hours. Thank you Mayra and SwimMadeira

Seven Days, Two Islands, A Lifetime of Memories 🌊💙 I’ve just returned from one of the most beautiful and unforgettable weeks of my life – swimming around Madeira and Porto Santo with Swim Madeira. 💙 From the very first moment, everything was filled with warmth, kindness and joy. Mayra Santos and João are not just amazing coaches – they are heart-led people who truly teach love through swimming. Mayra’s energy and João’s calm wisdom create such a safe and inspiring space that you find yourself swimming further, smiling wider, and feeling completely alive. The swims themselves were pure magic: turquoise water, volcanic cliffs, colorful fish and that quiet sense of being part of something bigger. On Porto Santo, we swam along golden beaches and climbed to the lighthouse at Ilhéu de Cima — a place few people ever reach. It felt like time stopped. I came to Madeira to swim, but I left with so much more — friendship, peace, and

Thanks to Mayra and João of SWIMADEIRA I experienced a wonderful week of open water swimming around Madeira. First and foremost they cared about our security. Wellbeing, enough pausing, refueling and always a fine lunch. All this in an open, friendly and familiar atmosphere. All very good organised! Furthermore, and that was absfor free, I received very good tips for improving my freestyle. Plan to return in 2026.

I had an incredible time swimming in the open water in Madeira! Vinicius was our guide and he made the whole experience feel completely safe and relaxed — even without a wetsuit. The water was warm and crystal clear, and we could even spot some marine life while swimming. What really stood out to me was the excellent customer service. Even though Marya’s flights were canceled, they still managed to arrange another guide for me just in time before I flew back home. That flexibility and care really made a difference. If you’re visiting Madeira and want to try something unique and unforgettable, I absolutely recommend this experience to everyone — regardless of your swimming level. You’ll feel safe, supported, and totally in awe of the ocean. Thank you Vinicius and the team! 🌊💙

Fantastic swimming experience, hugging the waters edge, swimming past shoals of fish, sea bream and many other exotic colourful fish. Mayra is an experienced open water swimmer and you feel her love for the open water as she guides you through your swim. An exceptional experience in beautiful clear warm waters.

Fantastic experience to swim in a clear ocean with the fish, the location and exotic sea life was all around us as we hugged the shore to see all the beautiful sea life. Mayra is an excellent guide with bundles of energy and enthusiasm for open water swimming. Fantastic Location for swim

I had an amazing time swimming along the beautiful coastline from Praia da Ribeira de Natal with the expert guidance of Mayra. Everything was done to make the experience as enjoyable and safe as possible. Mayra was incredibly welcoming. I will definitely be returning for more!

I just spent an amazing week in Madeira. As a sea lover, I was eager to swim, so I reached out to Swimadeira for recommendations. Mayra, who answered the phone, made the whole experience joyful and fun from the first moment! She's a true bundle of energy, and swimming with her was so much fun and happy!!

The highlight of my holiday on Madeira was my swim experience with Mayra! I loved swimming along one of the island's stunning coasts with such an inspirational swimmer, knowing that I was safe all the way. Mayra constantly checked that I was OK. She even noticed before me that I was flagging towards the end and provided me with great drafting opportunities, getting me back to shore in an enjoyable and supported manner. Not only that, but Mayra's infectious enthusiasm and continuous encouragement made this a most memorable experience! Oh, and did I mention the dozens of photos and videos she provided me with afterwards? If you are an open water swimmer and are visiting Madeira, seeking out SwimMadeira is a must for you! Thanks Mayra - see you next time!

I just returned from a wonderful holiday in Madeira where my friend and I had the pleasure and honour of swimming with Mayra. The swim spots were simply stunning and we were able to relax and enjoy them with Mayra's skilled guidance and encouragement; she really is a uniquely warm, kind and fun person. Everything was taken care of including hot tea and snacks for after the swim. Later she sent us footage that she had taken during the swim (I really think she's a mermaid because she got pics from all angles and yet she always seemed to be right alongside!), these were fantastic for analyzing technique and lovely reminders of a truly joyful experience. I highly highly recommend Swim Madeira and cannot wait to go back from some more laughter and adventure!

This is a must for every swimmer visiting Madeira! Spectacular crystal clear waters and views :) Mayra as a professional marathon swimmer is a perfect fit for this experience. You can rely on her that you will be safe. Thank you very much again and see you next time :)

the trip was wonderful. Mayra and João are hosts who really keep an eye on everything and take care of every request immediately. Going swimming every day with people who love swimming as much as you do is simply indescribable. We were like a school of fish!

From my initial contact with Swim Maderia about doing private swim trips with them, the contact has been outstanding. Any query was answered promptly. We were a group of 7 friendx who did 3 swims with Swim Maderia. Every Swim was amazing, Mayra, Joan and Durate were fantastic, they were all very knowledgeable and safety in the water was clearly a priority for them. They were also very friendly and helpful and gave us all a wonderful experience. I would highly recommend this company

Oh WOW. What a week. Not only beautiful Madeira, with it’s clear water and amazing sealife, but most importantly meeting a fantastic couple, Mayra and Jaoa. I had not swum in ocean for many years and am now quite old, but I received the most amazing care and attention from this lovely duo. I was gently encouraged to improve my stroke, go a bit further, understand the water, be challenged, all in complete safety under their ever watchful eyes. I was also taken to other places on this beautiful island and the whole week was total bliss. If you are wondering if you should go – GO! Thank you Mayra and Joao. Unforgettable.

