The coast of Madeira Island is rocky. There are only black sand or pebble beaches on the island. If you find a beach with yellow sand, it is artificial, crowded and has a stone breakwater nearby to protect from the strong Atlantic waves. In this case, there is no view of the sea from the beach. An alternative to beaches and the best places to swim are natural pools Pool formed by cooling lava. If you want to experience swimming surrounded by lava rocks, be prepared for low water temperatures. Even in summer, the Atlantic is cold in this part of the world.