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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The Madeira Nature Reserve was created in 1982 in order to preserve a huge natural heritage, which is part of the world's heritage and includes some species in danger of extinction, as well as some high quality human habitats. It has been classified as Bioenergetic Reserve and it contains flora and fauna unique in the whole world.

The Reserve covers a large proportion of Madeira Island (about two thirds of its territory), including areas of total and partial natural preservation, protected landscapes and leisure zones.

Main Protected Areas in the Madeira Nature Reserve

Ilhas Desertas Nature Reserve

The Ilhas Desertas (total area of 1 421 hectares) include the Ilhéu Chão, Deserta Grande and Bugio. They are at about 22 miles to the southeast of the town of Funchal. The islands constitute the last refuge of the monk seal named MonachusMonachus. The presence of these mammals led the Regional Government of Madeira to create the protected area of Ilhas Desertas in 1990. In 1992 the European Council classified these islands as Bioenergetics Reserve. It is important to mention that the total ban of scuba fishing in this reserve. Advance permission from the park authorities is also needed before any vessel can anchor or visit Deserta Grande Island. No boats are allowed to sail through the southern part of the reserve.

Ilhas Selvagens Nature Reserve

The Selvagens islands include two groups of small islands. Most notable of these are Selvagem Grande, Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora. They are about 180 miles from Madeira Island and form the southernmost territory belonging to Portugal.
Ilhas Selvagens Nature Reserve was created in 1971 and is one of the oldest in Portugal. Today, it’s the only Portuguese reserve formally classified as such by the EC.
The flora of the Selvagens Islands at its most impressive on Selvagem Pequena and Ilhéu de Fora; here grazing animals have never been introduced. Amongst the ninety species that make up the plant heritage of the Selvagens Islands, ten are endemic.
Because of the favourable nesting conditions for seabirds, these islands are also known as bird sanctuaries.

Parcial do Garajau Nature Reserve

This reserve, created in 1986, is on the south coast of Madeira Island, at the extreme east of Funchal Bay. It is a marine park that includes a strip running from the high tide line and into the sea to a depth of 50 metres. Amongst the fauna of this park are larger fish such as the Epinephelus guaza (mero in Portuguese) and also a variety of other coastal species. Groups of Atlantic manta rays (manta birostris) can be seen here every year. Their size and graceful movement has transformed the area into an international attraction. Any fishing activity is forbidden inside the park. Navigation is also highly controlled. Only small boats are allowed to approach the beaches. There is infrastructure and support for skin-diving.

Rocha do Navio Nature Reserve

This area falls under the administration of Santana, and was the last park to be created in 1997. It was established in response to demands from the local population and includes a strip of sea, a potential habitat for sea wolf and a small island on which one can see rare plants that inhabit the cliff habitats of Macaronesia.
There is open access by boat, but underwater fishing and the use of fishing nets are forbidden.

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Another ‘out and back’ walk that visits the highest summit, Pico Ruivo. The trail climbs along the ridge that separates the cliffs of Faial and those of Santana.


Distance: 2,8 Km (+ 2,8 Km regresso)

Time: 1h 30m

Highest point: 1861 m

Lowest point: 1535 m

Start: Achada do Teixeira

Finish: Achada do Teixeira

Weather subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing

Beginning at Achada do Teixeira this trail climbs up to the island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo (1861m). Next to the Pico Ruivo government house you can gain access to 3 other trails that take the hiker to different parts of the island: PR 1 - Pico do Areeiro footpath (5,1/6,4 Km), which takes you to Pico do Areeiro, the island’s 2nd highest peak (1816m); PR 1.3 - Encumeada Footpath (8.6 Km), goes along the central mountain range to the West; and PR 1.1- Ilha Footpath (8.2 Km), which descends to the parish of Ilha. Along the climb you will meet several shelters as the change in climate is sudden and sharp and the area often becomes covered in a sea of clouds or rests above it.

This area is part of the European network of important areas - Natura 2000 - and is known as the central mountain massif. It covers from the highest peaks to 1200m above sea level. It is characterised by herbaceous and bush vegetation that is well-adapted to big temperature variations, heavy rains and strong winds, and is where you can find many types of heather (Erica scoparia ssp maderensis and Erica aborea), which many years ago were used to produce charcoal.

The trail climbs along the ridge that separates the cliffs of Faial and those of Santana, and so allows for an excellent view to the left of the Ribeira Seca valley, topped by Pico das Torres, and Pico do Areeiro in the background. On the right-hand side you can see the “gables” of the Santana mountain range, from where in the distance you can see the Queimadas Forest Park and further ahead Achada do Marques (a small hamlet known for its straw lofts and traditional fields), which appears in the centre of the Ribeira dos Arcos valley. Towards the interior we can see the Ribeira Grande valley that begins at the “mouths” of Caldeirão Verde and Caldeirão do Inferno.

