Madeira's agricultural heritage results from centuries of cultivation, during which thousands upon thousands of poios or terraces have been built. The poios rise from sea level up the mountainsides. These terraces have won a long battle with the stark Madeira terrain, which is so rough and steep that the islanders have created a lasting monument to their ingenuity and skills.

The imagination gasps at the dangers overcome, the daring and above all the labour involved in construction of retaining walls that hold the terraces together. Consider the prowess necessary to tame and channel the water and build the vast and intricate network of levadas or irrigation channels. This is indeed the work of centuries.
The main agricultural products are grape for the island’s famous wine, and bananas. Production of subtropical fruits such as avocados, mangoes, "anonas" (sugar apples), passion fruit, guavas, pitangas, kiwi fruits, etc, is starting to gain insignificance. The wine grape was introduced to the island during the first quarter of the 15th century. The first vine variety to be planted was the Malvasia from Napoli di Malvasia in the Greek island of Minos. In the 17th century the Sercial, Verdelho and Boal vine varieties were introduced. These four varieties form the backbone of Madeira’s fortified wine. Vines are normally cultivated in rows a metre and a half high and planted up to 400 metres above sea level. In the highest terrain farmers use rootstock of a climbing vine that wraps itself around and is supported by trees.
The banana tree was introduced to the island in the mid 16th century, and it slowly spread across the whole island from the south coast. The first kind of banana to be introduced was the "banana da terra" or plantain which is no longer planted. Nowadays the most cultivated one is the Chinese dwarf banana.
One of the strongest characteristics of the built environment of these islands is the rural settlement. Away from the towns are scattered the charming and brightly coloured houses of farming communities that set off the natural landscape, enhancing its beauty and character.

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One of the greatest tourist attractions of the Island of Madeira lies in its spectacular landscape. Its luxurious vegetation continues to fascinate all those closely drawn to nature.
This archipelago, included in the bio-geographic region of Macaronesia, retains a natural heritage of great scientific value, distinguished by UNESCO as World Natural Heritage.



Madeira's indigenous Laurissilva forest, occupying an area of 15 thousand hectares, forms part of this vast layer of vegetation that covers the island. This ancient forest dates back to the Tertiary Era and includes very large trees amongst which is the Til, (Ocotea foetens), the Laurel-Tree, (Laurus azorica) and the Brazilian Mahogany, (Persea indica). Surrounding the trees are mosses and many other bushes, including heather and ferns.
Amongst the bird life there are rare species such as the Long-toed pigeon, (Columba trocaz) and Zino's petrel or the Madeira Freira petrel, (Pterodroma madeira).
In a continuous effort to preserve nature in its primitive form, five different areas of the Region were declared Nature Reserves. These are the Reserves of the Desertas and Selvagens Islands, the Nature Reserve of Rocha do Navio and the Garajau and Ponta de São Lourenço Reserves. Through them, the various endemic forms of flora and fauna are identified.
But beyond this invaluable heritage, the island of Madeira also contains a vast array of exotic plants of every form and colour, the majority of which originate from various other parts of the world and have adapted here as well as they do in their native environment.
"Macaronésia" is an ancient geographic region in which Madeira Islands are included, and whose unique characteristic is that it preserves the remains of a great forest dating back to the Tertiary Era before the great ice ages. This forest once covered huge extensions of the European Continent. But glaciations led to the massive destruction of the vegetation that once covered Europe. But thanks to the beneficial influence of an ocean climate, these same species were able to survive in the Atlantic Islands.
And so Madeira Island survived as the only region in the world where one can find representative samples of this ancient forest. It is well preserved and contains a large number of species.
The Laurissilva forest occupies a coastal strip from 300 to 1300 metres above sea level, and plays a crucial role in soil preservation and the capture and filtration of rainfall on the island. Considered a living relic, almost all of it has been classified as part of the Madeira Nature Reserve, and is deemed a Total Preservation Area.
This is a unique rarity which has not yet been entirely quantified. It was awarded the distinction of UNESCO World Natural Heritage, on the 2nd December, 1999.This new position of the Region in relation to the rest of the world, enables it to be seen for its true and specific value, as a biocultural heritage for all humanity.

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This energetic ridge walk begins just below Pico Ruivo, the highest summit, and heads west, high above steep, wooded slopes to the mountain pass at Encumeada.


Distance: 11,2 Km

Time: 6 h

Highest point: 1761 m

Lowest point: 1000 m

Start: Pico Ruivo Shelter

Finish: Encumeada

Weather subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing
The path may be slippery, wear anti-slip footwear
Carry sufficient drinking water

Starting at Achada do Teixeira and following along PR 1.2- Pico Ruivo Footpath leading to the Pico Ruivo Shelter, you will find signs indicating the following routes: PR 1- Pico do Areeiro Footpath, leading to Madeira’s 2nd highest peak (1817m); and PR 1.1- Ilha Footpath, which descends to the parish of Ilha.The beginning of the trail to Encumeada begins a few metres above the Pico Ruivo Shelter.

Marked by frequent climbs and descents, the trail winds along at elevations between 1800 and 1000 metres as it heads towards Encumeada.

Extremely beautiful landscapes await travellers as they cross two types of ecosystems, both of which are part of the European Network of Sites of Community Interest - Natura 2000 Network: the Central Mountainous Massif and the Laurisilva Forest.

As you progress along the trail, you will pass from the volcanic precipices of the island that are characteristic of the phytoclimatic levels above 1400m (high-altitude heath) to the enveloping settings covered by species of the Laurisilva forest, such as the Madeira laurels (Ocotea foetens); laurels, or bay trees (Laurus azorica); Lily-of-the-Valley trees (Clethra arborea); an endemic buckthorn, sanguinhos (Rhamnus glandulosa); the flowering pride of Madeira (Echium candivcans); the very rare Madeiran orchid (Dactylorhiza foliosa) and Mandon's Chrysanthemum (Argyranthemum pinnatifidum).

Along the trail you will find various caves (furnas) dug out of the rocks, such as the Furna da Lapa da Cadela, which in former times served as a refuge for men who passed by as they went about cutting heath (Erica scopariassp maderensis and Erica arborea) to be used for stakes, firewood, or making charcoal.

From the junction of Boca das Torrinhas you can see panoramic views of the majestic valleys of Curral das Freiras. As you near Encumeada the feeling you are in the middle of an island will increase, as you will have the thrill of contemplating landscapes of the southern slope (Serra d’Água) as well as the valley of São Vicente to the north.

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