Madeira

Madeira is an archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, southwest of the Portuguese coast, and less than 2 hours by plane from Lisbon. Of volcanic origin, it has natural beauty and exotic endemic vegetation, and is home to the largest laurel forest in the world. The island of Porto Santo has wonderful beaches of golden sand.

It has a mild Mediterranean climate all year round and is ideal for a variety of activities such as levada walks and water sports like sailing, diving and phishing.

Funchal, the capital, is a modern and cosmopolitan city with good hotels and restaurants. It is worth visiting the Lavradores Market, to get to know the typical products of the region, take the cable car up to Monte and visit the Botanical Garden, where you can find rare species of plants and exotic birds. Essential to go swim in the natural pools of Seixal, go down the cable car to have lunch at Fajã dos Padres, and have tea at Belmond Reid’s Palace Madeira Hotel with a superb view over the sea.

Madeira has been considered three times the “Best Island Destination in the World” by the World Travel Awards.