Portugal: What to do if you have 72 hours in Madeira
What to do if you have 72 hours in Madeira.
Madeira has always been a place I wanted to visit. I knew it was a lush paradise where poinsettias grew in gardens everywhere and there were cable car rides up and wicker toboggan rides down and that was about all.
Attending a conference there in April with Traverse Events was truly an eye opening visit – there is so much to do and see in Madeira and you are more likely to run out of time than to do and see everything in 72 hours!
Where is Madeira:
Madeira is an island off the west coast of Morocco in the Atlantic Ocean although it officially belongs to Portugal and follows Portuguese laws. It is an archipelago of 4 islands. There are of some laws that apply only to Madeira because of its location however it follows the government of Portugal for all other laws etc.
It is volcanic, green and rugged, with high cliffs and pebbly beaches.
The roads are modern and well looked after with a tunnel system of over 150 tunnels that cut travelling around the island immensely. We drove through a 3.1 km tunnel which apparently wasn’t the longest – there is one about 5 km long. Some of the tunnels range from 150 metres and have revolutionised getting around the island. For instance the journey to the natural pools at the north west of the island took approximately 1 hour to drive there instead of the 4 hours it would have taken in the past.
Madeira means “wood” as it was covered in forests when it was first discovered.
Capital City: Funchal
The population of Madeira is approximately 230 thousand residents and it is said that about 120 thousand of these people live in the capital city of Funchal.
Funchal is busy and spreading rapidly as it becomes a much more accessible destination. The Old Town has little narrow streets lined with restaurants al trying to entice the passing visitor to try their food and drink. There are plenty of small hotels and guest houses to stay in as well.
However venture away from the Old Town to one parallel street and you will find small bars, cafes and restaurants where the locals spend their time and hard earned cash.
Funchal comes from the word for “fennel” as there was fennel growing all over the island in the early days and plenty of pirates looking for places to plunder.
Transport:
Funchal especially and the rest of the island has a good public transport system which includes buses and plenty of taxis. Taxi fares are by the meter so no worrying if you are going to be overcharges and you can hail one from one of the plethora of taxi ranks or your hotel will phone one for you. There is no advantage to either way.
A taxi from the airport costs approximately 32-35 Euros to the centre of Funchal. You can go on-line and pre-book and it may save your a couple of Euros.
What to do and see:
The cable car up and wicker toboggan down is a must-do. In the old days the only way to get to the top was by donkey and then down via the toboggan. Imagine needing to do that to get to work every day!
Water sports are very popular and affordable. The water is crystal clear which is perfect for diving, surfing and various boat trips. Trips to swim with dolphins or a day trip whale-watching are popular and very affordable ‘non-touristy’ prices.
Take an open top jeep experience to the south west of the island through forest,
swim in natural pools at the north west Porto Moniz, a pool that gets filled with fresh sea water lapping over the rim of volcanic rock.
or simply enjoy a snack at the numerous “people watching” cafes and outside garden venues.
If you are an early bird take a sunrise trip to the highest peaks, high above the clouds, to watch the sunrise.
What to eat and drink:
Local Specialities –
Two local specialities that you must try are Poncha – a very alcoholic drink made with honey, white rum and/or brandy and fresh lemon and/or orange juice. They say no one can drink three!
They have a round flatbread called ‘Bolo do Caco’ which is a thick bread cooked on a flat stone slab called a caco. The bread is split and usually served with garlic and melted butter which is served at street bars with a glass or two of Poncha! The Bolo do Caco can be split and filled with ham and cheese as well as sliced tomatoes with cucumbers and sea salt. They are delicious, simple and definitely a star of Madeira.
For the more adventurous there is alway Lapas!
Lapas (Limpets) “Lapas” are mollusks that are attached to the rocks on the sea coast, and have become one of the most appreciated delicacies in Madeira. …
Eating in the Old Town –
The Main Street of the Old Town, Rua de Santa Maria is a narrow street with restaurants nestling next to each other and all vying for you to taste their food. It’s busy, noisy and the perfect place to spend an evening or two.
However one street up and parallel to Rua de Santa Maria is where the local people eat. We found a small cafe-bar with the limited menu on the wall, tables without cloths and police officers eating at the table next to us.
Here we ordered simple fish (I had a fresh tuna steak perfectly cooked) served with chips and a plate of lettuce with sliced large tomatoes on the table for us to share. The total cost was 64 Euros for four of us including a bottle of water, a local wine and cheesecake for dessert. We would probably have paid that for just myself and Mr R in one of the more touristy restaurants.
Anyone for ice-cream –
If you are feeling in need of a refreshing ice cream you will find small kiosks in local parks with snacks, drinks and ice creams. We stopped for an ice cream cone the first night which was huge however a couple of days later we were enticed to try a full blown sundae! I had the strawberry and it was huge and just what I needed!!
Madeira Wine –
Madeira wine is fortified with brandy during fermentation to raise its alcoholic content to 18–20 percent. It ranges from. sweet to dry with flavours of caramel, sweet peaches, burnt sugar and more.
Madeira wine aged in old American oak barrels making. it subtle, seductive and mysterious. It could be compared to being a sophisticated aperitif or cheeky pudding/after dinner tipple. Dry is the perfect aperitif or the sweeter dessert wine depending on the level of sweetness and is used in cooking, especially for making smooth, delicious sauces.
Blandy’s Madeira Wine:
John Blandy arrived in Madeira in 1808 and in 1811 started a business as wine shipper and general trader leading to making Madeira wine with his two brothers and the family business continues to produce this well known wine today.
The local drink –
The local drink is called “poncha”. They say that if you have three you will not be able to stand up! I wasn’t brave enough to put the theory to the test.
Poncha is made from honey, white rum and/or brandy and orange and/or lemon juice. Pretty easy but every bar will have it’s own variation and will claim theirs is the best on the island!
Where we stayed:
We stayed at the Hotel Madeira, Rua Ivens 21, 9000-046 Madeira (email: info@hotelmadeira.com). Hotel Madeira was right in the centre of Funchal, just a quick walk to the marina or the Old Town.
There are loads of great hotels for every budget.
How we got there:
We flew direct to Funchal from London Heathrow Terminal 5 with British Airways. There are other carriers to fly with and from other airports. The flight time is around 3.5 hours from London.
Conclusion:
Madeira is Portugal’s best kept secret. You hear whisperings of it but are never told just how special and stunningly beautiful it is. The people are really friendly and love having a chat (especially the taxi drivers). It’s easy to get around with a great public transport system.
The weather is pretty constant staying around the 24C/76F averase for most of the year. The mountains are lush green and the sea a beautiful pallet of greens and blues.
The sunrises high above the clouds are breathtaking and the sunsets equally epic.
Further reading:
If you would like to read some other travel posts of mine just click on the relevant link below:-