When visibility is good to the East you can see the rocky outcrop of Penha d’Águia, the Funduras mountain range and part of the S. Lourenço Point (far eastern part of Madeira island).

At Achada do Teixeira you can also visit the “Standing Man” (“Homem em pé”), a basalt formation which you will find walking down the cliff, after passing the Achada do Teixeira government house.

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This walk begins with a relatively short ascent to the highest summit of Madeira, Pico Ruivo, from where it begins a long and almost continuous descent to the village of Ilha, a drop of 1376m. The trail crosses through two types of eco-system that are part of the network of important community sites - Natura 2000: the central mountain massif and the Laurisilva forest.


Distance: 8,2 km

Time: 3h

Highest point: 1764 m

Lowest point: 485m

Start: Casa de Abrigo do Pico Ruivo

Finish: Freguesia da Ilha

weather is subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing;

This trail incorporates a drop of 1376 metres, and the climb up or down should be done slowly, taking in the landscape.
Starting at the Pico Ruivo government house, and after climbing up to the mountain’s highest peak, following PR1.2, it goes down to the Ilha parish. A the hamlet of Vale da Lapa you will walk over the Vale da Lapa tunnel where the trail meets PR9 - Levada do Caldeirão Verde, which begins and ends at Queimadas Forest Park.

The trail crosses through two types of eco-system that are part of the network of important community sites - Natura 2000: the central mountain massif and the Laurisilva forest. The former, from the highest peaks to 1200m, is characterised by herbaceous and bush vegetation that is well-adapted to big temperature variations, heavy rains and strong winds. Here you can see heather plants (Erica scoparia) that are hundreds of years old. Many years ago heather was used for the production of charcoal. As the altitude lessens the indigenous Madeiran forest appears - The Lasurisilva Forest, located in the fog area, between 1200 and 400 metres above sea level. This forest is especially important as a “water producer”, as it condenses the water in the mists on its leaves and takes out large quantities of water, sending it into the ground from where it fills the springs and streams.

You may also see the Bisbis (Regulus ignicapus madeirensis), the smallest of the birds that inhabit Madeira, as well as the curious Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) which happily approaches hikers. If you are careful you may spot the Trocaz Pigeon (Columba trocaz trocaz), flying across the deepest valleys, where the Laurisilva forest is at its thickest.

The hamlet of Ilha became a parish through a decree of the Regional Government in 1989, and it is part of the Santana Municipal area. It covers an area of 1500 hectares, bordered by the parishes of S. Jorge and Santana and the line between the municipal areas of Câmara de Lobos and Santana, which lies at the top of the Pico Ruivo mountain.
As it was the south side of Madeira Island which was first colonised, a lot of land was distributed to colonists on the North side. This practice explains the original name of Ilha which was Jorge Pinto, the name of the man who set up a majorat there in 1556, covering a small area of Santana and another larger area in S. Jorge, which became known as “island majorat” (morgadio da Ilha). The local economy is based upon agriculture and its principal social characteristic has been that of a large amount of emigration, which continues to be felt there to this day.

Following the asphalt road stop by Achada do Marques, a small hamlet known for its typical “poios” (agricultural fields) and old straw lofts.

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Linking the two highest peaks on Madeira, this is a stunning walk, involves tunnels, and some steep ascents and descents, with fabulous views of the central core of the mountains.



Distance: 7 Km / 5,6 Km

Time: 3h 30m/3h

Highest point: 1861 m

Lowest point: 1542 m

Start: Miradouro (Belvedere) do Pico do Areeiro

Finish: Pico Ruivo

weather is subject to frequent changes, take warm clothing;
tunnels en route, carry a torch;
carry drinking water.

This trail is unique in that it links the two highest peaks of Madeira Island, Pico Ruivo (1861 m) and Pico do Areeiro (1817 m), traversing part of the Central Mountain Massif, an area integrated in the Natura 2000 Network.

Starting from the Pousada (inn) of Pico do Areeiro, within a short distance we come upon the Ninho da Manta (Buzzard’s Nest) belvedere. From this platform where this bird of prey is supposed to have bred, one can see the valley of Fajã da Nogueira, where some Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinnus) breed, São Roque do Faial and a large part of the Central Mountain Range.

This is the only known breeding site in the world of Zino’s petrel (Pterodroma madeira), a species endemic to the island and considered to be the most endangered seabird of Europe.

