Everything you can do in Madeira, an Atlantic paradise to discover

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If you like rushing, hustle and bustle, this is not your destination.

Chosen as the best island place in the world in 2021 by the World Travel Awards -the Tourism Oscars- Madeira is a paradise of tranquility, gastronomic and adventure tourism and hiking trails with views of

.

This mountainous island of Portugal still attracts few Spanish tourists, who tend to choose the Canary Islands and the Azores.

But the regional government of this archipelago seeks

, now that Iberia has launched direct flights to the island.

This is a tour of its most interesting destinations:

1. FUNCHAL

It is the capital of the island and

, who has his own museum next to the Atlantic Ocean.

Shaped like an amphitheater, the city stretches across the mountains with spectacular views over the bay.

A good option to tour the city is to take a food and wine tour that includes stops at the historic

, where you can taste the island's wines.

It also stops at the

, a spectacle of colors and scents with flower and vegetable stalls from local farmers and a splendid fish market with many specimens of black swordfish, the specialty of Madeira.

The carts, one of Funchal's attractions.SIMON ZINO

Funchal also has two lush gardens that you have to go up by cable car:

, which includes 70,000 square meters of exotic plants from around the world.

To return to the center the best alternative is to go down in the

, a tradition that dates back to 1849, now converted into a tourist attraction.

Formerly used to transport food, basket cars

who are driven by men dressed in white with the typical straw hat and who speed down the slopes of Funchal.

2. VEREDA DO LARANO

One of the main attractions of the island is its leafy and

, which combines tropical and Mediterranean characteristics.

Its native forest, the laurel forest, has been recognized as a World Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

The Vereda do Larano is one of the many hiking trails that can be traveled.

The walk is located on the edge of a precipice, very close to the sea, and offers magnificent views of the cliffs of

, the north coast of the island.

It is one of its oldest roads because it served as a trade route between Machico and Porto da Cruz for centuries.

Years ago it was a dangerous path, but, little by little, it has been improving and now it is a hidden gem for lovers of hiking.

The 12-kilometer walk ends in Porto da Cruz, a town famous for its wine, protagonist of

that the island celebrates this year between August 25 and September 11.

It is

and aims to recreate the ancient wine traditions that existed for centuries.

The program is completed with concerts in the vineyards and is part of the European Folklore Week, with exhibitions and shows linked to wine.

The first week of September

with live music and wine tasting at sunset.

In addition, the quintas (typical Portuguese country houses) also join in this festivity by organizing cultural activities such as participation in traditional grape harvests or Madeira gastronomy buffets with wine tasting.

3. PONTA DO ROSTO

A young woman at the Ponta do Rosto viewpoint.

The island's cliffs are quite a sight and make Madeira one of the places with the most splendid views one can imagine.

,

with a vertical drop of 500 meters, is one of the highest in Europe and has a glass walkway on the edge of the cliff to see the impressive views from below.

Ponta do Rosto, located in the easternmost part of the island, is another of those magical places to

, where there are even tables where you can have a small breakfast picnic.

of Ponta de San Lorenzo make this place a

paradise for tourists.

But there are many more: Ponta do Pargo, Miradouro de Boa Morte or Ponta do Sol are some of the best places to watch the sunset.

There you can dine at

, a clifftop restaurant with a spectacular location.

It also has a nice terrace where you can have a drink and enjoy its wonderful views.

4. HOLY PORT

The beaches in Madeira are not particularly pretty.

Most of them are small, made of stones or black sand, so the best option to take a bath is to go to the natural pools of Porto Moniz

formed

, where the sea enters naturally bringing crystal clear water and which are interconnected by cement walkways.

But Madeira's beach is on the neighboring island, Porto Santo.

This is where Madeirans go to enjoy the sand and sunbathe.

The archipelago is made up of two other islands,

which are not inhabited.

From Madeira you can get to Porto Santo by

that takes about two and a half hours or by plane that takes you there in 25 minutes.

Porto Santo, much smaller and less mountainous than Madeira, is ideal for a day trip or to spend several days in the capital,

, to rest and relax.

Interestingly,

, the governor's daughter, and today you can visit the house where the couple lived, which is a museum.

In fact, from September 22 to 25, this island celebrates

, which takes the visitor back to the time of the discoveries and the passage of the navigator through Porto Santo.

But its strong point is

that stretches to the south of the island for 9 kilometers.

Its volcanic sands are famous as they have healing effects for all kinds of ailments and diseases.

5. PONTA OF SAO LOURENÇO

It is one of the most surprising parts of the island with an

very different from the rest.

Located in the eastern part, the Ponta de Sao Lourenço is one of the almost virgin places in Madeira, where there is a fantastic combination of rocks, sea and nature.

The route to Cais do Sardinha ends in a small cove with crystal clear waters, where you can take a dip after the walk.

Hiking trail along the cliffs of Madeira.

From there you can also take a boat that takes the traveler back to the point of origin or rent a kayak in order to skirt the coast along the cliffs and caves.

Because another of the tourist attractions of the island is embarking on a tour to watch

Madeira's location alone in the middle of the ocean allows the presence of numerous cetaceans in its waters.

About five kilometers from the coast, the ocean floor reaches a depth of more than 3,000 meters and this great unevenness means that

almost every day .

Tourist boats can only spend ten minutes with each group of dolphins so as not to disturb the animals.

PRACTICAL GUIDE

How to get.

Iberia flies from Spain to Madeira from 200 euros.

Where to sleep.

Castanheiro Hotel, located in Funchal, has a terrace with Jacuzzi and swimming pool with sensational views.

From €180.

Sé Boutique Hotel, meanwhile, is a charming accommodation in the heart of Funchal.

From €200.

Where to eat.

In Quinta do Barbusano, located in the north of the island.

It is an authentic place to taste the wines of the area.

Also in Adega do Pomar, a tavern with a lot of flavor located in Camacha.

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