Madeira: One of Portugal's Most Beautiful Islands
Ponta do Sol, Madeira, Portugal (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/50 s)
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Madeira is one of two autonomous regions of Portugal (the other being the Azores), located roughly 500 kilometers from the African coast. Madeira is actually an archipelago, also containing the islands of Porto Santo, the Desertas, and the Savage Islands. The island, and more specifically, the capital city of Funchal (where half of the population lives), is the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal’s most famous footballer. The airport is even named after him! What an honor!
Madeira is believed to be first referenced in 72 BC by Plutarch. Furthermore, there is certain archeological evidence that shows Vikings visiting the island between 900 and 1030. It was described in many medieval manuscripts before it was eventually settled in 1418 by two Portuguese captains who were blown off course by a storm.
You can see all my Madeira related blog posts below:
Funchal (Blog Post: What to see in Funchal on the island of Madeira)
Madeira (Blog Post: Madeira: One of Portugal's Most Beautiful Islands)
Here is a list of some of the best places to check out in Madeira, starting with its capital city.
If you like some of my photos that you have come across, just know that I have many prints showcasing a variety of landscapes, including Madeira, available for purchase below! (Sold as Posters, Canvas, or in Metal-Frames and Wooden-Frames).
How to get to Madeira
Being an island off the coast of Africa, getting to Madeira isn’t as convenient as other destinations. Flying to the island is the most convenient way to getting there. Just book a flight to Madeira Airport (FNC), which will land on the eastern part of the island. Then you can take a bus or taxi to the capital city of Funchal.
You also have the option of taking a ferry to reach Madeira. Specifically, there are trips that originate in Lisbon, on the Portuguese mainland. These ferries depart typically on saturdays, take about 24 hours, and cost approximately 180 Euro per person. You can find more information and can book transport to Madeira via Bookmundi via this link.
Check out my drone video of the island of Madeira below!
Funchal is the largest city in Madeira with a population of over 100,000 which makes it the 6th largest in all of Portugal. It is a popular port for cruise ships and summer destination due to its abundant sunshine. It was settled back in 1424 and was named Funchal since the first settlers noticed the wild fennel that grew on the island, which in portuguese translated to ‘Funcho’, and the suffix ‘al’ added to that means a fennel plantation. The most popular person to come out of this island (and Funchal) has to be the Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
If you spend some time in Funchal, be sure to hit up these sights:
CR7 Museum - Also known as Museu CR7, it is decided to the Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo and is essentially a glorified trophy room. Above the museum is a hotel as well.
Forte de Sao Tiago - A fortress was built in the 1500s to protect the coastline from piracy on the order of Philip I of Portugal. Between 1992 and 2014, it was the Contemporary Art Museum of Funchal. Present day, people sunbathe and go swimming here.
Funchal Teleférico and Botanical Garden Cable Car - A cable car takes you from the sea level of Funchal to the village of Monte on the mountainside. Each car can fit about 6 people and is about 18 euros round trip for an adult. Another cable car from Monte takes you further to Jardim Botânico (a botanical garden). This is Madeira’s most popular botanical garden and is aptly named Loiro Park.
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte (Church of Our Lady of the Mount) - This is the main church in the parish of Monte and can best be accessed by the Madeira Teleférico. A chapel was first built on this site back in 1470 by actually the first man ever born on Madiera, Adão Gonçalves Ferreira.
Reid Palace - Afternoon tea here is a must (reservations required). Dress smart casual and come here for a selection of teas, sandwiches, and sweet desserts that are all bottomless. Stay for the amazing view out into the sea.
Funchal Cathedral - Also called the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (Portuguese: Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Assunção) it is located in the middle of Funchal and built in the late 1400s. The amazing thing is is that this structure has survived centuries of natural disasters and war time conquests without significant damage.
Praia Formosa - There are a number of beaches and night clubs in this part of Funchal.
Fortaleza de São João Baptista do Pico - The Fortress of São João Baptista do Pico is located in the parish of São Pedro. It was built as part of the defensive fortifications.
