Adventure Madeira

A vacation destination is needed. Just get away. Leave the cold temperatures behind for a short time and fly to a warm climate.

Instead of daily gray, finally enjoy blue sky and sunshine.

Not too far away, but nice and mild.

MADEIRA! Why not!?

It's February and it's below freezing in Germany. Packing our suitcases was easy for us. The island promises warm temperatures and is a year-round destination.

The only downside is that flight prices have increased due to the decrease in offers. That's why we opted for a flight with a layover in Lisbon. Total flight time of about 4 hours.

We landed at the small Aeroporto de Madeira at 11 am.

For our vacation in Madeira, we rented a car from the provider Why not?

Office work and car checked, suitcase and backpack packed in the car, and with just a brief look at the sea, we realized that the vacation is here. Now our short adventure can begin and be enjoyed to the fullest.

With a constant gaze at the sky and the map of Madeira in hand, we followed the blue sky and sunshine to Ponta de Sao Lourenco.

A long peninsula of volcanic rocks in the east of Madeira.
The most impressive view and a real wow moment is the Miradouro do Rosto.
Adventurous, as you are standing right at the edge of the Atlantic cliff and can see the crashing waves reaching the rocks.
Worth it is the hiking trail PR 8. Beautiful viewpoints along a very pleasant cobblestone trail.

We spent our nights at the Savoy Saccharum Resort & Spa in Calheta. We chose this hotel because of the stylish rooms and the fantastic view from the rooftop infinity pool on the top floor.

We spent our evenings on the rooftop terrace with incredible sunsets. The highlight was a beautiful garden with palm trees, trees, and bushes with fruits and herbs.

The food was fresh and of good quality. However, it didn't always meet our taste. But as they say, tastes are different.

The next stop on our trip was exploring the island capital, Funchal.

Highlights included visiting the Mercado dos Lavradores market hall, the pub and scene district Zona Velha, the Monte Palace Tropical Garden, and enjoying afternoon tea at the Belmond Hotel Reid's Palace.

If you're in Funchal, don't miss the market day on Friday at Mercado dos Lavradores. On this day, stands with regional products join the flower vendors and the vegetable and fruit stands.
As a fruit lover, my heart jumped when I saw these colors and variety of fruits. I had to try everything that we don't have at home. My favorites, clearly, were the various passion fruits in sweet or sour.

A little further from the market hall is the popular Zona Velha. The narrow street Rua de Santa Maria attracts people not only because of the many bars and restaurants but also because of the colors. 100 painters and sculptors have designed the doors of the old town houses. You're guaranteed to find a great photo opportunity, because I couldn't put my camera away.

The Monte Palace Tropical Garden is located above Funchal in the Monte suburb. This botanical paradise can be reached by cable car or car. In short, this beautiful spot is a garden and plant paradise of the former Monte Palace Hotel. With an Asian flair featuring sculptures and Buddha figures, waterfalls, and a sensational view of Funchal.

From Germany, I had already made a reservation for two people at Reid's Palace for afternoon tea. Opened in 1890, Empress Sisi, Winston Churchill, and Roger Moore have all enjoyed the salon and celebrated with tea, cakes, sandwiches, and freshly baked scones. We also enjoyed the afternoon tea with a glass of champagne.

According to the weather forecast, it was the most sunny day - perfect for an early morning departure by car to the viewpoint at 1818 m - Pico do Arieiro.
Sunrise at 7:45 am.

It was the first time during our vacation that we had to wake up at 5:40 am. The chances of a cloudless panoramic view are best early in the morning. We clenched our teeth and were on top of the mountain shortly after 7 am with a packed lunch from the hotel.

It was magnificent to see the sun rise from the sea minute by minute and to enjoy the color spectacle of the sky. The surrounding mountains shone in the morning sun. A spectacular experience that I wouldn't want to miss. So at 8 am, we started the PR 1 panoramic trail. A trail that provides many insights into the rugged mountain region, but is not for the faint-hearted. You absolutely must have a head for heights for this trail.

Porto Moniz is located on the north side of Madeira. What's special about this town are the bizarre rocks along the coastline and the natural swimming pools, Piscinas Naturais. All good things come in threes, because we fell in love with this place a little and experienced every type of weather. Whether it was raining, a cloudy sky, or sunshine, when the surf crashes against the cliffs, the coastline offers an unforgettable natural spectacle. The seawater pools invite you to swim, and the water renews itself with the tide.

Conclusion: We left the plant and hiking paradise in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean with many new impressions in our luggage and are looking forward to a reunion.