Madeira Holidays

It is hard to find more romantic island in the Atlantic Ocean than Madeira. With temperatures always around 25 degrees centigrade and air rather humid, Madeira has a reputation for being an “island of eternal spring”. Some tree fruits such as cherries and small, yellow medlars bear fruit twice a year. No wonder, Madeira is the perfect place for people who cannot wait for spring.

Once Europe’s poorest region, Madeira has made a leap in development as most of the island’s towns are now linked by highway, making the travelling on the island much easier.

Eventhough natural beaches along Madeira’s rocky coast are rare, there are still many places with an easy access to the ocean. In Porto Moniz, there are natural swimming pools set in volcanic rock, and the Lido Galomar in Canico is a completely natural volcanic-rock bay that is popular with bathers. Small artificial beaches of sand have been created over the past few years.

But a retreat into the mountains is a remedy for that. More and more people, young as well as old, are discovering the appeal of hiking for hours in relative isolation. One of the most spectacular mountain hikes in Europe goes from Pico do Arieiro, Madeira’s third-highest mountain, over Torre Pico to Pico Ruivo, the highest peak of Madeira. Hikes along levadas, or irrigation canals, are particularly popular. The first canals were built by slaves in the 15th century, to help irrigate sugar cane plantations. With a variety degrees of difficulty, the hikes can be strolls along a babbling brook or treks on a narrow path without a railing along a precipice.

Tired and hungry after hiking, many tourists seek out the local food. Espada, on the menu in many places, is a deep-sea fish caught off Madeira’s coast. Black cutlass fish tastes great, and the island’s inhabitants are said to have as many recipes for it as there are days in the year.

The most popular kind of meat, espetadas, comes on a laurel-wood skewer. Seasoned with sea salt, pepper and garlic, it is served on almost every occasion with garlic bread, polenta or sweet potatos and of course Madeira wine.