14 Nights Liveaway: Madeira (2024)

Discover the eastern landscapes of Madeira ideal for lovers of natural landscapes. Ascend to Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest peak, and admire the famous Laurissilva Forest, which dates back to prehistoric times. Admire some of Madeira’s emblematic strawroof houses, pass pretty villages and get stunning seascape views. Enjoy lunch in the colourful town of Santana, characterized by its small, thatched triangular houses. Visit Machico, where you can look over the bay and the golden sandy beach.

The West Coast of Madeira is full of spectacular lookouts, traditional fishing villages, and natural wonders. You will have the opportunity to observe some of the most important landmarks on the Island. We will stop in Câmara de Lobos fishing village and in Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe. We will pass through the plateau of Paúl da Serra and reach one of the most popular villages in Madeira: Porto Moniz. Finally, we visit the beautiful villages of Seixal and São Vicente with several viewpoints along the way.

Our trip begins with a jaw-dropping cable car ride down a cliff face to an organic plantation by the sea. From here we head up over the middle of the island to a small wine museum on the north coast. After lunch at a restaurant with a breathtaking view of the northeast shore, we will stop at some viewpoints to marvel at the views of the sea and surrounding mountains. We’ll make a final stop at Madeira’s rum distillery to see the antique equipment still in use today to produce a fine local example of the spirit which is a key ingredient in the local cocktail “Poncha”.

Madeira’s terrain, which ranges from sea level to 1,862m, makes it a paradise for hikers, offering easy access to a variety of  landscapes, including mountain peaks with stunning Atlantic views, lush forests, and rugged coastal paths. Levadas, developed as irrigation systems, are maintenance paths that run beside mini-canals and provide 2,500km of walking trails dating back to the 16th century. Meanwhile, Veredas are marked hiking trails in the island’s mountainous regions, providing breathtaking views but often requiring more advanced hiking skills.

Eira do Serrado viewpoint is located at 1094m above sea level, and from here you can admire the three highest mountains of Madeira, as well as the valley known as the Nun’s Valley. Then, we’ll explore the fishing village Câmara de Lobos, where you’ll see traditional fishing boats called xavelhas, as well as taste some locally made drinks.

Dip into Madeira’s thriving culinary scene on this wine and food tour. Start with a visit to Blandy Wine Lodge, where we’ll sample a number of wines ranging from 5-15 years old. Next, visit the oldest cookie factory in Madeira (“Fábrica Santo António), before finishing with a typical pork meat sandwich or black scabbard fish with local passion fruit juice

This beautiful garden has plants and trees from all over the world. The Garden’s owner, Mr Berardo, is a great art collector, and part of his collection can be admired along with the gardens. We’ll head to the gardens using one of Madeira’s panoramic cable cars, and on the way down we’ll experience the unique ‘wicker basket toboggan ride, which will be great fun for all.

Enjoy a 3-hour sail aboard a ship that is a replica of the Christopher Columbus flagship. Enjoy a boat trip with a sense of adventure, and feel what it was like when the island was discovered 500 years ago. Experience history while at the same time enjoying the breathtaking views of Madeira´s south coast. It’ll be possible to see dolphins, whales, turtles, and more wildlife native to the Madeira archipelago. The tour is mainly along the coast, though the boat can sail further out to the southeast or southwest depending on the water conditions.

Stray from the beaten path on a 4×4 Jeep and see a side of Madeira that’s inaccessible to traditional tour vehicles. Admire some of the most breathtaking viewpoints on the island, such as Miradouro do Ranco, which is next to a private ‘cable car’ station that farmers use to access their remote planting terraces.

We’ll first have a brief exploration of the caves of Sao Vicente before visiting a local apiary run by a passionate beekeeper who is keeping his family tradition alive. Donning the requisite “bee suits”, we will have the chance to visit the hives and understand the process of how honey is created in an entirely organic way.

We drive through one of the longest tunnels on the island and up some twisty narrow roads for a visit to the Quinta do Barbusano winery. Enjoying spectacular views over the valley, we will enjoy a cross sampling of 6 different wines accompanied by a traditional local lunch called ‘Espetada’ – beef skewered on branches of laurel and grilled over the embers of an open fire

Visit the famous Reid’s Palace, a 19thcentury hotel and the most famous and most iconic on the island. It was once visited by such notable personalities as Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw and the Empress of Austria. After a visit to the incredible gardens, enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with scones, finger sandwiches and other delights

Enjoy the magnificent Atlantic Ocean and see the island in a unique way. Madeira offers the ideal conditions for this water sport, as water temperature shifts between 18 and 20C throughout the whole year. Admire one of the natural reserves of Madeira, the perfect refuge for a number of marine species

A trip to a Herbal Tea Farm in Funchal, with over 100 years of history, offers visitors an educational experience on the organic production of herbal teas. The tour includes a guide to explain the cultivation, harvesting, drying, and packaging processes. Guests can enjoy a tasting session of aromatic herbs, homemade cakes, and sweets. The visit provides a chance to learn about the variety of herbs grown at the farm, as well as the opportunity to choose and sample the desired infusions.