Madeira: The Pearl of the Atlantic

Arrive in Lisbon or Ponta Delgada. Day at Leisure.
Overnight in Lisbon / Ponta Delgada.

After breakfast in Lisbon, fly to Funchal. The rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Funchal. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head west, where you’ll discover the fishing town of Câmara de Lobos and Cape Girão, the highest promontory in Europe and the second highest in the world at 580 meters. Winston Churchill painted this exceptional vista when he visited the island in 1950. It is in this commune that the singular parish of Curral das Freiras is located. Situated in a deep valley, Curral das Freiras offers one of the most impressive landscapes of the island, attracting the admiration of all visitors with its breathtaking panoramas from the Eira do Serrado viewpoint. We’ll return to Funchal where you’ll have the afternoon at leisure and spend the night. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, we’ll head to the sunny coasts of Ponta do Sol and Calheta, rich in bathing areas that invite you to swim. You’ll also visit the Casa das Mudas Arts Center, which offers an extensive cultural program throughout the year. The beaches of the picturesque villages of Jardim and Paul do Mar offer sports lovers excellent surfing. At Porto Moniz you’ll regain strength with an invigorating dip in the famous natural swimming pools dug into the rock. Our journey continues in the direction of São Vicente, on a road dotted with waterfalls, majestic green landscapes and the crystalline blue waters of the sea. Here you can visit the caves and the Volcanism Centre, follow the Lime Route or simply wander the narrow streets of this charming little town. We’ll return to Funchal for the night. (B)

Following breakfast we’ll head for the town of Santana, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2011. This reserve incorporates a terrestrial element, encompassing the municipality, but also a marine element, presenting a diversity of environmental and cultural venues of international note. Long inaccessible by sea or land, the local inhabitants have preserved traditions undeterred by outside influence. This is best described by the style of its typical thatched homes commonly known as “Santana’s small houses”. Again, we’ll return to Funchal for the night. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Funchal airport for your flight to Lisbon or Ponta Delgado. Day at leisure. (B)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll check-out and transfer to Lisbon or Ponta Delgada airport for your departure flight. (B)