Madeira is an archipelago set in the Atlantic Sea , with mountainous landscapes, unique walking routes, surprising wild flowers and gorgeous subtropical gardens.
On a vacation in Madeira you will find yourself on an island that occupies a fascinating position in the Atlantic Madeira is nearer to Africa than mainland Europe, and yet the influences on Madeira’s culture, language and food are Portuguese. Getting round the island of Madeira, called the Floating Garden is simple : either hire an auto, or use the network of local buses, but be prepared for some scary roads!
There are excellent walking routes that follow Madeira’s unique Levadas irrigation channels that run from the highlands of Madeira down to the coast.
Madeira’s mild climate and a water temperature that never goes below 17C mean you can be on a tight schedule all of the time during your vacation in Madeira. The wealthy seas that surround Madeira provide fantastic chances for anglers, wildlife watchers and watersports fans. A holiday in Madeira has often been enjoyed by the more mature holidaymaker, but now younger visitors have discovered Madeira’s charms and facilities have changed accordingly, with the introduction of more dives and extraordinary sports prospects.
And whether you have been exploring old churches or one of the oldest forests in the world, relaxing by the pool or playing on an impressive mountain golfing course, the easiest way to start your evening on a vacation in Madeira is with a pitcher of Madeira wine at dusk, before heading out to taste your selection of world cuisine, regional specialities or a bite to eat in a standard Madeiran pub, before heading to a local bar, club or a town casino.
Main Sights in Madeira
The Sao Vicente Caves and the Volcano Centre The Sao Vicente caves can be discovered on Madeira’s north coast. The biggest known cavern system on Madeira Island, the Sao Vicente Caves were discovered in 1885 and are assumed to be more than 890,000 years of age and were due to volcanic eruptions. A steered tour lasts thirty mins. Monte Monte was once a fresh resort. It stands high on a hill above Funchal, the primary town of Madeira, and boasts the great Monte Palace Tropical Garden alongside palaces and churches. Take a short cable-car ride ( fifteen mins ) up to Monte from Funchal and ride down on a standard sledge there is not any wheels, just runners and 2 men in straw boaters to keep you on the road! Or you might opt to climb up along Madeira’s irrigation canals ( levadas ) and then take the sledge ride downhill.
Madeira 6 Day Weather Forecast
| Today | 23/05/2013 | 24/05/2013 | 25/05/2013 | 26/05/2013 | 27/05/2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Chance of Rain 66°/59° |  Chance of Rain 66°/59° | Mostly Cloudy 66°/59° | Mostly Cloudy 63°/57° |  Partly Cloudy 64°/59° | Partly Cloudy 66°/59° |
Gardens Madeira’s most noteworthy attractions are natural ones.
Native flowers, plants and cacti await visitors to Funchal’s Botanical Gardens. And on your Madeira vacation do not miss a trip to the Quinta do Arco rose garden in the north of the island, which offers the scent and bright colors of more than 1,000 species. Pico Ruivo to understand Madeira’s beauty you want to get up high. See the mesmerising sea and mountain perspectives of Madeira from the peak of Pico Ruivo.
At 1,862m the mountain is higher than anything in Britain. Natural Seawater Pools Holiday makers on Madeira list the natural seawater pools at Porto Moniz as high on their list of must-sees. The pools are formed on the Madeira seashore in the volcanic rock and permit visitors to Madeira to wash and sunbathe, while being sheltered from the infrequently coarse northerly seas.
The Madeira Aquarium Porto Moniz on Madeira, is also home to the Madeira Aquarium where you can see seventy or so local species of sea life. In the Madeira Aquarium you can view sharks, Madeiran Rays, stingrays, octopuses, starfish and a lot more. Madeira’s Theme Park Santana is home to Madeira’s theme park – Parque Tematico da Madeira where visitors to Madeira can explore Madeira’s nature, conventions and history.
Madeira’s most noted hotel is a conversion of a much older quinta, and offers great perspectives over Funchal’s seafront.If you cannot afford to remain in Reid’s Hotel while on vacation in Madeira ( and you’d need pretty large resources ) give yourself afternoon tea there on the patio overlooking the ocean. Santa Cruz Water Park Aquaparque Situated just south west of Santa Cruz in Madeira, is Aquaparque. The Santa Cruz Water Park Park in Madeira offers slides, tubes or black holes and falls. There’s also a zone for babies. Nuns’ Valley ( Curral das Freiras ) One of Madeira’s many natural marvels, the Nuns’ Valley is supposed as the sisters of the Santa Clara priory left there in 1566 to flee the pirate raids on Funchal. In a hollow trapped by the near-vertical montains of Madeira, there’s now a hamlet, and it was only in 1959 a road was built to this natural fortress. Today, you can take a bus to one of the most isolated villages of Madeira ( and sample some of Madeira’s famous chestnut pleasures, from cake to liqueur ).
