ryanm- Monte Palace
Located only 10 minutes away from the capital Funchal, Monte is an affordable and assessable Location, making it a perfect day trip. Monte Palace is a lush green paradise, with 70.000 square meters of diverse horticulture, impressive architecture and rich history. Due to Madeira’s sub-tropical climate, plants from all over the world are able to thrive on the island, and Monte Palace exhibits this diversity to perfection. The oriental garden is tranquillity at its finest, Japanese Koi Carp fish can be seen glistening, in the gentle bridge linked streams. For history buffs, Monte palace was also the resting place of Emperor Charles I of Austria, the last ruler of the infamous Habsburg dynasty. Exploring Monte palace requires a fair amount of walking, but not to worry you will find a quaint cafe within the gardens, which wine connoisseurs will be chuffed to acquire a small complimentary glass of the world renowned Madeira wine. The pricing is very reasonable seeing you could easily make a day out of your visit (€12.50 per adult, free entry for under 15s).
2. Take a hike!
The Jurassic like terrain of Madeira is a marvel to behold. When approaching the landing at Madeira airport, you will quickly understand why Madeira is such a popular destination for venturesome hikers. One of the most notorious trails, takes place right in the heart of the island from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. This hike is very popular so you won’t be alone, the trail takes you through tough terrain with a varying degree of elevation and stunning views above and beyond crisp white clouds. The most convenient way to access this trial is via taxi from Funchal, which take somewhere in the range of 22 minutes to get to Pico do Arieiro, where you will find a cafe at the starting point. It’s a good idea to stock up on supplies, especially on water. While the views are breath-taking, the hike is considered to be challenging, regardless of it being 12.1-km, there’s hardly any shade on the track, tough terrain and a lot of uphill walking on the way back.
3. Meet our fellow marine mammals
The Atlantic Ocean has the most abundant Dolphin population, Madeira being Cradled by the these rich bountiful waters, makes it the perfect destination to spot our fellow aquatic mammals. It’s quite the spectacle seeing dolphins glistening in synchronized movements, without a doubt a memorable experience to be cherished. These waters do not only contain dolphins, but enchanting whales and exotic bird life along the coast. Dolphin/Whale watching make for a pretty affordable day out, with package prices ranging from about €21-€58, with variation in what’s included in the packages. The basic packages tend to not include catering and transportation, while the more high-end packages often include transportation, catering, alcoholic beverages and an opportunity for snorkelling. The starting point for these whale watching experiences, us almost always around Funchal marina, making it convenient and accessible.
4. Wine tasting
Wine lovers would be glad to know, that Madeira is the home of the infamous Madeira wine. Madeira wine has been enjoyed and cherished, by some of the most infamous historical figures, Madeira wine was Thomas Jefferson’s personal favourite it was even used to toast the Declaration of Independence. Some of the distinct characteristics of Madeira wine are, caramel notes, dried fruits and burnt sugar making it an excellent dessert wine. Several wine tasting tours are available on the island, such as Wine Tours Madeira who offer a full day tour including, transportation to and from the vineyards of the scenic north, getting to see the entire production process, a traditional meal and visiting various Madeira wine makers and a lot of tasting, to just name a few. Wine tours in general are priced more on the high-end in regard to tours, however for a true wine connoisseur (or someone who just enjoys a drink), who can appreciate the history and craftsmanship behind a unique PDO protected wine, the price validates itself.
5. Take a volcanic dip
Dotted across the island, in Madeira you can find several natural pools formed by Lava. Dump the chlorine dense pool of the Hotel, and experience the refreshing crystalline Atlantic water these volcanic pools have to offer. Most of these pools are located in the scenic town of Porto Moniz, in the north west of the Island accessible by taxi or by frequent buses, however some can be found in Funchal such as Pocas do Gomes. These crisp natural pools, have an entrance fee ranging from about €3-€5.50 in terms of price, as they usually have shower and changing facilities on site. Keep in mind these are natural pools, so are not temperature controlled and can become very popular during peak season.
