water, adrenaline and the east side of the island
Opened in 2005, the park filled a gap that Madeira didn't have: a place designed purely for water entertainment, without the volcanic landscape doing the heavy lifting. AquaParque de Santa Cruz has capacity for over a thousand people and sits in the municipality of Santa Cruz, on the eastern coast of the island, a short distance from the airport.
The range covers both the thrill-seekers and those who'd rather float and let the current take them. On the more intense side you'll find five slides, four fast lanes, a rapids ride and the Black Hole, a closed tube in total darkness where the only point of reference is speed. On the opposite end, there's a lazy river, a leisure pool and Aqualândia, designed for the youngest visitors.
The park has an events area and birthday party facilities, which explains the constant presence of groups throughout the summer season. One detail worth noting from the official website: AquaParque maintains an Environmental Programme focused on recovery and return to nature, an unusual dimension for this type of facility.
Santa Cruz is a few minutes from Funchal airport, which makes this a stop that's easy to slot into the beginning or end of a stay without crossing half the island.
what you'll find
- black hole: total darkness, high-speed descent
- aqualândia with its own pool for the youngest
- lazy river and rapids in the same park
- active environmental programme, unusual for a water park
