Fly Drive Holidays

Madeira - Coast and History

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Madeira is an excellent destination for those of you wishing to explore on a daily basis without worrying about returning long distances to your base hotel. We have developed two itineraries which take in the delights of Madeira's coastal and mountain areas, combining them with a personal selection of small hotels strategically dotted around the island.

During the last few years Madeira has been lucky enough to obtain substantial funding for the development of new roads and tunnels which have opened up the island somewhat for easier and quicker exploration. However, this has meant that the older, more scenic, roads are now significantly less congested and a pleasure to drive along. It also means that you can take advantage of certain stretches of the new highway to allow you extra time in the more scenic areas or at your hotels. There is a main highway from Machico to Ribeiro Brava in the south as well as new tunnels through the island from south to north between Ribeiro Brava and Sao Vicente and between Machico and Faial. The coastal roads from Porto Moniz in the north west to Sao Vicente and from Calheta in the south west to Ribeiro Brava have also been improved recently.

Summary

DAY 1
Upon your arrival at Funchal airport you will be met by one of the representatives from our car rental company and shown to their office to take delivery of your Group C car (with a/c). It is then a short distance to check-in to your first hotel at Santa Cruz if you wish to freshen up and unload you luggage before exploring Madeira's countryside.
Depending on your arrival time, we suggest that you go for a walk in the Parque do Santo da Serra, which consists mostly of woodland. If you are staying here on a Sunday, you will have the opportunity to see a local market close to the church. If you are short of time then spend a little of it exploring the charming town of Santa Cruz. Along the sea front there is a newly made promenade, stretching from the new marina to the runway of the airport.
Overnight in HOTEL SANTA CATARINA in Santa Cruz.

DAY 2
Today head east to the wild and windswept Ponta de São Lourenço. If you are feeling energetic you might like to take a short walk around the headland - the views are spectacular and the walking here makes a nice change from the levada walking around the rest of the island.
From here it is a short drive to the pretty fishing village of Caniçal, once the most famous whaling village on the island. This practice was outlawed in 1981 - nowadays the only reminders lie in the Museum of Whaling (Museu da Balaia). The owner, once in charge of the whaling station, now devotes his time to marine conservation. Keen filmgoers might spot that the village was one of the locations for the film ‘Moby Dick’ half a century ago. You will certainly find some excellent fish restaurants here.
On the way back to your hotel we suggest that you visit the first capital of Madeira, Machico, now the second biggest city in Madeira and one of the centres for boat building on the island.
Overnight in HOTEL SANTA CATARINA in Santa Cruz.

DAY 3
We suggest you start your day with a visit to Camacha, the wicker-work village. This has been a popular industry in this area for some time due to the abundance of willows which grow near the town. One of the most popular tourist sights here is the modern style church ‘O Relogio’. This used to be the home of a British merchant and was so named after the clock which came from a church near Liverpool! Next to this church, is the Clock Café with its fantastic exhibition of wicker-work articles ranging from small baskets up to complete furniture. This is the only place you can see wicker-work production on the island as it is a cottage industry. Should any larger items take your fancy the shop will ship them home for you!
Next stop is Poiso. This means ‘resting place’ and was a traditional stop for travellers when journeying from the north to the south coast. For stunning views ascend above the clouds to Pico do Arieiro (1810m), the second highest peak on the island. From here you have a fantastic view (weather permitting!) across to both coastlines. If visibility is poor you may like to relax in the cafe at the top where you can wait for the mist to clear for that elusive photograph!
Back to Poiso take the road to Ribeiro Frio (‘cold river’), which has a pretty setting in a wooded valley. Here you may wish to visit the trout hatchery or continue downhill where you find a sign for the Balcões - this is a relatively short (one mile approx.) and flat walk to the viewpoint where you have absolutely spectacular views across ravines and hillsides to Madeira ’s peaks – Ruivo & Arieiro. Upon your return to Ribeiro Frio you can warm up with a hot chocolate or coffee at Victor's -there is usually a roaring fire there on chilly days.
Continue your journey to São Roque do Faial to Santana. Many consider Santana to be one of the most attractive villages on Madeira, due to its stunning location, you must also view the unusual houses, peculiar to this area. These are known in Portuguese as palheiros (‘haylofts’) and are tiny thatched houses shaped like an ‘A’. Next head west along the north coast via São Jorge (recommend a visit to the wonderful church here), Boaventura and Ponta Delgada.
Overnight in HOTEL MONTE MAR PALACE in Ponta Delgada.