To reach Pico Ruivo, we must go around Pico das Torres up a steep incline of steps carved in the rock and then descend, the most difficult part of this trail being the final climb to the Shelter at Pico Ruivo. But the thought of reaching the highest point of the island is a driving force.

Along the way, we find various caves dug out of the volcanic tuff where the cattle took refuge and which served as shelter for the shepherds; we can also see various birds, some of the more important ones being species restricted to Macaronesia, the canary (Serinus canaria), Berthelot’s pipit (Anthus berthelottii madeirensis) and the plain swift (Apus unicolor), as well as other subspecies found only in the Madeira archipelago: the Madeira rock sparrow (Petronia petronia madeirensis), chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs madeirensis), and the firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis).

For those who enjoy plants, this area is known as a high-altitude heath and is marked by the presence of various endemisms of Madeira, which include the Madeira violet (Viola paradoxa), Madeira grey heather (Erica madeirensis), the rock orchid (Orchis scopolorum), and the Madeira kidney (Anthyllis lemanniana).

Near the Pico Ruivo shelter, you will find footpath PR 1.2, which leads to Achada do Teixeira. At Achada do Teixeira you can see “Homem em pé” (Standing Man), a basalt rock formation found on the way down the slope after you pass the shelter at Achada do Teixeira.

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Levadas are water courses running round the mountains and were built by the first settlers to carry water to inaccessible farmland. Today they are one of Madeira’s greatest tourist attractions.


Madeira has a fantastic network of trails and levadas. There are more than 200 levadas crisscrossing the island’s basalt rock masses, taking hikers into a rare natural world.
Along these irrigation channels you will come across species of fauna and flora found hardly anywhere else in the world, in Madeira’s traditional Laurissilva Forest, which has been declared a World Natural Heritage Site.
You can see birds like the long-toed pigeon (Columba trocaz), Zino’s petrel (Pterodroma madeira), Madeiran chaffinch (Fringila coelebs maderensis) and Madeiran firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus maderensis) and trees like the stinklaurel (Ocotea foetens), laurel (Laurus azorica) or Madeira mahogany (Persea indica), along with a variety of other unique shrubs, plants and mosses.
Most of the routes are accessible, though there are varying degrees of difficulty. We recommend that you buy programmes organised by travel agencies or holiday activity companies, as the walks they organise use the proper equipment and are accompanied by professional mountain guides.

Never try these walks alone.

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Taking a walk on the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo is reinvigorating, exciting and highly rewarding. Any hiker will find in the trails and levadas (man-made waterways across the mountains) of Madeira a challenge as well as a pleasant surprise. However, most trails pass through mountains in the heart of nature, and for this reason it is very important to get adequately prepared before starting a hike, so that you do not jeopardise your own safety.

Here we shall mention some codes of conduct and safety regulations that should always be followed.

Walking Code:

* Avoid noise or actions against nature
* Do not take plants or animals with you
* Do not throw rubbish away (tissues do not easily decompose)
* Do not light fires
* If you are a smoker do not throw cigarettes ends on the floor, keep them for the dust-bin
* Do not change or damage the signs

For your own safety...

* Before starting out make sure you have update instructions on the route
* Let someone else know where you’re going and when you expect to return
* Be sure to confirm the time it will take so that you can finish before nightfall
* Take some extra food and water with you
* Wear suitable clothes and shoes
* If possible take a mobile phone with you
* In case of heavy rain or strong winds do not go on and/or turn back using the same route
* Don’t take risks

Contacts:

* Emergency number: 112
* Civil Protection: 291 700 112

The recommended routes for hikes within the Autonomous Region of Madeira are considered as small routes (PR). These are duly identified and described so that the users may, right from the start, be aware of the reality they will find. The trails are maintained, inspected and signposted by regional governmental organisations, especially by the Direcção Regional de Florestas (Regional Forest Board), which has helped by transferring some content through one of their projects, the Tourmac Project.

The walking routes recommended in the Autonomous Region of Madeira have been established and regulated by Regional Legislative Decree no. 7-B/200/M.

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The Madeira Archipelago has four harbours that can cater to small, medium-sized or large vessels.
The ports in the capital, Funchal and Porto Moniz and Seixal on the north coast of Madeira and the one on neighbouring Porto Santo are all surrounded by delightful scenery.

