Even for the experienced American traveler, Madeira may still be off the beaten path
When I’ve asked colleagues who have visited mainland Portugal what the food is like, they’ve all had similar comments – very good and a lot of bacalao (salted cod). With its fertile soil, locals say that you can grow just about anything in Madeira. The range of dishes featuring exceptionally fresh food with locally sourced fruits and vegetables is mouth-watering. Main dishes focus on fish, pork, and beef – no
Visitors to Madeira can expect wonderful infrastructure. The highway system connects the entire island though a series of modern bridges and tunnels. The historic city center of Funchal has a lovely port, Old Town, and is easy to walk around enjoying the shops featuring local crafts, restaurants, poncha bars, a central market, and a place to taste / buy Madeira wine. Every month, there seems to be something to celebrate in town, but New Year’s Eve, Carnival, and the Flower Festival (in April / May) are prime times to experience the Madeiran spirit. In terms of the weather, you can expect some rain in January and February, but it is quite mild year-round. If you are headed toward higher
The island may appear small, but it has so much to see and do, I would recommend staying for at least 5 nights. Utilizing the capital city of Funchal as the base for a hub-and-spoke vacation, you can visit the four different areas of the island. In about an hour, you can access the rugged north shore with lush endemic plants, vineyards, and waterfalls. Although Madeira Wine is established, table wines are starting to be produced and showcased such as the Quinta do Barbusano winery in picturesque Sao Vicente. Travel less than an hour east for mountain peaks and views of the nearby uninhabited islands. The south coast is sunny and full of terraced banana farms. The
Some of the villages near Funchal are very charming such as Câmara de Lobos. The small, picturesque fishing village is home to poncha, a local beverage that combines a high-proof liquor, fruit juice, and honey. It is served in small glasses and the tasty concoction packs a punch. They say that if you have more than 2 glasses, you’ll soon be fluent in Portuguese! The town of Santana is also a popular excursion where the traditional houses have a-frame roofs that are thatched with straw. During the month of December, the village is decorated with lights and there is a Christmas market full of local goods.
If you’re interested in learning more about the variety of hotels, activities, and sights of the island, check out our webinar recording or take a look at our ebrochure which contains our top picks for Madeira. For more personal insights about the destination, I’d recommend you read this article from TravelAge West.
Colleagues and friends often ask me about my travels, looking for recommendations for their future trips and places to add to their bucket lists. It only took a few days here to convince me that not only should Madeira be on your vacation list, but it deserves to be the very top spot!