EN 2008 madeira and porto santo guide . contents 02 welcome to madeira - flower festival - location and climate - atlantic festival - discover an enchanted island! - tour of madeira in classic cars - funchal - funchal jazz festival - madeira wine rally 08 nature - wine festival - gardens - columbus festival - laurissilva forest - new year celebrations - nature reserves 44 shopping 18 walks and levadas 46 sports 20 wellness 58 golf 22 gastronomy 62 attractions you must not miss 24 madeira wine 72 porto santo 26 culture - wellness at porto santo - monuments - how to get to porto santo - museums - what to see - what to do 36 animation - sports - madeira islands walking festival - madeira orienteering festival 84 useful information - carnival - madeira island golf open 87 tourist offices madeira and porto santo guide .1 welcome to madeira 2. madeira and porto santo guide In fact, you don’t have to travel a long way to find the cacy. For more energetic visitors there is scuba-diving, ideal holiday destination. There are a thousand and surfing, windsurfing or jet-skiing. one reasons for visiting Madeira! Romantics may prefer a wonderful sailboat trip along the In addition to its stunning scenery and luxuriant moun- coast to enjoy the sunset. tains, this archipelago also includes a mild climate all year round, a warm welcome and peace, safety and se- But to make this your dream holiday, you really must spend curity among its charms. some time on the paradisiacal island of Porto Santo 40 km from Madeira, only 15 minutes by plane or 2h30 on the ferry. The “golden island” is blessed with 9 km of To really get to know Madeira, climb to the top of a fine, unpolluted sand washed by a clear, calm sea - all mountain and enjoy fantastic, breathtaking views or you need for a perfect stay. follow the trails and paths in the Laurissilva Forest along more than 1,400 km of levadas in a unique encounter Happiness is so near! with the island’s soul. Feel the energy flowing from the cosmopolitan ambi- ance of Funchal’s streets and buy some souvenirs, like the famous embroidery, Madeira wine or wickerwork. Try taking a tour around the island, stopping off on the way to admire the landscape or enjoy a traditional deli- madeira and porto santo guide .3 location and climate Madeira and Porto Santo and the uninhabited Selvagens and Desertas Islands make up the Madeira Archipelago, which was discovered by the Portuguese in 1418. The archipelago is in the Atlantic Ocean, 500 km from the coast of Africa and 1,000 km from Europe. It’s only a 90-minute flight from Lisbon. Madeira has an area of 741 km2, and is 57 km in length and 22 km in width. Thanks to their excellent geographical location and moun- tainous relief, these islands have surprisingly balmy weath- er, with moderate humidity and pleasant average temper- atures of 25ºC in the summer and 17ºC in the winter. The sea temperature is also very mild, thanks to the in- fluence of the warm Gulf Stream, averaging 22ºC in the summer and 18ºC in the winter. 4. madeira and porto santo guide discover an enchanted island! Brava before going up to Encumeada on a road full of belvederes from which you can see the surrounding Although it is small, Madeira is rich in majestic scenery mountain peaks. and rare beauty. Go off and explore the charms and de- lights or this floating garden! If you like, go down to the sunny coast of Ponta do Sol and Calheta, with their tempting bathing areas. Surfers The main places to visit in the Madeira Islands are Funchal, will find the best waves in Europe at the picturesque the capital of the archipelago, Caniço, the east coast (San- beaches of Jardim and Paul do Mar. ta Cruz and Machico), the west coast (Câmara de Lobos, Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol and Calheta), the north coast If you drive up to Paul da Serra, the largest plateau in Ma- (Porto Moniz; São Vicente and Santana) and Porto Santo. deira, stop to take in the fine view of the northern and southern slopes. Then go down to Porto Moniz and re- Going west from Funchal you will come to Câmara de Lo- fresh yourself with a swim in the natural pools formed in bos, a typical fishing town, andCabo Girão, the highest sea the lava that once flowed down to the ocean. cliff in Europe and the second highest in the world (580 m). Nearby is the curious village of Curral das Freiras. Our journey continues to São Vicente, on a road scattered with waterfalls, where the majestic green of the hillsides It is located in a deep valley and has one of the island’s contrasts with the crystalline blue of