Ponta de São Lourenço
Translating to the ‘Point of Saint Lawrence’, this peninsula is derived from volcanic activity, composed mostly of basalt and limestone foundations (some formations of which are dated back to 100,000 years ago). There is a 3 km long trail that takes you to the eastern tip of the peninsula where you can see the small Desembarcadouro Islet and Farol Islet in the distance. The trail is of moderate difficultly, taking about 2.5 hours.
One thing you may notice about this area is just how windy it is. This makes sense considering how much this peninsula juts out into the sea. One thing is also quite obvious is that planes can be super close since they must fly right over the peninsula to land on the runway a few kms away. This is why drone flying is forbidden here! Nonetheless, the abundance of this wind hinders much vegetation and trees from thriving here, making the area seem semi-arid.
At the end of the hike is a cafe with nice bathrooms and some food. This is a great place to stop at before continuing on the hike the rest of the way. There is also a tour company that operates out of this cafe. They offer whale and dolphin watching tours of different durations, but most importantly, they offer their cheapest boat trip back to the start of the trail. Perfect for those who would rather just hike one way and hitch a ride back! (More info here)
Praia de Machico
Known as Machico Beach in english, Praia de Machico located near the town Machico (duh). What sets this beach apart from most in Madeira is that the sand from this beach was imported here. No large boulders to walk on here, just soft, plush sand. This sand was imported from North Africa, from the Western Sahara to be exact, which was controversial. Since Portugal never sought permission of the people of the territory from where the sand came, this is considered to be a violation of international law. For us, we went to this beach after hiking Ponta de São Lourenço.
Miradouro da Beira da Quinta, Madeira, Portugal (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/9.0, 1/400 s)
Miradouro da Beira da Quinta
This viewpoint is one of the nicest in all of Madeira. We stopped here randomly, not knowing how good of a decision it was until we saw the coastline. Located between the parishes of São Jorge and Arco de São Jorge, you can see the northwest coast of the island. On a clear day you can even see as far as Porto Moniz (more on that later).
Miradouro de São Cristovão
This viewpoint is located off the regional road and takes you to a cliffside restaurant. Though the place was closed when we got there at least we got to enjoy the views. From here you can see more of the rugged coastline and some of the rocky islands that dot the landscape. What is best about this area is just how quiet it is.
Miradouro do Véu da Noiva
We started one of our days checking out this part of Northern Madeira. Turns out it was such a wonderful spot to pick. On a road between the villages of São Vicente and Seixal, from here you can see the Véu da Noiva waterfall and Seixal beach in the distance. There used to be a road that let you directly to the waterfall however due to massive erosion, you can only see it from afar. Luckily with a drone, I can get as close as I need to.
Cascata do Córrego da Furna
This is the waterfall that can be seen from the Véu da Noiva viewpoint. As I mentioned before, it used to be accessed by a road but due to erosion, you can only get as close as this viewpoint. I’m not quite sure how tall it is, but I love its juxtaposition on the cliffside and the turquoise blue waters below.
Seixal
Seixal is a village located between Porto Moniz and São Vicente which you can also see from the Miradouro do Véu da Noiva viewpoint. The buildings are adorned with orange rooftops, standing out stunningly among the green and yellow vegetation. Make your way down to the Port of Seixal where you can get a glimpse of the black sand beach (Porto de Abrigo do Seixal beach).
This is a popular surfing spot so book it if you feel so inclined! The position of the beach is somewhat protected from the harsh ocean waves. If surfing isn’t your thing, you can also bathe at the Piscinas Naturais do Seixal (or the Natural Pools of Seixal). You can also walk to the small lighthouse along the pier and get immersed in the ocean waves crashing against the short just meters from you. It seems dangerous but just be cautious and you will be fine! It makes for some dramatic photographs by drone!
Miradouro Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela
The viewpoint at Ribeira de Janela is quite breathtaking. This stone covered beach, located in the parish of the same name, is known for its three isles that adorn the landscape. The name of this area is not by coincidence; the largest of the islets has a window shape in its facade, the word ‘window’ translating to ‘janela’ in Portuguese. Although this area is popular for surfers, we saw none during our time here. It seems to be only for the brave as the waves seem to be very unforgiving. Nonetheless, the entire area is amazing and not worth missing.
