Day 1 in Funchal

Welcome to Madeira! Upon arrival, you will go through customs and immigration. Should you opt to purchase a transfer to your hotel; a representative will be waiting for you as you exit immigration. Make your way to Funchal and arrive at your hotel. Check in and do not give in to jet lag! There is so much for you to see and do!

Start at the Praca da Autonomia, one of the largest squares in the Funchal City Center. Note that a lot of city buses will start their routes from an area southwest of the Praca. Take some time to visit the local farmers` market, the Mercado dos Lavradores, where you can see all the fruit and vegetable vendors from around the island selling their fresh produce. Eat something here or go to the Madeira Story Centre and enjoy an authentic Madeiran lunch. Afterwards, visit the museum below the rooftop restaurant and learn about the history of this beautiful island. There is a well-stocked handicrafts store there where you can buy local souvenirs; you can also buy souvenirs in the adjacent Zona Velha neighborhood. If you have the time, make a choice to visit either the Madeira Wine Institute or the Funchal City Hall. The latter destination includes a tour which allows you to climb the clock tower and experience gorgeous views of Funchal. Tour the Capela de Santo Antonio da Mouraria, and if you are in town on an evening during the week, you might be able to experience Mass at the Se Catedral. Keep in mind that the church opens in the evenings for worship so you must dress respectfully and act subdued as you would at church back home. Return to your accommodations at the end of the day.

Day 2 in Funchal

Start the morning by touring the Palacio de Sao Lourenco, the oldest fortress on Madeira Island. Then take a stroll through Santa Catarina Park, people-watch, and take pictures of the beautiful black and white swans. Also in Santa Catarina Park is a statue dedicated to Christopher Columbus, the legendary explorer who lived part of his life in Madeira, making his fortune here growing sugar cane. Along the water, there is an islet called Pontinha which is its very own (self-declared) micronation! You will have to view this from a distance, since it is a private residence.

Walking away from Pontinha, take the Madeira Cable Car up to Monte and tour the Church of Our Lady of Monte and the adjacent Monte Palace Tropical Garden. Take a wicker toboggan ride down Monte to Livramento, and then take a taxi or other transportation to Santo Antonio. There are two key points of interest you should visit in this neighborhood (the same neighborhood where soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo grew up): the Igreja de Santo Antonio and the Fortaleza de Sao Joao Baptista do Pico. In the late afternoon, go to the Casino da Madeira for some gambling, drinks, and dinner. The Casino was designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the same architect who planned and designed the city of Brasilia, Brazil, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Return to your accommodations at the end of the day.

Day 3 in Funchal

Wake up and take a leisurely walk on the Lido Promenade, which connects some of the ritzier areas of Funchal with its most famous beach, Praia Formosa. Have breakfast at one of the cafes along the way. Afterward, head west and visit the suburb of Camara de Lobos, which is not as big as Funchal is, but every bit as beautiful. While in Camara de Lobos, if you are feeling adventurous enough, go to Cabo Girao and walk on the glass skywalk; the skywalk will be the only thing separating you from the coastline 1,600 feet below!

After visiting Camara de Lobos, you have two options for the rest of the day. You can spend more time walking the streets of Camara de Lobos, eventually heading west to the small hillside town of Ribeira Brava, home to the rivers that supply the drinking water to the rest of Madeira. If you want to hike and see the head waters of these rivers, you can head north and northeast to the Parque Natural do Ribeiro Frio. There are many fun things to see in this natural park, including the beautiful Laurisilva laurel forest, the levadas (aquifers) which carry water down from the mountains to the cities and towns, and Pico Ruivo, the highest point on Madeira at over 6,000 feet above sea level. Return to the Lido Promenade and enjoy dinner there. Head back to your accommodations at the end of the day.

Additional Days in Funchal

If you have extra time in the Funchal area, you have a few options when it comes to exploring Madeira. You can head east to Canical, a small town with a marina which offers ferry service to the island of Porto Santo, northeast of Madeira by 27 miles. The easternmost point on Madeira is the Ponta de Sao Lourenco, headlands that are very picturesque, and were formed over 100,000 years ago. If you have the opportunity, watch a sunrise or sunset at these headlands. If you love the small-town feel of Madeira Island, you will love Porto Santo: its largest city, Vila Baleira, only has about 5,000 people. Golfing enthusiasts will love Porto Santo as it has a PGA-grade golf course designed by the Spanish golf legend Seve Ballesteros.

You may have heard a bit about the Ilhas Desertas, a set of three islands comprising just five square miles in area located about 25 miles southeast of Funchal. You can take a catamaran tour to the Ilhas Desertas, which is open to the public during the day as a nature reserve. The main island will be the one you will visit, called Grande Deserta. Rocky and uninhabitable to humans, a few local species do survive in this arid ecosystem, such as the Madeiran wall lizard and the Deserta Grande wolf spider.

If you want to stay on Madeira, you can explore the northwestern coast, which includes the Sao Vicente Caves and the volcanic pools in Porto Moniz. The Sao Vicente Caves were formed nearly 900,000 years ago out of a volcanic eruption which ran into the sea. The caves take visitors over 120 feet down into the Earth. The small town of Porto Moniz (pop. 2,700) is known for its natural pools created by volcanic lava and filled with heated seawater. The town`s fortress now serves as an aquarium, if you would like to visit after having a swim at the natural pools.

Your Last Day in Funchal

Depart your hotel and head to the airport for your return home. We hope you enjoyed Funchal and beautiful Madeira Island!