Such a unique and amazing experience to swim in a beautiful, natural aquarium guided by a legendary open water swimmer. I contacted Mayra and let her know the swim experience levels for myself, my wife and our two teens and she customized a half day open water swim experience so we all could enjoy a bit of this paradise. I thought I had swam in some beautiful places, but the clear waters, gorgeous cliff landscape and tropical fish of this São Lourenço area were the best by far. Mayra was a wonderful guide (along with João and our captain Rodolfo), cheery and positive and got lots of fantastic footage so we could remember forever. Not just a great value, but an amazing experience at any price! It was a pleasure! Thank you all!

Mayra is the best! She was communicative from start to finish, adapting to our desires and needs as open water swimmers visiting Madeira! She made our swim experience all the more magical (and oh my was it magical). Highly recommend for anyone who loves to swim and is visiting the area. My boyfriend and I did two half day swims at two different locations (both stunning), getting 1500-2500m in in about 1-2 hours. Mayra had water and snacks for us, took amazing video and photos, and provided warm tea and pastries at the finish. I couldn’t recommend it more- a highlight of our trip.

Mayra and João from SwimMadeira are the most welcoming and supportive people that you can imagine. It is really easy to just let go and experience the wonderful waters knowing that they are there, right beside you, making you feel safe and felling free to just experience it to the fullest. The best open water experience ever.

Fantastic little swimming adventure today, Mayra took me on a nice tour along the coast to a waterfall and a cave. Great workout and lots of interesting fish to see. At the end of the tour there was warm tea and honey cake. Plenty of great photos too.

Fantastic trip in the most beautiful ocean 🌊. Great sites and fun 🤩 to swim with the guides. João on the kayak and expert long distance swimmer Mayra made this experience unique and unforgettable.

An amazing experience! The whole team was so friendly, smiling and professional! Swam near to the rocks, int the amazing clear ocean, saw beautiful fishes and crabs. They took many underwater and other photos, videos, we laughed a lot, swam a lot, just a fantastic opportunity to make memories for life.

I took part in a swim adventure at Desertas. We travelled there from Madeira by motorised rib and swam for a couple of hours, by the side of the island and through some caves. Mayra and Joao were wonderful hosts and the pilot of the rib highly skilled. I was only non Portuguese speaker in the group but it didn’t matter, I was made very welcome among a very friendly group. I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended.

What a wonderful day swimming in the sea around Madeira with Swim Madeira. Mayra and Joao are the most amazing hosts who go out of their way to make everything perfect and tailored to your wishes. They are very safety conscious and I felt comfortable and confident in the water at all times. As a lakes, loughs and fresh water swimmer my experience in the sea was very limited but I now feel it is much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. And I have the pictures and videos (taken by Mayra and Joao) to prove it and to remind me of how much fun we had. Thank you for a wonderful and spectacular day getting to know the amazing sea and marine life around Madeira. Helen UK

Brilliant swimming experience! Madeira has so much coastline to explore, but even for an experience open water swimming, it can be intimidating if not dangerous to go exploring without a guide. Mayra planned a fantastic swim for us with all of Madeira’s beauty on show. It was safe, and well organised allowing me to focus on the enjoyment of the swim rather than getting lost or into danger. Whether you are an experienced swimmer, or a total novice, you are in great hands with SwimMadeira for your adventure!

I did the half-day open water swimming tour with Mayra, in Penedo do Sono, and it was an incredible experience. The water was absolutely crystal clear and swimming in that setting was unforgettable. We took a break for a snack in a deserted bay, which made the experience even more special. Mayra was always present, giving support, conveying safety and good disposition from beginning to end. She's super cheerful, well-held and has a contagious energy. I recommend this experience to anyone who likes the sea, regardless of the level of experience in open waters.

It was an amazing open water swimming experience. The swimming sites were very well chosen, they had a lot of attention to the best safety conditions and even managed to make this unique experience.

Relying on the company of @mayrasantosswimmer, the owner of a steady swimming experience, made swimming in open waters in the sea no longer a personal challenge to become a warm family gathering, in a natural reserve of Madeira! Super recommend ☀️ 📸 @mayrasantosswimmer @swimmadeira

Fantastic four-day swimming experience for myself and my thirteen-year-old son. All tailored to the latter. Definitely worth it!

I highly recommend it to any Cover interested in learning/improving swimming skills or simply experiencing swimming in open waters in a safe and enjoyable way.

I booked a half day open water swim to discover the coast of Sao Lourenço. I spent an unforgettable day with Mayra and Joao. Mayra, who is a very high-level swimmer, has always listened and adapted perfectly. I felt safe during the swim. Thanks to his advice, encouragement, and the beauty of the place, I experienced an incredible swim. And in the end, the reward of homemade tea and cookies were so well received;) Finally Mayra sent me high quality photos and videos from this morning that I keep looking at.

João and Mayra are dynamic and professional people in their careful work and with fair price. Swimming training is done with Mayra safely and with an unforgettable photo book! The Vacation Package was all as combined. I recommend! I'll be back! Vilson Thomas whats app 55 (51) 991447979

The swimade provides the athletes and not only open waters unique moments, have spectacular conditions. Mayra is the João They are quite concerned with everything, they do an excellent job. Certainly we will repeat