Porto Moniz, Madeira, the Azores (ISO 200, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz is located in the Northwest of Madeira. It is famous for its labyrinth of natural lava pools that are frequented by tourists and locals alike. The area was thought to be settled in the 15th century. The settler himself is named Francisco Moniz O Velho, hence the name Porto Moniz. This area is a bit more built up compared to other settlements along the northern coast of Madeira. Here there are a few restaurants and bars you can frequent while enjoying the view. Here is a guide to some of the natural pools here in Porto Moniz as well as others across Madeira.
Achadas da Cruz
Achadas da Cruz is a parish located within the boundaries of Porto Moniz. It is located on the northwestern part of Madeira. What is most notable about this area has to be the Quebrada Nova Fields. These fields are on the coastline, reachable by a car cable that takes you from the cliffside to sea level.
As you descent down the cliffside, you are greeted by the incredible vegetation that defines Madeira. Pretty soon, you will come to notice the agricultural landscape of Quebrada Nova, where rocky walls separate farmland from homes. Once you arrive on the ground, you can take a well maintained brick path through the village and along the coast.
The area is just so incredibly peaceful, with the ocean waves crashing against the rocks and the wind howling across the landscape. You can walk about 2 km down the pathway until it dead ends, but our favorite place was closest to the rocky beach where we snacked and watched the waves.
Ponta do Sol, Madeira, the Azores (ISO 100, 4.5 mm, f/2.8, 1/60 s)
Ponta do Sol
The village of Ponta do Sol had to be one of our favorite places on Madeira. Home to about 8000 people, it includes the parishes of Canhas and Madalena do Mar. The area is known in Madeira for having the most hours of sunshine per year as it is located on the southwest coast of the island. We went to a restaurant on the waterfront, also called Ponta do Sol, and enjoyed some amazing food and drink while relaxing from our long day.
Be sure to also check out the beach here. Use caution when traversing some of the large rocks but you can be sure that no ocean waves will sweep you away as the beach is protected by a rock wall. Also make your way towards the tunnel at the end of the road way and head out on the rocky outcrop that leads into the sea. Here you can get stellar views of Ponta do Sol from the side.
Pico do Arieiro
So I am told that the actual name and spelling of this place is Pico do Areeiro. Nonetheless, this IS one of the most popular things you can see in Madeira. Pico do Areeiro is Madeira’s third highest peak standing at 1,818 meters high. What is so amazing about this place is that one most days, you can find yourself above the clouds in all directions. This is why Pico do Areeiro is popular to see for sunrises.
Here you will find a cafe, restrooms, a general store, and a massive Radar station built by the Portuguese Air Force. This latter part is obviously off limits but it cannot be mistaken for anything else. If you arrive in the later morning, you will be hard pressed to find any parking. There is another parking lot a few hundred meters before you get to the top on the right side of the road that is composed of clay.
Perhaps what is most popular about Pico do Areeiro is the hike one can take towards Pico Ruivo. About 1000 tourists do this hike daily and from what I’m told, can take about 7 hours just one way. There are bus companies and tours that will drop you off at one end of the hike, so you can then hike back to your car on the other side. We only did a hike of about an hour since we were absolutely exhausted from our trip thus far (which was still amazing!).
Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte, Madeira, the Azores (ISO 400, 24 mm, f/9, 1/1000 s)
Though this list is not comprehensive, it is merely just a guide on some of the places that I recommend seeing if you are in this part of the world for a few days.
Check out the Google map here to plan your very own road trip. I would recommend a minimum of 4 days to really get a nice flavor of Madeira. If you have the time, 7 days will do.
If you’re keen on seeing more of Portugal, plan your trips by checking out my blog posts below for mainland Portugal:
Lisbon (Blog Post: Sightseeing in Lisbon? Learn how to surf too!)
Sintra (Blog Post: Do not go to Lisbon without seeing Sintra: a day trip guide)
Funchal (Blog Post: What to see in Funchal on the island of Madeira)
And the Azores, the other autonomous region of Portugal:
Ponta Delgada (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island)
São Miguel Island (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: São Miguel Island)
Horta (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: Horta on Faial Island)
Faial Island (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: Faial Island)
Madalena (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: Madalena on Pico Island)
Pico Island (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: Pico Island)
Summary (Blog Post: A Trip to the Azores: A Summary)
