Madeira Holidays, Portugal
Overview
With its jagged mountains falling in a series of lush green terraces to the sea, Madeira is unquestionably beautiful – an island of ancient forests and elegant towns, of wild orchids and stylish restaurants. Politically, the island is Portuguese but, in practice, Madeira feels like nowhere else on earth. Its unique history sees to that: a history the island is proud to share with visitors, who come for the colourful fiestas, the dramatic hiking opportunities and the easy-going resorts. The natural forest of Madeira (the Laurissilva) rises between 300 and 1300 metres above the waves, offering the best preserved concentration of prehistoric woodland in the world. Madeira offers plenty of options for those who want to leave the island, too – fishing, whale spotting, diving and wind surfing are all easily accessible from Funchal. Bathers will enjoy the island’s purpose-built lidos, and smooth bathing platforms offering a sand-free route to the sea. Take a cable car from Funchal to the idyllic village of Monte then walk through fields splashed with the colours of lilies, hydrangeas and rhododendrons – with the shimmering blue Atlantic as your backdrop, it’s a sight you’ll never forget.
