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Madeira: One island, many adventures

Madeira is an island escape like no other, with verdant mountains, speciality cuisine and coastal trails to soak up. Read on for Lisa's take on this slice of Portuguese paradise.
Written by Aimee White, who interviewed Lisa (Senior Customer Relations Specialist)
Date Published: 3 October 2024

It's clear to see why Madeira is nicknamed the 'Hawaii of Europe' - this Portuguese archipelagos of islands is characterized by sky-high clifftop passes, mossy levadas and pearly-white cascading waterfalls. Located off the west coast of Africa, Madeira is one of the most popular places to visit in Portugal for relaxation and adventure. 

We caught up with Lisa, who joined our Madeira Island Discovery tour. Our week-long tour ticks off the highlights, from the Pico do Arieiro summit to Funchal food tours.

Read on to discover Lisa's take on Madeira:

Describe Madeira in one word?

Complete. Madeira offers the full package, from its vast history and numerous festivals to rugged coastlines, verdant interiors and cloud-piercing mountains. It's such an appealing place to both rest and play. Madeira is also home to levadas, a system of channels and aqueducts unique to the island that border and go through mountains. You can walk alongside some of the levadas - a bit like a canal path - while surrounded by trees and flora.

Discover the best time to visit Portugal

How did you find your tour leader?

Our tour leader, Benny, was incredible. He's been an Explore tour leader for over 10 years and has the best attitude and approach. He's a really passionate Madeiran who knows this trip well and we all felt like we were in the best hands - as a result, our small group had a really good time on this trip.
 

What Benny doesn't know about flora and fauna isn't worth knowing! He took us to a banana plantation on the sun-drenched southern coast and told us there's about 27 different types of banana that grow on Madeira.

What were your fellow Explorers like?

There were lots of solo travelers on this trip, and a few couples, with ages ranging up to those in their early 80s. It didn't really matter what age you were, though - at the end of the day, everybody has decided that this is the trip for them based on the itinerary. In fact, I'd specifically recommend this tour for solo travelers because there's enough group activities as well as time for yourself.

How did you find the pace of this trip?

I would describe this Madeira small group tour as a gentle tour, but it's busy with lots to see and do. There aren't any early starts or late finishes, but the days are filled with interesting itineraries. On our free day, some chose to take a cable car up to the botanical gardens, while others visited a local photography museum, and a couple of people tried the famous toboggan ride in a wicker basket. We also went on a lovely boat trip and saw Spotted Dolphins - no whales this time!

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What surprised you the most about Madeira?

I'd always pictured Madeira as a relaxing vacation destination. Which it certainly is - but I was also blown away by the sheer number of activities and opportunities to try different things in your free time. You can swim in rock pools, do some more energetic walking, and everything in between!
 

I was also pleasantly surprised by Madeira's variety of terrain and landscapes. One minute you're at sea level, embracing the ocean breeze, and the next you've climbed uphill and you're above the clouds. With that, of course, comes different temperatures and microclimates - it's a fascinating destination.

What's the food and drink like in Madeira?

Being an island, Madeira offers a lot of fish and seafood. I tried scabbardfish which isn't the prettiest to look at - so I'd recommend eating it first before looking at a photograph of one! It had cod-like taste and was really delicious.
 

As Madeira is part of Portugal, there's plenty of traditional Portuguese cuisine to try. But it's also been influenced by sailors and explorers of the world, so there's lots of other influences - essentially, similar to Portuguese food but with its own island twist.

Discover more must-try food and drink in Portugal

What was your accommodation like?

Our hotel served as our base for the week, and it was perfectly located right in the middle of all the action. The hotel was perfect for what we needed - super-friendly staff with a lovely pool. As we were out all day, we didn't spend much time in the hotel, but it was a welcoming place to return to at the end of the day, and a great breakfast every morning. It has some quirky decor and each room had its own mural of a famous icon, such as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, The Beatles and even TinTin! 

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Lisa's top tips for visiting Madeira

1.    Poncha: Try a Poncha, a local cocktail on Madeira. It's similar to a mojito or caipirinha, combining white rum with sugar and lime. Delicious!
2.    Weather: Between July to September, when Madeira's temperatures are at their hottest, it's worth bringing a personal fan, hat, sunscreen and sun umbrella.
3.    Footwear: For this trip, you don't need walking boots - sturdy, comfortable footwear will do.
4.    Reid's Palace Hotel: There's a smart-casual dress code for afternoon tea here, so avoid wearing shorts, sportswear, flip-flops and trainers.
5.    Food: We went on a food tour in Funchal - make sure you pick up some pumpkin and walnut jam – I forgot to buy some!

 
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Don't just travel, Explore!

Dreaming of a European getaway? We don't blame you. Between the balmy waters and fresh cuisine, ancient structures and walking trails, there's plenty to discover. Whether you've already embarked on a small group tour or it's your first time traveling with Explore, we've got a tour to suit you.
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