the sea. most spectacular landscapes, where dizzying views (over 500 meters high, from its belvedere- Eira do Serrado) will When you get to São Vicente visit the caves and the vol- take your breath away. cano centre and the Museum Centre – Lime Route or Continuing westward, visit the pleasant town of Ribeira simply take a stroll through the town’s pleasant streets. madeira and porto santo guide .5 From here you can also go back up to Encumeada, de- Islands and the fabulous view of the bay from the São lighting your senses with the luxuriant vegetation of the Gonçalo Belvedere. Laurissilva “laurel Forest “ or go on to Santana, discover- ing small belvederes on the way. Breathe in the countless views on this island of such out- standing natural beauty! In Santana you must visit the typical A - framed thatched roof houses, the theme park and Queimadas, which is funchal the starting point for excellent walks like Caldeirão Verde. The descent to Faial is a pleasant surprise thanks to the The capital of the archipelago is on the south coast of impressive beauty of the surrounding mountains. Madeira in a beautiful bay washed by the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by green mountains and deep valleys. When you get to Faial you can choose between Machico or a visit the island’s interior, taking the road to Ribeiro Frio, Funchal was erected to city on 21 August 1508 and is Poiso and Pico do Areeiro. This peak is the island’s third now the main centre for trade, tourism and culture in highest point (1,818 m) and here we can find beautiful rock the whole archipelago. formations reaching into the sky like timeless statues. Explore this traditional but cosmopolitan city, strolling through its charming streets lined with pretty, flower- If you choose to go to Machico, be sure to visit Caniçal and decked houses. Ponta de São Lourenço, the island’s easternmost point. On the old road back to Funchal, at Ponta de Garajau, Walk around its old, carefully restored squares with their Caniço, make sure to stop and look out at the Desertas traditional Portuguese paving and typical Madeiran ar- 6. madeira and porto santo guide The late afternoon is ideal for walking along the seaside promenades. If you enjoy panoramic views, don’t miss the chance of an unforgettable trip on a cable car. The cable cars between Funchal and Monte and between the Botanical Garden and Babosas (Monte) are the fast- est way to get there while offering some spectacular scenery. chitecture. Take in the city’s museums and monuments and its art galleries with collections of works by Portu- Whatever you choose, make the most of the chance to guese and foreign artists. see a new world where tranquillity and a warm welcome make the difference. Take a walk round Funchal’s Marina and watch the sail- boats and, further on, the cruise ships that stop off at Fun- chal from all over the world. You can also walk round in of the city’s gardens and look at the exotic, carefully tended multi-coloured flowers. If you would like to see the Madeiran coast from a differ- ent angle and enjoy some fresh sea air at the same time, go on a trip in a yacht or catamaran, or journey back in time on a replica of Christopher Columbus’s ship. madeira and porto santo guide .7 nature 8. madeira and porto santo guide Dive in to the fascination of the deep blue sea in con- gardens trast with the emerald green of the islands’ moun- tains! This is Madeira, an island whose beauty is a gift botanical garden from mother nature. In its more than 35,000 m2 of flower beds we find in ex- cess of 2,000 exotic plants from all over the world living One of Madeira’s greatest tourist attractions is its varied, and flowering here as happily as in their original habitat. luxuriant vegetation, with a combination of tropical In view of the growing loss of biodiversity and habitats worldwide, this garden has become a focus of science and Mediterranean characteristics resulting in a mosaic and culture aimed at preserving endangered plants. in different shades of green. Whether you are a nature lover, botanist or tourist, if you want to take a world tour of the plant kingdom, visit the Madeira is also famous for the harmonious forms and natural history museum the herbarium. You will also contrasting colours of its countless exotic plants from al- encounter a fine collection of exotic birds within Loiros most all over the world, which seem so at home here. Garden; a visit here is much like a safari through a world Thanks to the exceptional climate, you can admire flow- full of colourful parrots.