The Madeira archipelago is an autonomous region of Portugal, but is off the coast of Morocco, in the North Atlantic Ocean.
About
Best period
The weather is good in Madeira throughout the year
The weather is good all year long in Funchal
On average, the hottest months in Funchal are July, August, September and October
The cities with the best climate are Funchal, Porto Santo, Calcheta, Porto Moniz, Santa Cruz (Madeira), Santana (Madeira), ARCO DA CALHETA, Lobos, Canico and Machico, with a good time at least 11 months a year
Tourist Attractions
At the north-western peak of the island is Porto Moniz, a destination known for its tasty sugar cane and honey cake.Beyond only bakeries, you will want to check the natural basins in the area.These natural pools were formed by cooling the volcanic lava, and the water from them comes from the sea.The salt water flows into and from the pool, which means you always swim in fresh liquid.Although the pools are natural, there are facilities like cabinets and cabinets you can use when visiting.
Above the city of Funchal is the Botanical Garden in Madeira.When you finish exploring these gardens, you don't need to go back on your own.Instead, you can experience Monte Toboggan Run.This form of transport has been widely used by aristocrats since the middle of the 19th century.From above, you will climb into a two-seater wicker basket, sliding on the mountain on wooden runners.Pushing and guiding the basket will be two men who wear the traditional completely white costume, straw hat and wearing rubber shoes that serve as brakes!
More than 890,000 years ago, Sao Vicente caves formed as a result of a volcanic rash.The outside of the lava flow has cooled quickly, while the interior lasted longer.This has created countless lava tubes, many of which have been open to the public in the 90s.The price of admission allows you to walk through these incredible underground caverns and also includes a visit to the Volcano Center.This is an excellent collection of exhibits that explain more about the volcanic activity and the geological formation of the incredible landscape in Madeira.
If you are looking for that epic vision, do not look further from Cabo Girao.This is one of the highest ocean rocks in the world and offers a truly spectacular point of view.To add to the already spectacular view from the rock, there is now a glass bridge.This means you can see through the floor and directly to the water below.This creates an unmatched experience and is what makes Cabo Girao one of the most popular tourist attractions in Madeira.Cabo Girao is located on the southern coast of the island, right outside Funchal.
Jardim Do Monte Palace or Monte Palace Tropical Gardens are the gardens found outside the former hotel called Monte Palace.The garden houses over 100,000 species of plants, which would be impressive on its own.However, what differentiates these tropical gardens is the collection of so-called living fossils known as cicades.There are also a lot of birds that free the property, including swans, ducks, geese and peacocks.You will also find a museum with several floors dedicated to everyone, from minerals from all over the world to African sculpture.This means that the Monte Palace tropical garden is attractive on both sunny and rainy days.
One of the top attractions in Funchal is the Madeira Botanical Garden.Known by the locals as Jardim Botânico da Madeira, the gardens are located only a mile from the city center and crowned above the city.This means you will be able to enjoy spectacular views while exploring the over 2,000 plants that fill the gardens on the hill.Many of the plants are indigenous, but there is a section reserved for rare foreign plants.The Botanical Garden also houses the parrot park, where you will have the chance to see an impressive collection of tropical and colorful birds.
Cabo Girao can be a spectacular point of view, but it is far from being the only in Madeira.Miradorou is the Portuguese word for the point of view, and that's exactly what you will find at Pico Do Arieiro.The mountain is the third highest in Madeira and can be easily accessed by car or along a hiking path that lasts about two or three hours until completion.In winter, Pico Do Arieiro is one of the few places where you can find snow on the island.The best of all, the summit offers really amazing views on the Curral Das Freiras and the bottom of the valley below.
In Madeira, the levades are a system of aqueducts, many of whom dates from the fifteenth century.Levades play a critical role in providing local farms with water needed for agriculture.One of the best ways to explore Madeira is on one of the many ways of walking these levades.Levada walks will take you along this system of open channels and can be found both in the northern and most dry regions in the south.If you are in the area, do not miss the very popular walking levada in Rabaçal.This walk is only 10 km long, passes three levada and allows you to see more than two dozen waterfalls along the road.
Along the eastern peak of Madeira is Ponta de Sa Lourenco, a picturesque peninsula that is now a natural reserve.Unlike a large part of the island, Ponta de Sa Lourenco is arid and wind, with amazing volcanic rock formations.This is the place to be explored if you are excited about incredible natural landscapes.Hiking is the most popular way to move and there is no lack of roads.Consider a whole day trip that takes you up and down the stone steps, to the panoramic spots overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and, finally, the black sandy beach called Prainha.
The most northern island in the Madeira archipelago is Porto Santo.This island is widely known for its spectacular beaches, which extend over 10 km (6 miles).Porto Santo is not as developed as Madeira, which means there are several coastal walks and hiking for nature lovers.Make sure you explore the walk around Pico da Facho, which is the highest view on the island, for amazing views.Porto Santa also offers a lot of history, the most popular landmark being the famous Cristofor Columbus House, which is also a museum.Columbus lived and even married Porto Santo, so there are many streets and destinations that are still named.