Port of Funchal
The Port of Funchal is a 15-minute walk from the city centre. It lies in a magnificent bay nestling between the blue of the sea and green of the mountains.
For many years, until the Second World War, Madeira was a stopping point for the great ocean-going liners, thanks to its strategic mid-Atlantic location. It was an important port of call for the routes between Europe and Africa and America. Many cruise ships call at Funchal today.
Some of the features of Madeira that have contributed to its success in the cruise market are its strong tourist tradition, based on peace and safety, the support services for visitors, and its friendly inhabitants. No less important are geographical factors like environment, climate and location.
The region’s ports are on the cruise circuits between Madeira, the Canary islands and North Africa. There are also some routes operating from the western Mediterranean or the Atlantic coast of Europe, including Lisbon.
Funchal is also an important port of call for annual trans-Atlantic repositioning voyages by ships transferring from America to Europe, and vice-versa.

Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz is on the north coast of Madeira. It has a pleasant sea front, which has further enhanced this area was already so popular with tourists thanks to its natural swimming pools.
Porto Moniz harbour is protected by a 120-metre breakwater and also has a heliport, which can be used not only for tourist purposes but also for emergencies requiring immediate air transport.

Seixal
This small northern town has a small harbour with docking facilities for fishing boats and other small vessels. The Seixal Yacht Club will later be built here to encourage a number of nautical activities.

Machico
A small harbour has been built in the bay of Machico, on Madeira’s east coast. It can take small and medium size vessels.
Nearby is a pleasant promenade with a number of leisure and recreational facilities.

Caniçal Commercial Port
This port is located on the east coast of Madeira and will soon be the main facility for commercial cargo arriving in or leaving Madeira. It has a container dock and a 400-metre quay with moorings for three container ships at the same time and another, 271-metre quay for grain vessels and RO/RO ships.

Porto Santo
The island of Porto Santo is about 40 miles from Madeira and has a harbour near the marina suitable for different types of vessels.
Make the most of your stay and get to know the tranquillity of this charming island, well-known for its reliable weather its warm, crystalline sea, its beaches of fine golden sand and its peace and quiet.

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Madeira International Airport in Santa Cruz is the main gateway to the region and is used regularly by the main European airlines.
Its runway is an impressive feat of engineering.

It takes around 1hr 30 min to fly from Madeira to any of the Portuguese airports and a little over two hours to get to airports in the centre of Europe. Flights to Porto Santo take 15 minutes.

Madeira Airport is the largest construction project ever undertaken on the island. It used to be called Funchal Airport. Its runway has been extended from 1,600 m to its present 2,781 min length. The new part of the runway is built partially over the sea and is very impressive. It is supported by180 pillars constituting a monument to engineering. Each pillar is 3 metresin diameter and the tallest are 50 metres high.

The modern, spacious terminal building has a tourist office, a residential tourism booking office, a post office, car rental services, travel agencies, exchange bureaus, a restaurant, bars and shops. It also has two Netpoints for free wireless internet access.

The airport is about 16 km, a 15 minute ride, from Funchal.

Go to the ANAM - Aeroportos e Navegação Aérea da Madeira , S.A. website for information on arrivals and departures for Madeira and Porto Santo. You can also find regular flight schedules at a number of world airports.

Madeira Airport (Aeroporto da Madeira)
9100-105 Santa Cruz
Phone.: 291 520700
Fax: 291 520761
E-mail: anam@anam.pt
www.anam.pt

ICAO Code: LPMA
IATA Code: FNC
AFTN: LPMAYDYA

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Before planning your trip, find out the best way to get to the archipelago, the papers you need, customs formalities and health precautions.


By air
It is easy to fly to Madeira or Porto Santo. The daily flights between Lisbon and Funchal take 1 hr 25 min. It takes about 15 minutes to fly from one island to the other.
There are two airports, Madeira International Airport and Porto Santo Airport.

By ship

A common port of call for cruise ships, the ports of Funchal and Porto Santo are the arrival points for the islands as well as the ports of departure for other destinations.

Between June and September, Spanish shipping company Naviera Armas offers a ferry boat service for passengers and vehicles, using the vessel “Volcán de Tijarafe”, between the ports of Tenerife and Las Palmas, on the Canary Islands, and Portimão, in the Algarve, with a stopover in Funchal when travelling both ways. This makes it possible for you to come to Madeira with your car.

The daily trips between the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo take about 2 hours and 30 minutes, leaving from the Port of Funchal, these trips being made by the ferry-boat "Lobo Marinho" from Porto Santo Line which also allows the transport of vehicles.

It is easy to get around the islands thanks to the modern road network, which has been significantly improved in recent years. Practically all the places of interest are easily accessible.

Documents required
Visitors coming from EU countries belonging to the Schengen Agreement have unrestricted entry. Visitors from non-Schengen countries need a valid passport and, in some cases, a visa.

