Madeira is the birthplace of Cristiano Ronaldo and it is a popular European island getaway.
A cluster of islands in the sun, made up of Madeira and Porto Santo, lesser known unpopulated islands: the Desertas and Selvagens. Madeira benefits from a warm climate all year round, which makes it a popular island to visit all year round.
As an official region of Portugal, in Madeira you can enjoy the same holidaying on the mainland, including the cheap cost of living that makes Portuguese holidays such great value for money, as well as being an exotic and somewhat undiscovered destination.
Weather and the Best Time to Visit
Temperatures remain pleasantly warm throughout the year without being oppressively hot, and the south of the island tends to be warmer than the north.
As temperatures remain fairly constant right through the year, Madeira is also the ideal place to take a short holiday for some sun out of season, when great deals are to be had.
If you choose to visit Madeira over the New Year, you’ll be able to watch one of the largest fireworks show in the world!
Where to Stay
Madeira is the largest island of the archipelago, as well as being home to Funchal, where the capital and airport are based. Funchal is a safe and prosperous city with several luxury tourist resorts in and around the capital.
If you want to be near the beach, and fancy a quieter holiday, why not try Garajau, Canico de Baixo, Santa Cruz, Canical and Machico? All are within easy reach of Funchal. These quiet resorts will help you enjoy the tropical climate in a peaceful setting.
For visitors who really want to get away from it all, Porto Santo, the smaller of the two populated islands, is perfect. Porto Santo, in particular, is famous for its undeveloped nature and long stretches of white sand. There are regular ferries between the islands to help you get there easily from Funchal.
Food and Drink
Sampling the local cuisine is a great way to sample the local culture; the island’s restaurants serve delicious local specialities, and in Machico, the second largest city on Madeira Island, there is a food festival each year in the first week of August, giving you the opportunity to try all the different tastes of the island in one place!
Top Things to Do
When you start looking for the perfect destinations to visit on your next trip, Madeira might not immediately come to mind. However, this Portuguese island is an excellent choice if you are keen to try a host of thrilling new activities.
Many people tend to centre their holidays to Madeira on the beaches, historic towns, and imposing natural beauty of the islands, famous for their lush gardens and greenery. But whether you want to jump into the sea, soar through the skies or hike in mountainous terrain, Madeira ticks all the right boxes.
Here are just a few of the fun and exciting things you can get up to if you put the isle on your itinerary.
Toboggan
One of the more interesting modes of transport in Madeira is the wicker basket! Back in the 1850s, the wealthy aristocrats used to take a wicker basket mounted on wooden runners for the descent from Monte to Funchal, as this was the fastest way to get down the hill. Today, you can take the ride down Toboggan Hill, a fast and thrilling ride that covers 2km in just 10 minutes!
Water Sports
Along the beaches, you can participate in all the traditional water sports, but you can also go scuba diving, big-game fishing, and even try surfing the Atlantic breakers at Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar.
Hiking
There are countless hiking trails to help you explore the island’s interior, as well as take you to small picturesque towns and villages to discover island life.
Paragliding
For most people, a trip is an opportunity to try new things and push their limits. Paragliding – which sees you drift through the air suspended beneath what looks like an elongated parachute – is a truly breathtaking experience.
Due to its volcanic origins, Madeira boasts mountains and high cliffs in abundance, making it ideal if you want to take to the skies. Of course, you’ll start out a little closer to the ground as you learn how to control your glider.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, try going for a flight along the coast. Pico da Cruz, Ponta da Cruz and Canhas are all reasonably close to Funchal, the island’s capital. In the centre of the isle, meanwhile, you can swoop around mountain peaks if you take off from somewhere like Chao da Lagoa or Bica da Cana.
Scuba Diving
From the air to the sea, scuba diving is certainly something adventurous gap year explorers should consider doing during their trip. This is a great skill to learn, as there is such a wide array of dive sites all over the world, not only in Madeira.
The mild temperatures in Madeira mean you can dive here all year round, with Funchal making an excellent base if delving beneath the waves is a passion of yours.
There are various dive sites just off the coast of the island’s capital, such as the wreck of the Bom Rei and Garajau – an underwater nature reserve where you can see a variety of marine life, including large, relatively tame groupers.
Surfing
If you think you’d be more comfortable staying above the surface, try your hand at surfing. Madeira has developed into something of a hotspot for the sport, with a selection of breaks for beginners to hone their skills on and some places that will truly test experienced surfers.
Among the best locations for those new to the sport are Achadas da Cruz, Porto da Cruz and Machicho. Anyone who is confident on a board can head to some of the more challenging breaks, such as Lugar de Baixo, Paul do Mar and Sao Vincente.
Climbing and Canyoning
If you’ve got a head for heights, rock climbing is another adrenalin-pumping activity you should try while visiting Madeira on your gap year.
Some of the most popular places to try this are on the sea cliffs, as you have stunning views during your ascent, as well as in the central mountain range.
To take it up a level, spend a day canyoning instead, as this involves not only climbing, but also abseiling, swimming and even jumping into the cool, clear pools of Madeira’s rivers.
This is a great way to see some of the island’s stunning interior landscapes, with Ribeiro Frio and Ribeira das Cales among the top locations in which to try canyoning.
Check out my other destinations guides for Portugal:
• Lisbon travel tips
• Porto travel tips
• Algarve travel tips