As I stepped out of the Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport, I was in total awe; the beautiful deep blue ocean directly ahead, and scenic views of rolling hills to my left and right. I’ve frequented many airports but never been quite as mesmerized by views as this. Little did I know I’d be in awe of every corner of Madeira’s dramatic scenery, botanical wonders, and its traditionally tasty gastronomy. My only wish was that I had more than four days to discover the tropical oasis set so perfectly on the west coast of Africa. Four days of adventuring gave us just a mere taste of this island’s beautiful offerings, and has left us hungry to return. Hope these fifteen photos give you some inspiration to add Madeira to your bucket list!
Cabo Girão
At 580 metres high, you’ll lose your breath both by looking horizontally at the landscape, and looking down through the glass boardwalk at the sea and cliff beneath your feet.
Pico de Arieiro
We ran out of time on our trip to do the 7km hike between Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo. However, sipping coffee and drinking poncho (traditional alcoholic drink from Madeira) on top of Pico de Arieiro was a more luxurious way to warm up and admire the amazing landscape.
Estalagem da Ponta do Sol Hotel
Perched on a cliff on Madeira’s south coast, our hotel of choice was the perfect place to rest out tired bodies after long days of exploring, relax in the infinity pool and Jacuzzi both offering panoramic views (okay so the pool was a little chilly), and refuel with incredible dinners and breakfasts with the freshest ingredients.
Levada Das 25 Fontes
A trip to Madeira isn't complete without a levada walk. The levadas are what locals refer to the open canal system developed in the early 16th century to distribute water from the rainfall on the north to the drier sun parched regions of the south as. We opted to walk the Levada das 25 Fontes walk, as it offered the full package; waterfalls, lush vegetation all on a moderate 9km walk!
Eat Well
We only grazed the surface of Madeira’s gastronomy scene, but were blessed with delicious food and wine (and poncho) we still talk about today. Surprisingly, we had one of our best meals right at Hotel Estalagem where we stayed, with stunning food and views of the ocean, a delicious bottle of Madeiran wine. While the Black Scabbard fish (Espada) is one of the ugliest fish I have seen, its taste is gorgeous and I simply couldn’t get enough. Another highlight was our lunch at La Parreira, a local joint serving incredible espetada (skewer with beef seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic and cooked over wood chips). Other highlights included Vila do Peixe, where you select your fish of choice and have them cook it to perfection, and Vila Do Carne (its sister restaurant) where we cooked our meat on a hot stone to our liking. The sister restaurants are both in Camara do Lobos with panoramic views of the fishing village, which is full of character.
Road trip
One of the beautiful things about road tripping around the island was the ability to stop randomly and appreciate Madeira's beauty whenever we pleased. We were in such awe of the island, and did lots of pit stops to soak it in and take pictures.
Cristiana Ronaldo Statue (Airport)
If you're a football fan, or even better, a Real Madrid fan like my husband, you'll be excited to queue for a photo with Madeira's own Cristiano Renaldo statue (that looks nothing like him in my opinion)!
While out time was too short, our next visit to Madeira will include a toboggan ride in Madeira’s wicker sledges, a visit to the botanic park, and more exploration of the island by hiking and eating our way through it! Can’t wait to see this beautiful island again.