Porto Santo has a charm all of its own. It's not just the endless stretch of golden sand that captures our hearts at first sight - it's the tranquillity, the simplicity and the feeling of time slowing down! For families, it’s nothing short of paradise: safe, welcoming and full of experiences that break away from the everyday. After diving into the crystal-clear waters and exploring the island’s main spots, we were ready for something different - an activity that would appeal to the children, combine nature and adventure and offer a fresh perspective on the island. But what else could we do in Porto Santo?
So, in conversation with some friends, an idea came up - one we knew the kids would absolutely love and remember for years to come. This time we were going horseback riding in Porto Santo! We were on our way in the van and we told the kids we had a surprise, but we never revealed what it was.
As we approached the Porto Santo Equestrian Centre, the questions began straight away: 'What is this, Dad?'.
We got out of the van and walked past the stables, where we immediately saw several horses - sheltered inside, others outside - and the excitement began to grow, clearly visible in the children's smiles. 'Horses! Can we ride?', they burst out. When they realised we were actually going for a ride, they were over the moon. It’s such a joy to witness such happiness in our children. 'Can I pet it?', 'Can I touch it?', they couldn't contain themselves next to the horses. But first we had to introduce ourselves to Mr Paulo Ornelas - who is responsible for the Porto Santo Equestrian Centre and for taking such good care of these magnificent animals - with whom we had arranged this horseback riding in Porto Santo.
After the friendly introductions, with a lot of friendliness, we set off on a quiet route for a ride of around sixty minutes, leading to a plateau boasting the best view over Porto Santo - as Paulo assured us. First step: finding the right helmets for everyone. In no time we were all geared up and eager to know which horse we would be riding.
'Can my son ride on his own?' I asked, already knowing how excited Francisco would be. At just five years old, he was eager for such an adventure. 'Let's do it! He can ride this smaller horse and I'll look after him," Paulo replied, with a smile that knew he was about to make a child very happy. You only had to look at Francisco's face when he mounted the horse to see just how excited he was: suddenly, he was up there on his own, reins in hand, not quite sure what to do, but beaming with delight!
'Vera, are you coming with Dad?' I asked my three-year-old daughter, who was still too young to go on her own. And so we set off on three horses - one for Margarida, one for Francisco and one for Vera and me. Paulo followed us on foot to lead the way, help Francisco and ensure everything proceeded safely.
The horses were immaculate: calm, docile and very well cared for. I think they also appreciated all the pats our children gave them throughout the ride, which must have been one of the best family activities in Porto Santo. At one point, Paulo let go of the reins of Francisco's horse, which then began to lead the way ahead of us on its own. I remember the look on his face at that moment of "freedom", looking back as if to say: "Dad, I'm really riding alone!". And to think I'd never been on a horse before in my life!
We reached the promised plateau, in the Cabeço da Ponta area, and Paulo was absolutely right. "What a sight!" I said. The Ilhéu da Cal in the background, with sunlight glinting off the crystal-clear water, pale blue with golden sandy hues, was simply breathtaking. Directly ahead to the south stretched the entire Porto Santo beach, with the hotels, the Old Pier and the marina to the east. The four of us sat astride our horses, enjoying the view as Paulo recounted intriguing stories about the island.
After snapping several good pictures and enjoying much laughter inspired by the kids’ happiness, we made the journey back to the racecourse, where we dismounted, retrieved our things and concluded our horseback riding in Porto Santo. There are family activities that stay with you forever - this was undoubtedly one of them!
