Rebecca Mottram Travel Agent

From Unesco nature sites to top-tier local food and wine, Madeira offers a variety of experiences for everyone.

Black-sand beaches, a tropical climate, a volcanic geography – the archipelago of Madeira may technically be part of Portugal, but, sitting closer to Africa than Lisbon, this curious country is an entirely unique destination.

A four-hour flight from the UK, you can discover year-round sunshine and a gloriously shifting topography: you can drive from cloud-wrapped mountain peaks to charming villages in under 40 minutes so it’s really quite easy to get around by yourself.

Sea lovers

Balmy subtropical seas sit at around 18°C, so water babies can enjoy open-sea swimming in the depths of December. Pop to Porto Santo, Madeira’s petite neighbour, if you’re after golden sand: on the main island itself you’ll be traversing dark volcanic pebbles and extra-terrestrial rock formations.

It’s worth a day trip to the northwest tip of Madeira island to explore Porto Moniz’s natural pools. Formed by hardened volcanic basalt, the shifting Atlantic Ocean tides refresh them with crystal-clear seawater, ideal for a cooling dip.

Scuba divers are well served, with visibility hitting 30 metres on a good day. Nature lovers will thrill to whale-watching trips, where sperm whales and pilot whales are regularly spotted. Expert crew help visitors identify the eight dolphin species inhabiting the waters. Surfers are advised to head to the north coast, while the south coast provides altogether calmer waters.

Nature seekers

20 million years old, the Laurissilva forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the last remaining subtropical rainforests in Europe. Dense, damp and deliciously primordial, you’d be forgiven for expecting to spot a prehistoric creature as you explore.

Irrigation channels known as levadas were constructed some 500 years ago, and now serve as walking paths, threading through tunnels, hugging cliff faces and ducking behind waterfalls. Over 2,500km of trails crisscross the island, graded from gentle rambles to challenging day hikes.

Gracing a higher altitude, the peaks of Pico Ruivo and Pico do Areeiro rise above the clouds. The trail leading there wends through an almost lunar landscape: surreal craggy craters, sooty rocks, cinematic views. The trail is currently closed for maintenance but is expected to reopen in March or April 2026. 

Adventurers are well served, with trail running, paragliding, canyoning and coasteering all readily available. The annual Ultra Skyrunning Madeira event is an international draw.

Food and wine enthusiasts

A global export since the 15th century, Madeira Wine’s distinctive richness is achieved through the ‘estufagem’ heating process, where young wine is rapidly heated to mimic the effects of a long sea voyage.

Send clients to Funchal for tastings at historical lodges, or on a jaunt through winding, terraced vineyards which cling to improbably steep hillsides. Whether palates run from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, there will be a grape varietal to suit: Sercial, Verdelho, Bual and Malmsey.

Local cuisine is equally accomplished: dine on espetada (beef skewered on laurel sticks and grilled over wood), lapas (limpets sizzled in garlic butter), or bolo do caco flatbread. The excellent local produce has attracted the attention of many high-end contemporary chefs, with several vineyard hotels offering excellent farm-to-table dining with views across the grape terraces.

Experiencing the city of Funchal

Striking a delicate balance between European sophistication and Atlantic island soul, the island’s capital is rich with delectable restaurants, spa hotels, a year-round festival calendar and a gorgeous waterfront promenade, which connects lidos to the open-sea marina.

The vibrantly painted doorways of its Old Town have the feel of an open-air gallery, while the Mercado dos Lavradores serves as a working farmers’ market rather than glossy tourist attraction. Marvel at tropical fruits, fresh fish and indigenous flowers, exhibited beneath handsome art deco arches.

A trip up the Monte cable car is a must, which climbs 560 metres above the city to rambling botanical gardens. Also not to be missed is Funchal’s famous wicker toboggan ride, which starts in Monte and ends in Livramento, halfway to Funchal’s city centre.

Do you like the sound of Madeira? Let me know, I’d happily help you plan your holiday there.