Have you ever been to Madeira? If not, now is the time! While cold and gray reign in our kingdom-state, there is magnificent nature, an atmosphere of constant celebration and wonderful comfortable weather. Well, isn't it a reason to go to this Portuguese island for new impressions?
Nature
A trip to Madeira promises an unforgettable experience – first and foremost from nature. The island attracts with its mild climate, the ocean, which is warmer than in mainland Portugal, and picturesque mountains. One of the peaks is accessible to motorists, but to reach the most famous peak on the islands, Pico Ruivo (1863 meters), you need to go on foot. The steep Pico to Pico hiking route runs over the clouds, connecting two mountain peaks.
Madeira is known for its forests, including a mysterious relic forest overgrown with laurels and eucalyptus trees, where every step turns into a meditative and recreational activity. The abundance of forests on the island lives up to its name, as madeira means "wood" in Portuguese.
For beach lovers, Madeira offers swimming in pools with water from the ocean, and directly in the ocean you can swim at special piers: the beaches here are small and covered with sharp stones. A special feature is the black sand, because the island is a dormant volcano. However, Madeira is not just an island, but an entire archipelago, and if the opportunity to explore nature on the main island is not enough (?!), you can go to the island of Porto Santo, located a few miles away, which will delight you with a warmer ocean, long, silky sandy beaches among the rocks.
Warm, but not hot
Madeira beckons with its unique climate, which allows you to enjoy your holidays all year round. Due to its geographical location, there are moderate temperatures, rarely dropping below +15°C in winter and easily climbing above +20°C in summer. The summer months are usually not very hot, with a maximum temperature of around +27°C, although there are occasional short periods of heat.
Madeira is known as the Island of Eternal Spring for its mild climate. The flora of the island is incredibly diverse, at different times of the year the landscape of Madeira changes almost beyond recognition: in spring, the streets of the island are decorated with blooming jacarandas with bright purple flowers, and in autumn, the trees of the chorizia paint the cities in soft pink shades.
The best time to visit is from May to October, when the island has a warm beach season and many festivals and events. However, in July and August, the peak months of the season, it can get crowded and prices are higher than usual.
From November to April, Madeira is ideal for those who want to explore the nature of the island in a relaxed atmosphere, enjoy food tours and just relax. During these months, the weather can be colder, windier and rainier, especially in February and March, but even on the warm days of the low season, you can still enjoy swimming and sunbathing here as the ocean temperature is stable.
Lots of fun
There is an incredibly wide range of entertainment for tourists with any interests and level of physical fitness - with the exception of winter sports.
- For those who prefer a quiet holiday and want to enjoy the natural beauty of the island, the levadas , well-laid scenic trails along the irrigation canals that stretch throughout the island, are an ideal option. They are suitable for walks with children, the elderly or those who are looking for easy routes.
- For more experienced travelers and lovers of extreme recreation, there are difficult hiking routes that require excellent physical fitness, offer breathtaking views and unique natural sites.
- In addition, you can go canyoning, coastering, mountain biking, paragliding, surfing and many other activities in Madeira. In short, there is entertainment for all ages and fitness levels!
- Boat trips, during which travelers can watch dolphins and whales, as well as safaris and sightseeing tours, are no less popular. They can be booked at one of the many travel agencies in Funchal, the main city of Madeira.
Delicious food
In addition to traditional Portuguese cuisine, Madeira offers unique dishes and drinks that cannot be found in other regions of the country. One of these dishes is Maderian espetada. This is a beef kebab flavored with spices and bay leaves, which is cooked on laurel sprigs. In some places, visitors can cook their own espetada on the grill near butcher shops or at specially equipped barbecue areas around the island, but it is better to entrust the meat to a specialist.
For seafood lovers, it is recommended to try eshpada, a deep-sea sabre fish, from which local chefs prepare tender fillets, often served with bananas from local plantations.
Gourmets will be delighted by the fruit variety of Madeira, especially in the winter months, when the most interesting local fruits appear on the stalls. It is worth trying the small but very sweet local bananas, annona (aka soursop), which tastes like crème brûlée. Don't miss passion fruit and its exotic variations, such as passion fruit banana and passion fruit! A special place is occupied by the monstera fruit, or banana, which is found mainly in markets and fairs and is known for its similarity in taste to banana and pineapple (which is obvious from the name).
Wine
Local restaurants in Madeira will open you up to a world of Portuguese wines and drinks, each with a unique taste and history.
But don't look for port wine in Madeira – the waiter will offer Madeira wine instead.
Madeira is not only a great holiday destination, but also a well-known wine region that is home to almost 2000 vineyards and 7 wineries exporting products all over the world. A distinctive feature of local wine is the way it is aged – not in cold cellars, but in warm attics. This gives the wine its unique properties, making it resistant to a wide variety of storage conditions, including high temperatures during transportation, which has ensured its popularity since the 17th century: the wine coped well with the harsh conditions of many months of travel in ship holds.
Another popular alcoholic beverage in Madeira is poncha; It is made with local rum, orange or lemon juice, sugar and honey, passion fruit, tangerines or limes are often added, making each cocktail unique.
For those who prefer soft drinks, nikita is a must-try: this simple and delicious cocktail is made with ice cream and pineapple juice. There is also a low-alcohol version of nikita that has some beer added to it.
High-speed Internet and communication
The infrastructure in Madeira is good! It meets all the needs of a modern person: the island is equipped with excellent roads, which makes moving around it convenient and comfortable, car and motorcycle rental services are available, which allows you to explore the island at your own pace.
Connectivity in Madeira is also at a high level, with access to 5G internet providing quick access to information and communications. While the public transport system isn't perfect, it works well enough to provide a comfortable way around the island. Modern accommodation and two large supermarket chains located throughout the island will make your stay here as comfortable as possible.
Thanks to developed tourism and a large number of British tourists and expats, many Madeirans are proficient in English, making it easier for foreign visitors to communicate. The high level of security on the island contributes to the creation of an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect between residents and tourists.
Madeira has two international airports, one on the main island and the other on neighbouring Porto Santo, providing convenient connections to many European countries, often at attractive prices.
Landing at Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport on the main island is a special story: pilots need special training to complete this task due to the complexity of the approach.
Hangout
For Maderians, gathering with friends, families, neighbors to celebrate events, eat ponchas, listen to music, and have fun in general is a deep-seated tradition. Numerous festivals and celebrations are regularly held on the island, especially during the summer and Christmas season. Here you can enjoy the local version of the Brazilian carnival, see the parade of retro cars, attend the flower festival, enjoy the month of fireworks, the week of wines, the exciting Super Trial competition, various music festivals, participate in car rallies, and attend religious holidays. Madeira awaits you 365 days a year!
