Madeira Island Discovery - Winter

Our trip begins in Funchal, Madeira's capital and our base for the next week. Funchal takes its name from 'funcho', meaning fennel and according to local legend, when Zarco landed here in 1419, he named this spot after the abundance of the herb he found. Visiting sailors used to call the city 'Little Lisbon' thanks to the grandeur of its cathedral and the buildings that line its harbour. For those arriving in time, our tour leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 7pm for a welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no other activities planned today, so you\ re free to arrive in Funchal at any time. If you\ d like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into Madeira International Airport (FNC), which is a 25-minute drive from our hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Tour Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Tonight, you might like to try one of the fresh seafood dishes that Madeira is known for, such as tuna with fried maize or black scabbard with fried banana, and for dessert why not sample local passionfruit pudding?

Today, we'll leave Funchal for a full-day tour of the north and northwest of the island. we'll drive along the dramatic corniche road along the north coast to the remote town of Porto Moniz, which was once only accessible via arduous hiking routes or by boat. Remember your swimsuit and towel today as we'll have the chance for a refreshing swim at the natural rock pools of Porto Moniz. From here we journey through the forested area of Chao dos Louros to the pretty town of Sao Vicente on the north coast. From here our next stop is Ribeira Brava where we can visit the local market housed in a 19th century building and showcasing not just local food produce but also regional crafts. As we make our way back towards Funchal we'll stop at the Quinta Grande viewpoint. The sweeping views cover both the valley and the Atlantic ocean. On clear days you can also see neighbouring islands. Our final visit is the village of Camara de Lobos, a colourful town known for its fishing heritage, the Churchill statue by the bay and as the believed first landing point of the Portuguese navigator who discovered the island in the 15th century. We'll also have a poncha tasting today. Poncha is the local drink made with aguardente de cana (a distilled spirit made from sugar cane juice), honey, sugar, and either orange or lemon juice and is a great way to finish our first full day of exploration.

We begin with a short drive to Camacha where we take a 3km (1.8mile) walk along the Levada Vale Paraiso. Madeira's levadas are a unique series of mini canals used for irrigation and several great walking trails on the island follow these channels. The trail offers beautiful natural landscapes with lush vegetation and a chance to see the island's diverse flora and fauna. We'll then take a short drive to another fabulous viewpoint, Cristo Rei. The viewpoint is named after the Christ the King Statue, standing at impressive 15-metres (49-foot) tall and inaugurated in 1927 to commemorate the area's turbulent past. After a morning of exploration, we'll have time to relax and soak up the history at Reid's Hotel, where Churchill used to stay in the 1950s. We'll enjoy a classic afternoon tea inside the hotel before returning to our own hotel in the late afternoon. Please note that there's a dress code for the afternoon tea, you should wear smart casual attire and avoid sportswear, shorts, flip-flops and trainers. Our visit will include time to see the gardens which include a range of subtropical plants and towering palm trees to frame the wonderful views of the ocean and Funchal Bay.

After breakfast we we'll walk to the marina and board a boat for a trip along the south coast. As if Madeira's unparalleled island landscapes weren't enough, the crystal-clear waters of the archipelago offer even more beauty. The sea, which in some areas reaches depths of 3000 metres/9842 feet, is home to a rich variety of creatures and, if we're lucky, we might spot whales or dolphins. Please note that in the event of poor weather, it might be necessary to cancel the boat trip or change the day of operation. This afternoon we begin a tour of Funchal, starting in the historic Old Town, where you can find a large selection of restaurants and bars and also a permanent outdoor art gallery displaying over 200 works of art by guest artists. We'll admire the colonial architecture outside Santiago Fort, the Regional Government Palace and the fort and palace of Sao Lourenco. We'll then stop at the Mercado dos Lavradores - a fascinating fruit market where you can find every fruit and vegetable imaginable. Another market well worth seeing is the fish market where the fresh catch of day will be on sale. Along the way, we'll have the chance to taste typical Madeiran food and drinks - at least three tastings are included with a few surprises! Next, we'll head to the Bordal Embroidery Factory, which produces some of the finest traditional embroidery and tapestries to be found on the island. We'll also visit a century-old confectionery factory, Funchal Cathedral and, to finish, the Madeira Wine Company for a wine tasting.

