Cristiano Ronaldo has asked his girlfriend supermodel Irina Shayk to marry him nex tJune 12, 2012 on the island of Porto Santo. This begs the question: where is Porto Santo…

(TRAVPR.COM) USA - October 13th, 2011 - Here is the answer.

Cristiano is planning a luxury hotel and investment property project on the Portuguese island of Porto Santo, Madeira’s little-known sister island that through infrastructure investment and planned growth has emerged as the best little beach in Europe. Porto Santo is a dry crescent with a six-mile long beach on its central bay. The light yellow sand is rich in magnetic rock and that same sand has a healing power.

The clear waters of the bay are always warm with no undertow. Tiny islands cap either end of the long beach and the rest is backed by dunes with beach grass and cactus flowers. An occasional café is off of the beach, but for the most part, the ample sands turn into fields where grapes are grown for the local wine. The downtown is charming and historic with a 17th century museum dedicated to Columbus (he lived on the island) and a central square from the 16th century. About four main eateries and a few boutiques flank the square. But, even in mid-summer, there is a sleepy, relaxed feel to Porto Santo. The best way to explore the uninhabited interior of the island is on foot, as the hills rise and fall along easy-to-hike trials. The north coast is all rocky cliff, with the small park at Fonte de Areia notable as a picnic spot and a place to admire its windblown sandy cliffs. And, all four of the island’s high peaks are an easy hike.

Porto Santo Golf Course, designed by Severiano Ballesteros, is set to become the largest course in the whole archipelago. The first phase of building boasts two nine-hole courses (with a total par of 72), another set of 9 par-3 holes and a Pitch and Putt course, with floodlighting. The second phase will include another 18-hole course that will leave this golden island with the region’s largest golf course and one of the best in Portugal.

It is located in the area to the north of Pico Ana Ferreira, linking the area planned for the construction of eight tennis courts to the Porto Santo Horse Riding Center, offering three areas of sport and leisure: golf, tennis and horse-riding. With a mean temperature of between 65-75 degrees the sea around Porto Santo is inviting year-round.

The island is also an ideal destination for water sport aficionados, such as sailing, surfing, kitesurfing, canoeing, sport fishing, snorkeling and diving. One can see marine life just south of Porto de Abrigo, where the wreck of the "O Madeirense" is found.

So for a beach without high-rises, a laid-back feel, healing sands, and even bits of china washing up on shore from shipwrecks, check out Porto Santo. Yes, it has golf, tennis, new hotels and carting, but once you see the beach… you won’t want to go anywhere else.

How do you get there? Azores Express SATA has a weekly flight to Madeira and Porto Santo from Boston that connects via the Azores. Azores Express, a U.S.-based member of the SATA Group, offers direct flights on wide body A310 aircraft to São Miguel, the main island in the Azores archipelago. Connecting flights from São Miguel are offered to Lisbon and the island of Madeira. Azores Express has connected New England with the Azores and mainland Portugal for more than 25 years.

For more information and reservations, contact Azores Express at 800-762-9995, www.sata.ptt

###