Madeira’s fascinating landscape is characterized by cliffs that rise dramatically from the sea. When explorers came upon the island of Madeira in about 1420, they thought its dark cliffs signaled the gates of hell. Nothing could have been further from the truth. The steep rise creates six unique climate zones, each with its own beautiful flora and fauna that contribute to the comparison of Madeira with Hawaii.
Visitors come for the natural beauty, and they stay to experience the climate, golf, hiking, deep sea fishing, diving, and old world charm of the two island and their cities and small towns. Madeira remains an uncrowned and authentic jewel of European charm, where a visitor can experience fine wines, mountain hiking, or city culture—or easily all three in one day.
Activity Highlights
1. Big game fishing for blue marlin and tuna
2. Diving at Garajau, a marine reserve, near Funchal
3. Dolphin and whale-watching, with 15 whale species nearby
4. golf, tennis, horseback-riding
5. Long days at long beaches
6. Hiking the Levadas, a series of water channels that descend the steep mountain
7. Spa treatments at natural mineral springs
8. The lodges where Madeira wine is produced
9. The Madeira Nature Reserve, considered a worldwide resource
10. Madeira Botanical Garden, known for its exuberant vegetation
The Basics
Madeira is a 1.5-hour flight from Lisbon or the Azores and it takes about 15 minutes to fly between the two islands in the group—Madeira and Porto Santo. The two islands are served by the Madeira International Airport and the Porto Santo Airport. The airport on Madeira is about a 30-minute drive to Funchal, the archipelago’s capital. Madeira remains a major stop-off for cruise ships and famous visitors in the past included George Bernard Shaw and Winston Churchill. Winter, Fall and spring today brings an influx of visitors from Northern Europe.
Madeira is famous for the wine that bears its name and, today, is produced in a number of varieties. Vineyards on the island were once managed by Jesuit priests. Madeira can be a dry table wine, a sweet dessert wine, or rich after-dinner drink. Its production here has been an important feature of social and economic life for centuries. Each September, festivals celebrate the grape harvest. Madeira’s capital city, Funchal, was once the center of wine culture. On the steep terrain, grapes are grown on tiered terraces.
From its earliest days as a producer of wine, the island has had a system of water channels, called levadas, which served to bring water to the vineyards. Today they also serve as a network of hiking paths that wind passed waterfalls and spectacular views.
Geography and Terrain
The Madeira archipelago is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens and Desertas. Madeira is a semi-tropical island rising from sea level to 6,000 feet. Its steep pitch gives the island six distinct climate zones. The Laurissilva Forest at the highest elevations is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The waters surrounding Madeira never dip below 64 degrees, so water sports are a year-round activity. Some 30 miles from Madeira is the smaller island of Porto Santo, famed for its long, open and unspoiled beaches, dunes, and vineyards. Porto Santo was the site where Portuguese explorers first landed after getting off course on an expedition to West Africa. Madeira was discovered some time later. Today it earns the nickname the “Golden Islands” from its beaches and features just a handful of hotels. Porto Santo’s beach is rumored to be one of the best in Europe, and its sands are famed for healing sore aches and pains. In fact, the much smaller island is almost the opposite of its bigger brother, Madeira, hilly, not mountainous, and desert-like, not lush and green. Porto Santo gets very little rain, perfect for a relaxing beach getaway any time of the year.
The Desertas and Selvagens Islands are southwest of Madeira. The Desertas Islands three small, volcanic islands, now designated as a nature reserve. They serve as the last refuge of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the rarest seal in the world. Another 180 miles from Madeira are the Selvagens Islands, two groups of small islands also serving as nature reserve for some of the rarest plants on the planet. Ideal nesting conditions make the islands a perfect bird sanctuary. Boat trips can be arranged, but human visitors numbers are limited by law.
Funchal, Madeira's Capital City
“The sea on one side, the mountains on the other, and between these two majestic splendours, the city smiles like a child sleeping, safe and warm, between its parents.” - Júlio Dinis
Funchal is a modern city that pays attention to its traditions with preserved churches, inviting museums, and regionally crafted wine. It’s a walkable city with a pleasant harbor and a cathedral more than 500 years old. Funchal is also perpetually sunny, but when the sun goes down, it’s easy to find entertainment and excellent food at the nightclubs, restaurants, and casinos. The black cliffs surrounding Funchal are dotted with world-class hotels. Many of the hotels have themed shows of Madeira Folklore, or events where visitors can hear Fado, a traditional, very Portuguese art form.