If you are thinking of visiting the Madeira Archipelago in the future, or even if you already have a trip planned, here are the mistakes to avoid when visiting Madeira.
Staying only in Funchal…
The city of Funchal is seen as a cosmopolitan city that combines Madeiran tradition and history with modernity. Despite being a fascinating place with a lot to explore, when you come to Madeira don't be tempted to just stay in Funchal…the island has a lot to offer!
If you have the opportunity to rent a car, you can venture out of Funchal more easily. Head west and stop in the town of Câmara de Lobos, right next to Funchal, to enjoy that beautiful, picturesque bay full of fishing boats. Following the expressway, you can also see the viewpoint of Cabo Girão, the village of Ribeira Brava and, from there, cross the island with mandatory stops at Encumeada, in the beautiful plains of the Paul da Serra plateau and head towards one of the jewels of the island, Porto Moniz. Here you can enjoy the air of northwestern Madeira and maybe even take a dip in the natural lava pools so typical of this place. Then you can head to Ribeira da Janela and Seixal, with its magnificent volcanic black sand beach, passing through São Vicente before returning to Ribeira Brava and back to Funchal.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Porto Moniz")
If you prefer, you can also explore the east of the island with stops in the mountains (the view from the top of the Areeiro peak is a must), passing through Ribeiro Frio immersed in a breathtaking forest, through Faial and the traditional houses of Santana. Don't miss the opportunity to also visit Porto da Cruz (where you can admire the waves in the small bay and even go surfing!) and Ponta de São Lourenço.
And why not tour the various coastal villages and towns in the southwest of the island? We particularly recommend the village of Ponta do Sol, whose historic center has several very pleasant bars to spend a beautiful afternoon or even the villages of Madalena do Mar, Jardim do Mar or Paul do Mar, there isn’t a more beautiful sunset than in this part of Madeira.
The options are numerous, don't let yourself be left with Funchal! If you don't want to rent a car, there are always organized tours to the different regions of the island, divided between east, west, southwest or northeast.
Going only on your Honeymoon or Retirement
We have all heard the politically incorrect caustic adage “Madeira is for the newlywed and the nearly dead”. Something that probably comes from the fact that the island receives, especially in winter, many cruises (often preferred by a slightly older population) or even because it was once a popular resort (at the end of the 19th century) for those suffering from tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases. Such could not be further from the truth these days.
Don't make the mistake of assuming that the island has nothing more to offer than good temperatures, beautiful hotels and restful days. There is a little bit of everything to do in Madeira and for all tastes.
If you like culture and history, you can't miss Funchal's old town or even the city's many old churches with their famous sacred art. We especially highlight the Cathedral of Funchal, the Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte and the Convent of Santa Clara, among many others.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Funchal Cathedral")
The island is increasingly sought after by nature and adventure lovers. The Madeiran forest and mountains are the stage for various nature and adventure activities, such as trekking, canyoning, climbing or even jeep and buggy safaris. The trails that cover the island from end to end are sought after by people of all ages looking for stunning views or even dramatic waterfalls. The island's orography makes it suitable for the practice of extreme sports, especially popular among young people.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Canyoning")
Anyone interested in the sea and marine life will find a good place to explore here. The sea on the Madeiran coast (especially on the south coast) has abundant biodiversity and mild temperatures throughout the year, being suitable for activities such as whale watching, coasteering, surfing and SUP, snorkeling and diving.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Whale Watching")
As you can see, there is a lot to do, don't just stay at your hotel!
Not going on a Levada walk
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - 25 Fountains Levada")
We already talked about Nature in the previous point, but this is really a mandatory activity!
The island of Madeira is full of levadas, which are small aqueducts flanked by pedestrian paths and used to carry water from the mountains to the agricultural fields that were located in the south of the island. The construction of these levadas began in the 16th century, shortly after the settlement of the population on the island of Madeira.
These routes are found all over the island and usually on the mountain. There are several types of levadas and with different degrees of difficulty, so it is an activity accessible to most visitors.
As it is a nature activity and carried out in the mountains, deep in the forest, we always recommend that you do it accompanied, preferably with a guide. The recommended routes are well signposted but tend to take place above a certain altitude, so we recommend the use of suitable footwear (shoes with grippy soles or hiking boots), a jacket (as weather conditions can change quickly and temperatures are mountain lows), water and a light meal.
