The main Madeira Island is about 57 km long and 23 km wide which means that everything is within easy reach without being required to spend several hours in the car or public transport. The possibility of living different experiences on the same day is quite appealing for families to ensure the little ones don’t get bored.

If you’re travelling with young children, you may find some of the mountains to be too challenging in which case Madeira’s Levadas are the ideal alternative. These shallow waterways cross over the island, providing almost flat routes that wind through dense forest and farmland, and by babbling streams and plunging waterfalls.

Located beside the island’s Old Town is the Campo Almirante Reis Garden where you’ll find the base of the cable car that takes you to Monte. A scenic ride in its own right, the cable car takes you up to the Mount Palace Gardens where you can take in arresting views of the surrounding island before hopping aboard one of Madeira’s most unique oddities, the wicker baskets. Large enough to comfortably accommodate two fully grown adults, the baskets are operated by expert drivers who guide them safely down the slopes, following the tradition set by wealthier local residents as a mode of transport to get down into town from Monte.

Thanks to warm currents coming from the Mediterranean and North Africa, Madeira ‘s coastal waters are home to an abundance of marine life at all times of year. To help you make the most of this biodiverse area, your Travel Counsellor can arrange a boat trip out to see dolphins and other marine life – several species can be seen off Madeira throughout the year, including bottlenose dolphins and pilot and sperm whales. If you are lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a monk seal, one of the rarest sea mammals in the world.

At Cabo Girão, you can stand upon a glass ledge perched some 589 metres above the Atlantic Ocean, overhanging from a soaring cliff. The most daring guests can even look down to see the tumbling waves beneath their feet.

Around the island’s coastline, volcanic rock pools have been carved by nature into the land to form idyllic bathing spots for warm sunny days. On the south side of the island, you can take a swim along the Promenade at the Doca do Cavacas, and on the north coast you can visit the very popular pools at Porto Moniz.

Christmas and New Year are big dates in the Madeiran calendar and whether you’re there for the big days themselves, or during the lead up you’ll feel the magic and joy that these events bring to the island.

Madeira’s Christmas Markets have earned their place on the map of European festive markets, alongside those found in Central Europe. The characterful wooden huts sell delicacies and handicrafts from across Madeira, making ideal gifts to take home for family and friends.