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8 awesome reasons to go to Madeira

Looking for somewhere a bit different to holiday this year?  With gorgeous landscapes and plenty of originality, Madeira is a beautiful island, perfect for either a short break or a longer holiday. Beautifully positioned in the North Atlantic, here are just a few attractions that this wonderful island has to offer… The wildlife Madeira is rich with marine life in particular.  Take a boat trip for some whale and dolphin watching.  There are also 40 of the world’s last 500 Monk Seals in existence that inhabit the Desertas Islands, 12 miles south-east of Funchal.  You could also try diving to see sharks and manta rays. A rush of adrenaline There are several cable car routes, if you take the cable car from Almirante Reis in old Funchal to Monte for picturesque views and for the downward journey you can opt for the toboggan – it’s like a basket on skis that is pushed by two men, quite fast, downhill, while you are on it.  There is another cable car at Achadas da Cruz at Porto Moniz that offers even better views. Unique landscapes Hiking on Madeira is a must, there are some really unusual landscapes and lots of lush greenery.  One hike well worth it is through the Green Cauldron (Caldeirao Verde) as you can see a natural amphitheatre located in the heart of the forest. Madeira landscape Volcanic pools The Doca do Cavacas are natural volcanic pools, they are small and can get crowded but there is a beach nearby and it’s a beautiful place to have a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants. Sailing on a pirate ship The Santa Maria de Colombo is a replica pirate ship that sails twice a day, it’s a great way to see dolphins and whales and sometimes it even stops off so you can have a swim. Wine tasting There are several places where you can do wine tasting – you can even try wines from 1908!   With amazing flavours to try, it’s a great way to end a day! Madeira wine Island hopping Take a ferry to Porto Santo Island – you might even see some marine life on the way.  Its only 40 minutes away and you can enjoy miles of sandy yellow beaches and transparent turquoise warm sea. Porto Santo Canyoning Abseil down waterfalls in ancient forests!  For those that love adventure, canyoning is right up your street. Images: Shutterstock Andrea Crome is Marketing Manager at WorldSIM. If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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4 Comments

  1. We visited Madeira for a week several years ago while on a month long trip in Europe. My great-grandfather left Madeira to come to the US. There is a village on Madeira, Canhas, which is his name and my maiden name. There is also a Canha outside Lisbon and we found both of these towns by accident. Really brought my family history home as we traveled around Madeira.

  2. I have never been but it looks like a great place to visit. Thank you for sharing

    Have a good one Amir Sibboni

  3. I have been fortunate to have traveled to Madeira a couple of times. I have done/seen most of the activities listed. I highly recommend this destination. It is like being in Europe with out the longer flight (especially from Boston on SATA).

  4. Hey,

    great report on this beautiful island. I guess that most people visit Madeira because of the wildlife and the hiking tours. It is such a unique and diverse island. I have already been there 3 times, but will come back many more times in the future :)

    CU Soon

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