Those who like mountains, forests and waterfalls cannot miss the opportunity to do the Levada das 25 Fontes in Rabaçal. The route follows the forest at a maximum altitude of 1288 meters, the terrain is of moderate difficulty and offers dramatic views of waterfalls over small lagoons. If you dare, you can even swim in one of these!
Another levada to highlight on the other side of the island is the Levada do Caldeirão Verde in Santana. In the middle of Laurissilva, it is impossible not to be fascinated by the landscape almost out of the Lord of the Rings!
Avoiding Regional Gastronomy
Don't be afraid to taste all that Madeira has to offer. In Madeira you will find restaurants offering many different types of high quality cuisine, but don't hesitate to try our traditional cuisine!
Let's stick to the essentials:
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Limpets")
Fish and molluscs, namely black scabbard fish, tuna, limpets and sea snails. Scabbard fish is common throughout the island, traditionally served fried with bananas, this intimidating-looking deep-sea fish has a mild flavor that pairs well with exotic fruits. Tuna is often served in steaks with onion sauce and accompanied by vegetables and sometimes our fried corn. The limpets and snails are usually served as a starter or a snack. The limpets are often fried with butter, garlic, parsley and drizzled with lemon. Snails, on the other hand, resemble small cooked snails, but don't be alarmed! Try it, you won't regret it!
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Espetada")
The espetada, the corn and the bolo do caco. The idea behind espetada is simple: chunks of beef on a skewer (traditionally bay leaf wood), seasoned with coarse salt and garlic and roasted over flames. Simple but absolutely delicious. The espetada is often accompanied by a traditional Madeiran bread, bolo do caco, served with garlic butter and parsley. Milho is a slow-cooked cornmeal porridge with bits of chopped Portuguese cabbage, garlic and sometimes savory. This is then left to cool inside a tray to solidify, when the corn is already hard it is cut into squares and fried. It is a very popular accompaniment to many regional dishes.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Madeira Wine")
Poncha and Wine. The cultivation of sugar cane on the island gave rise to traditional products such as sugar cane honey (a kind of molasses with a very distinct flavor often used in Madeiran sweets, from Christmas cookies to honey cake) and rum, the main ingredient of famous Madeiran poncha. There are several types of poncha made from the most diverse fruits, but the most traditional is made with rum, honey and lemon, and it is very common to find passion fruit or tangerine poncha. A drink to warm the soul! Madeira Wine is a fortified wine with a high alcohol content typically served as a digestive, there are several types of Madeira wine, and it is even possible to visit the vineyards and tasting tours that are truly not to be missed!
Visit only Madeira Island
When you come to Madeira, if at all possible, don't just stay on the island! The archipelago is made up of Madeira Island, Porto Santo Island, Desertas Islands and Selvagens Islands.
You will certainly be thinking “how is it possible to visit all these places?!”, but in fact our recommendation is to visit at least Porto Santo Island and Deserta Grande, as the Selvagens are considerably further away and it is only possible to visit them with the express authorization of the Regional Government.
.png "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Porto Santo")
Porto Santo was the first island of the archipelago to be discovered in 1418, literally serving as a haven for the expedition of Gonçalves Zarco and Tristão Vaz Teixeira. It is known as the Golden Island due to its extensive yellow sand beach and calm and clear sea. This makes the island perfect for a day trip, taking the ferry in the morning and returning in the early evening. The trip takes about 2:30h on a comfortable ferry. You can spend the day on a sandy beach (a rarity in Madeira) or even visit around the main points of the island.
.jpg "Mistakes to Avoid when visiting Madeira - Monk Seal")
The Desertas Islands, in turn, are a set of 3 islets, easily seen from Funchal on most days. They are made up of Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio and are a natural reservation. The islands are of volcanic origin, being very rocky and arid. These islands are one of the last places in the world where there is a colony of a few dozen individuals of Mediterranean monk seal, or, as it is called in Madeira, the sea wold. The Desertas are also home to several species of seabirds, such as the Bugio nun, and even spiders, such as the endemic desertas tarantula.
Visits are essentially made to Deserta Grande, by boat departing from Funchal, which usually includes a guided tour of that island of about 1h30m.
For nature lovers, this is a fantastic day trip, departing from the marina of Funchal (by catamaran or schooner), with a great possibility of seeing dolphins and other animals during the trip, a relaxed meal on board and even the opportunity to swim. and snorkel along these natural redoubts.
Trust Your local friend in Madeira Islands: Madeira Best