The Natural Wonders of Madeira

SANTA CRUZ - Santa Cruz ("Holy Cross") is a small city on the east coast of Madeira. It’s known for the pebbly Praia das Palmeiras beach and its seafront promenade, lined with palm trees and restaurants. The city’s 16th-century buildings include the richly decorated São Salvador church and the nearby town hall. Quinta do Revoredo, a 19th-century mansion, is now a cultural center with landscaped gardens. MACHICO GUIDED TOUR - The city's elegant bay invites you to take a pleasant stroll along the crystal-clear sea that bathes the entire municipality. In addition, this municipality, marked by unique cultural traditions, has several viewpoints, historical monuments, beaches and green areas. PORTO DA CRUZ - Porto da Cruz is a typical small port town, formerly an important commercial port bustling with life, now a quiet and peaceful town with only a few boats moored in the port. Currently, ex libris Porto da Cruz is a sugar cane factory.  SANTANA - Santana is on the north coast of Madeira. It’s known for its Casas Típicas de Santana, traditional stone houses with steep, triangular-shaped thatched roofs. Examples of the houses can also be seen at the Madeira Theme Park, which has exhibits on the island’s history, culture and traditions. The white, baroque-style Igreja de Santana church has a gilded altarpiece.  POISO - Poiso in an area at 400 meters altitude.  PICO DO ARIEIRO - Pico do Arieiro, at 1818 metres high is a mountain located on Madeira, the third highest on the island. Situated within the mountainous interior of the island roughly halfway between the northern and southern coasts.  It is one of the most popular sunrise spots and each morning crowds gather to watch the sun break through the thick sea of clouds that create an otherwordly atmosphere.     

PICO DOS BARCELOS - Located in the parish of Santo António, at an altitude of 355 metres, the Pico dos Barcelos Viewpoint offers a panoramic view over Funchal Bay.   CABO GIRAO - With an altitude of 580 metres, Cabo Girão is the highest cape in Europe. Known for its suspended glass platform with an unparalleled panoramic view. VALLEY OF THE NUNS - The story goes that the nuns of the convent of Santa Clara took refuge on the island, in the heart of a valley that was difficult for the pirates to reach: the now named Valley of the Nuns, sometimes translated as Valley of the Sisters.  CAMARA DE LOBOS - Câmara de Lobos is a fishing village with its typical colourful boats, located in the central western area of ​​Madeira.  The town is surrounded by vineyards and is known for its excellent Madeira wine as well as for being the birthplace of “poncha”, a mixture of lemon juice, brandy and honey. Its bucolic bay is one of the favourite places of painters since Sir Winston Churchill painted it in 1950 during his vacation.  

CANICAL - SCENIC HIKE - This easternmost point of Madeira is stunning in terms of scenery, with amazing cliff and sea views - with great rock strata and formations to see.   The path is flat and offers magnificent views over Caniçal, a beautiful fishing village that stood out until 1982 for being the center of the whaling industry.  

TROPICAL GARDEN MONTE - One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. This location should be your priority if you love nature, gardens, breathtaking views, art and history.  You can admire more than 100,000 plant species from across the globe on a stroll around Monte Palace's Tropical Gardens, including azaleas, heathers and ferns. Amongst the flora and fauna is a fascinating collection of cycads - a type of seeded plant which is so old they are actually considered living fossils.  It is a multi-level garden with exotic trees and flowers, ponds, African sculptures and a mineral museum. CABLE CAR RIDE - The steep journey is approximately 3,200 metres long, climbing up a height of 560 metres. The line's speed can be regulated up to 5.0 m/s, which means the trip can be made in 11 minutes. Normally, however, the journey takes 15 minutes. Funchal Cable Car also uses the safest running and operational methods.   MARKET HALL - The Mercado dos Lavradores is a fruit, vegetable, flower and fish market in Funchal. The building was designed by Edmundo Tavares and opened on 24 November 1940. The facade, main entrance and fish market contain traditional Azulejo depicting regional themes.

ESTREITO - WINE HARVEST FESTIVAL - Every year during the first two weeks of September, while the harvest throughout the island is taking place, Madeira celebrates its Wine Festival. There is a lot happening during the festival, as locals and tourists mix in a wonderful celebration of the island's famous and precious wine!  Do not forget, Madeira is an island with the name of a Wine and a Wine with the name of an Island.

SANTO DA SERRA - FARMERS MARKET - Very popular amongst locals, in this market everything is local, where quality and flavour are trademarks and prices very good. Mingle with the locals; let yourself be carried by your senses. Additionally, at Santo da Serra market, you may get to sample unique fruits, traditional cakes, homemade liquors, and the local speciality, garlic bread known as “bolo do caco”, a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the cultural and culinary highlights of the region.