The incredible lava sea pools that are just four hours from the UK

BRIT holidaymakers can visit some incredible lava sea pools just a few hours from the UK.

The volcanic island of Madeira is best known for its huge sprawling mountains and luscious green landscapes, but it’s also home to sea lava pools.

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Filled by the ocean’s tide, the pools were formed thousands of years ago from the lava flow of a now-extinct volcano.

Holidaymakers who want to take a dip in the lava pools will need to head to Porto Moniz, a small finishing village on the north coast of the island.

There are two different lava pools in Porto Moniz, the natural pools and the western pools.

Known as the Piscinas Naturais Velhas, the lava pools have been attracting more and more holidaymakers in recent years.

The western pools have been transformed into a lido complex complete with on-duty lifeguards.

There, visitors will also find a children’s pool, a playground, changing rooms, and a bar on site too.

Entry into the western pools costs €1.50 (£1.29), and parasols and sunloungers can be hired for an additional fee.

Meanwhile, the natural pools are free to enter but have far fewer facilities.

Despite their differences, both pools have panoramic views over the coast.

Holidaymakers have been raving about the natural swimming pools on TripAdvisor.

One person commented: “The pools are beautiful with great views, they’re very refreshing so be prepared for the cold.

“My 12-year-old son and I swam around the various sections of the walls and it was lovely, I would definitely recommend it.”

Another person added: “A gem of an attraction, which is free and unique.”

Both Ryanair and easyJet operate direct flights from the UK to Maderia with a flight time of 3 hours and 40 minutes.

In recent years, travel experts and holidaymakers have compared Madeira to Hawaii.

Sun Online Travel recently visited Madeira – here is what you can expect from a holiday.

And they aren’t the only interesting natural sites holidaymakers can see in Europe, tourists can also visit pink sandy beaches across Europe.

Meanwhile, a beach in the Canary Islands even has sand that looks like popcorn, due to the shape of the coral.

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