Customs Formalities
There are no restrictions on goods leaving the archipelago. However, if the customs officers think the quantity is excessive, they may ask you to prove that the items are for your personal use.

Vaccinations and health precautions
You do not need any special vaccines before coming to the archipelago. Emergency hospital treatment is free of charge for European Union citizens and there is a private health service to provide medical assistance to visitors of other nationalities.

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The town of Calheta is just over 31 km from Funchal and the sun is its best friend. It is also here that we find one of the oldest parishes on the island.

Calheta was one of the first areas in Madeira to be farmed. The municipality was once linked to the primary sector, and “industry” used to be important here. There were once as many as eight sugar cane processing factories, though only one of them still works today.
Its sea front has been refurbished with the construction of a marina, surrounded by spacious gardens, and an artificial white-sanded beach.
Two of its parishes, Paul do Mar and Jardim do Mar, challenge surfers to ride their spectacular waves, considered among the best in Europe.
There are several restaurants in these fishing villages, where you can taste a variety of fish dishes.
The atmosphere in Prazeres is of one incomparable peace and charm, where time stands still and no-one is ever in a hurry.
From Calheta you can go up to Paul da Serra a 1,500-metre-high plateau, where there is a view of both Madeira’s coasts. You can get to from Rabaçal from there. Here the untouched Madeiran forest covers the mountains with a green mantle.
You can start out from Rabaçal to walk along some of the most beautiful, impressive paths into the depths of the island, until you find yourself surrounded by the Laurissilva Forest.

Miradouro da Fonte do Bispo
This belvedere is on the Paul da Serra plateau and nature lovers will feel the sensation of being enveloped by the exuberant vegetation of the Laurissilva Forest.

Miradouro do Farol da Ponta do Pargo
This belvedere is at the island’s westernmost point and from here we can see the rugged landscape from the lighthouse to Sítio das Achadas da Cruz.

Casa das Mudas Art Centre
This cultural facility in Calheta is divided into two parts, a mansion built in the 16th century that belonged to a granddaughter of João Gonçalves Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira, and a new, modern wing that blends in perfectly with the surrounding scenery.
This cultural centre is designed to house a variety of exhibitions, musical performances, plays, conferences and many other events.
Until 28 February, the Casa das Mudas Art Centre put on a fantastic art exhibition where visitors were able to admire works by such famous artists as Francis Bacon, David Salle, Eric Fischl, Picasso and Dali.

Vale de Amores, Calheta
Phone: 291 822 808
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.to 7 p.m.
Entrance fee: EUR 5.00
Pensioners: EUR 2.50

Population: 11,946
Bathing areas: Calheta’s white sandy beach and pebble beaches at Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar.

in www.madeiratourism.org

If you need a place to relax and enjoy the Nature, Hotel Pico da Urze is the right choice. BOOK NOW

Here in the Atlantic Ocean, not too far from the centre of Europe, we find the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo.
The archipelago is famous for its friendly people, exceptional natural beauty and mild climate.
Madeira Islands are just a short trip from Europe, to a destination where you can combine holidays on the beach, in the mountains or in the city.
Madeira and Porto Santo are the ideal places to relax and restore the balance of mind and body that you need to face the stress of daily life.

Madeira is also very famous for its natural environment, where the most important feature is the Laurissilva Forest, a relic of the Tertiary Age, which has been classified by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site. It is no less well known for its year-round outdoor sports.
The island’s mild climate and a water temperature that never goes below 17ºC mean that you can be on the go all the time. Its traditions and customs, visible in its old buildings, museums and churches and even in regional products like its wine and embroidery, have lasted for centuries and deserve your very special attention.
Porto Santo is 40 km from Madeira and is quite simply heaven on earth! This island, with a 9‑kilometre beach of golden sand washed by warm, crystalline waters is the ideal refuge for a quiet, relaxing holiday.
As for the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens Islands, take a trip there and, in a few hours, you will get to know some of the rarest fauna and flora on the planet.
The Desertas Islands are about 22 miles southwest of Funchal and have been made a biogenetic reserve, which, today, is that last Atlantic refuge of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the rarest seal in the world.
The Selvagens Islands are made up of two groups of small islands, Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena, and are about 180 miles from Madeira.
These islands also have a nature reserve, where we can find some of the rarest flora on the planet. They are also considered a bird sanctuary because of their ideal nesting conditions for sea birds.

in www.madeiratourism.org

If you need a place to relax and enjoy the Nature, Hotel Pico da Urze is the right choice. BOOK NOW