Madeira island vacation package: Portugal’s Pearl of the Atlantic
- Kesto: 7 Päivät (noin)
- Tuotekoodi: T039
Highlights
- Stay 6 nights in the historic centre of Funchal, Madeira's capital city, at the top rated 4-star boutique Hotel Castanheiro. Take advantage of its rooftop lap pool and enjoy panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Funchal.
- Have a safari-style 4X4 adventure through the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Laurissilva forest, a subtropical rainforest unique to Madeira.
Enjoy a boat trip along the crystal-clear Atlantic Ocean waters to the islands South, where the depths can reach up to 3000m. If we’re lucky, we'll see whales and dolphins.
Stroll along Madeira’s famous Levadas, a centuries-old network of irrigation channels built to carry water from the lush north to the drier south.
Taste the authentic flavours of the island as you watch your host prepare a traditional three-course meal on their farm, sample seasonal produce, and sip some Madeira wine.
Overview
Tiny Madeira has it all – vineyards and volcanoes, black-sand beaches and ancient forests, remote trails and a cosmopolitan capital. Add to that its wildlife, balmy climate and mouth-watering local delicacies and it’s easy to see why this rugged, mist-clad island is known as the Pearl of the Atlantic.
Our small-group, expert-led Madeira vacation package gently guides you to the heart of this spellbinding island. Led by Dr Vickie Heaney, an artist and ornithologist, who herself lives on an island in England but enjoys regular trips to Madeira. With her, you’ll explore the island’s best sights, enjoy leisurely walks, and savour authentic Madeiran flavours. Relax in a stylish boutique hotel set across five beautifully restored buildings that span 300 years of history, just a stone's throw from shops, restaurants and cafes.
Start/finish
Your tour starts and finishes in Funchal, .
Activity Level
The activity level is rated as Leisurely to Moderate, requiring an average level of fitness (view our activity level definitions). The tour will involve walking in generally easy terrain, but will require good walking boots (please note, some paths may be uneven and loose underfoot). Walks are mostly 1 to 5km (0.8-3 miles) long, with longer hikes for those who choose them. This tour also involves boarding a passenger boat.Transport
Transport will be by 4x4 jeeps, minibus, and passenger boat.
Weather
Average temperatures on Madeira range from lows of 10°C (50°F) to highs of 19°C (64°F), with an average of 5-7 hours of sunshine in spring. Thanks to its mild, subtropical climate, there isn’t really a best time of year to visit Madeira; rain and sunshine are possible at any times, and temperatures are relatively balmy year-round. However, we especially love visiting in autumn and spring, when the weather is warm and sunny and the summer crowds have thinned out.
Accommodation
Castanheiro 4-star boutique hotel comprises five linked historic buildings, in the heart of a historic zone overlooking the Bay of Funchal. Top-rated by our tour leader, Vickie and online reviewers, TripAdvisor 5.0 and Booking.com 9.3, making this the perfect base for our tour.
Testimonials
"Just got back from the Scilly Isles tour it was FANTASTIC. Your organisation and communications were faultless, your guides on the Islands are a credit to your company. The hotel and staff were excellent, and the food was outstanding we look forward to travelling with you again".
Isles of Scilly Holidays – Small group guided tours | Bryan B, September 2024
"Some trips are memorable for the destinations, others for the experiences. This tour was both. I’ve travelled extensively, and I can now say Utah is the most beautiful, visually exciting place I’ve seen. There was so much to look at, I didn’t want to blink, but the team’s attention to the little details also made the trip a joy. The small group experience meant we could always both see and hear, something you can’t [always] count on when you sign up to a tour".
Landscapes and Cultures of Utah, USA | Kate B, September 2023
"Paula and I had a fantastic trip to Bath and the Jurassic Coast. Our guides brought their own distinctive experiences to our tour – Seren was a perfect guide and [we appreciated] Jonathan’s rich experience with south coast geology.
[In Dorset], there was a wonderful stop with the St. Catherine’s chapel gracing a solitary hilltop overlooking the Channel. Lyme Regis lived up to our high expectations, and the ammonite pavement was spectacular! We look forward to doing another Geocultura adventure".
