Madeira accommodation

The waves of the Atlantic Ocean wash the shore of this beautiful sunny island named Madeira. In fact Madeira is actually an archipelago with exceptional landscape and some of the best beaches in Europe. On your trip there, you will be amused by the green surroundings, bright waters and an abundance of romantic locations to watch the sunset! Portugal has really done its best to turn the Madeira archipelago into a paradise for visitors in the last 20 years, where tourists can experience the nature, cuisine, culture and delicious wine of the locals.

Nature to explore

Madeira is the largest island on the archipelago. The other two are Port Santo and Desertas. Madeira Island has a unique characteristic when it comes to its geography as it is in fact the top of a submerged volcano. The island has a 150 km coastline as well as a huge mountain range, which provides for amazing views of the whole area and the ocean. Madeira has been pronounced as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site due to its rich nature and biodiversity of rare plant and animal species.

Madeira Nature Reserve takes up more than 60% of the island’s territory. Part of it, Laurissilva ancient forest, home to gigantic trees, as well as rare bird species such as Zino’s petrel, is a recognized Natural Heritage for Humanity by UNESCO.

Natural reserves are also many and of higher significance to the local population. Garajau is a reserve created to protect the coast and seabed of Madeira. Garajau presents an interest not only to tourists, but also to scientists, who often come here to study marine species and their life in the rich diversity of the protected area. The easternmost peninsula on the other hand, is where Ponta de São Lourenço is located. This is another reserve, which is untouched by humans to this day in most of its territory. The nature here is strongly specific to the island of Madeira and you can explore it only on an organized tour with a guide!

Activities

There are many hiking and walking trails on the island. Pico Ruivo is the highest point of the island and a preferred hiking destination for the more experienced. Nevertheless, there is also an easier route to the top, starting from Achada and enjoyed mostly by tourists.

An easier but just as beautiful is the hiking trail along the streams up in the Paul da Serra Mountain. There, you will witness the most amazing panoramas of the island! Cascada da Risco is located in the same area and is a beloved photo location for visitors and locals as well.

Monte Palace Tropical Garden is another unique place to visit. Filled with plants from all over the world, this garden is particularly famous for its collection of exotic plants, some of which are extremely rare to see elsewhere. The garden has become a home to many bird species too, as the plants and the staff looking for them have created a heavenly ecosystem where birds and insects thrive.