Each part of Madeira has its own character and today we'll explore the eastern side of the island. We'll drive up into the mountains to Pico do Arieiro (1,810 metres/5938 feet above sea level). From here, we'll take in the views of the rolling green hills and rocky mountain peaks. We'll continue through Laurissilva Forest to Ribeiro Frio for a walk along the levada to admire more of the unspoilt nature in this hilly part of the island. When people think of Madeira, many picture the traditional A-framed houses that are found in the northerly Santana area - our next stop. In Santana, we'll visit a local bakery to learn how to make traditional bread from Madeira. We'll also have time to visit the famous thatched triangular houses. After lunch, we'll head to Ponta de São Lourenco, which is the easternmost point on the island. if time permits, on the way, we'll stop at Miradouro Guindaste Faial. Then, before driving back to Funchal, we'll make one final stop for a 'poncha' tasting and to see how the traditional drink is made.

Today has been left free for you to further explore Funchal or there'll be the chance to go on a full-day excursion to the island of Porto Santo by ferry. The journey takes approximately two and a half hours each way. Porto Santo is a popular beach destination with the locals, and with its nine-kilometre/5.5-mile white sand beach stretching all the way from Vila Baleira to Ponta de Calheta, it's easy to understand why. Whilst on the island, you may also choose to visit the Columbus House Museum, which is the former home of the legendary explorer Christopher Columbus. If you'd prefer to stay closer to Funchal, there are some great swimming opportunities nearby including the Lido Bathing Complex, Ponta Gorda Complex, Formosa Beach and Barreirinha Beach, which are all easy to reach by public bus. We recommend a visit to Blandy's Wine Lodge to learn how the four modern-day Madeiran wines came about and to have a tasting of the famous export. For those who'd prefer something more active, there's the chance to walk around the lakes of Madeira. This full-day trip is around the Rabacal area and the moderate-grade walk covers 13 kilometres/8 miles taking five to six hours to complete. If you'd like to go for a walk, but fancy something a bit shorter, you could take the half-day Referta to Castelejo walk. This easy-grade walk covers around 6.5 kilometres/4 miles and takes two and a half to complete. Both walking options include your transfers and a local guide. If you're looking to take things at a more relaxed pace, you might like to take the cable car to Monte or to the Monte Botanical Gardens. The cable car to Monte takes approximately 15 minutes and then to the gardens, it's a further nine minutes each way. The gardens have been open since the 1960s and are one of Madeira's top tourist attractions. The huge gardens display over 2,500 exotic plants that provide an exuberance of colours and scents. You may decide to return from Monte to Livremento in Funchal (around 15-minute' walk from our hotel) by a ride on a traditional wicker toboggan. The downhill journey takes about 10 minutes along a 2-kilometre/1.2-mile course. The toboggan will be steered by two operators and can reach up to 48 kilometres/29.8 miles per hour. If you'd like to sample more of the local dishes, ask your tour leader about the Madeira Genuine Food Experience (subject to availability - needs pre-booking). The experience showcases a three-course menu with drinks, using products from the island and local plantation. Upon arrival, you'll be welcomed with a drink. Then, you'll visit the agricultural production to see how the products used to create the menu are grown and harvested. At the end of the dinner, you'll have the opportunity to taste a local digestif from Madeira.

This morning, we'll drive west along the sun-drenched southern coast to Madalena do Mar, surrounded by banana plantations. We plan to complete a 2-kilometre/1.2-mile easy walk along a levada through the plantation. Along the way, our tour leader will explain more about banana cultivation on the island and its importance to Madeira's economy. Continuing along the scenic drive, we'll reach Ponta do Pargo on the westernmost point of the island - an area less visited by tourists and defined by its dramatic cliffs where the escarpment falls into the sea. The lighthouse here, towering 290 metres/951 feet above the sea, perfects the atmospheric view. Most of the inhabitants of the charming village of Ponta do Pargo work in agriculture in the surrounding fields. After our visit, we'll drive to Calheta to visit a sugar cane mill for a rum tasting. We'll learn about the importance of sugar cane cultivation or 'white gold' and the production of local rum. On our way back to Funchal, we'll visit the Ethnographic Museum to learn more about Madeira's culture and traditions through the ages. Finally, we'll make a stop in Camara de Lobos, where we'll see a plaque and statue dedicated to Sir Winston Churchill who used to holiday on the island and would sit at this spot to paint the beautiful coastline scene. We'll also take a look at the street art here, created using recycled drink cans.

Our tour ends this morning at our hotel in Funchal. There are no activities planned today, so you\ re free to depart from Funchal at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day, luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you\ d like an airport transfer, you'll need to depart from Madeira International Airport (FNC), which is a 25-minute drive from our hotel.