DAY 4
This day we recommend that you continue to explore the north coast. São Vicente ’s old town is worth seeing - with its cobbled streets and beautiful church it is another of Madeira ’s prettiest villages. An unusual feature in this area are the Lava Caves. These caves were formed some 400,000 years ago thanks to a volcanic eruption but they were only discovered in 1855 and opened in 1997. After your visit to the caves you can enjoy a wonderful 3D film on the volcanic eruption which formed Madeira - this is included in the entrance fee to the caves.
Continuing along the north coast you will reach Seixal, the centre of the wine growing district. Before reaching Seixal you may want to take a slight diversion to Chão da Ribeira, a beautiful and unspoilt area. Then continue to Porto Moniz, well known for its natural sea pools formed in volcanic rock. You could perhaps take a swim here!
Overnight in HOTEL MONTE MAR PALACE in Ponta Delgada.

DAY 5
Via São Vicente you go up to Encumeada, a pass from where you may see both the north and the south coast. Take the mountain road from Encumeada till Paúl da Serra (‘high moorland’), a plateau measuring 11 miles by 4 miles. This is the only place in Madeira that is flat and is possibly the only place where you will see cattle. If you make a stop at Rabaçal you will have a fantastic view over the green mountains of Madeira.
We suggest you continue along the same road till you reach the cross road above Santa and turn left to go to Ponta do Pargo. If you go down to the lighthouse (Farol) you will be at the westernmost point of the island. This is a part of the island, where you still do not find tunnels and new roads.
Then via Fajã da Ovelha you reach Paúl do Mar.
Overnight in HOTEL PAUL DO MAR in Paúl do Mar.

DAY 6
If you choose to go on via Prazeres, you will have the opportunity to visit a mini Zoo and herb garden. You may like to buy some of their products; they produce all kind of teas and jellies. We also recommend a visit to the village Jardim do Mar. You must park your car at the entrance to the village as Jardim do Mar can only be visited on foot. Take a stroll around the village and down to the promenade (sea defences) – it is quite a charming place; we suggest Joe's Bar for a glass of juice and a snack perhaps.
In Calheta there is a small artificial and protected sandy beach (sand imported from the Canaries). Calheta was once a customs post for sugar exports and the old sugar cane factory can still be visited. From Calheta you can either take the coast road or the older inland road to Ponta do Sol (the main centre for banana production on the island).
Overnight in HOTEL BAÍA DO SOL in Ponta do Sol.

DAY 7
There are different possibilities. You could go to Ribeira Brava (‘wild river’). In the 15th century the town was an important stopping off point for those journeying to Funchal from the north – it still remains a pleasant place to spend a few hours. You may wish to visit one of Madeira ’s finest museums the Ethnographic Museum (Museu Etnografica) – closed Mondays and holidays.
Another must is the quite incredible Cabo Girão. This is the second highest sea cliff in the world and offers fantastic views along the south coast and to the sea a dizzying 580m below you. You could visit Câmara de Lobos, an attractive fishing village whose most famous visitor was Winston Churchill -he liked to go there and do some painting.

Later you could choose to visit the Nun’s valley and/or Funchal, the capital. Back in the 16th century nuns fled their convent in Funchal when it came under attack from pirates. They fled here and founded the village. The location was ideal - surrounded by extinct volcanoes and dwarfed by high mountains on all sides meant that this village was truly hidden away from the outside world. The wonderfully fertile soil also allowed them to be self sufficient. Today it is still agriculturally abundant producing chestnuts and cherries. Chestnuts are used in cakes, soups and as a liqueur (licor de castanha). Every year on 1st November there is a chestnut festival in Curral das Freiras. At the festival you will also see plenty of another drink, this time from cherries, the popular Ginja.
Funchal is a suprisingly compact city and has an abundance of sights to entertain the visitor -a wealth of museums, churches, markets, gardens and a characterful old town to explore. We also recommend that you take the cable car up to the beautiful little village of Monte from where you can toboggan (in a wicker basket!) most of the way back down to Funchal (check times of operation with our local office as they sometimes work mornings only). If you are not extending your stay then for a good overview of Funchal why not rise 150m off the ground in the balloon which is at the promenade. This will give you a fantastic bird's eye view of the whole city. This only operates weather permitting.
Overnight in HOTEL BAÍA DO SOL in Ponta do Sol.

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