Madeira - "The Beautiful Pearl of the Sea"

Noreen Lane 24 February 2013
I recently visited the island of Madeira with a group of Travel Agents. Madeira is an island located in the Mid-Atlantic and is about 1000 kilometres south west of Portugal and 600 kilometres west of the coast of Morocco. This area is known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic” as it comprises of two islands Madeira and Porto Santo, Madeira being the larger of the two.

The weather is described by the locals as being about the most perfect climate in the world. It’s never too hot with temperatures between 17-24 degrees. However it can reach 33° when the ‘leste’ is when the east wind from the Sahara Desert flows for a few days each year. When I was there it was between 20-22° which was very nice.

I flew with SATA Airlines direct to Funchal which was a 3 ½ hour direct flight from Dublin. I found the flight to be very comfortable with complimentary hot meals, in-flight refreshments and entertainment. SATA provide convenient daytime return flights from Dublin. They also allow you to check-in one free 20 KG bag and for any Golf enthusiasts’ one pre-booked Golf bag. The Transfer from the Airport to Funchal takes 30 minutes. There are many three, four and five star hotels in the Lido tourist area of Madeira with most of the four and five star hotel situated on the Cliffside overlooking the promenade or ocean and the three star hotels or apartments are just 300 to 400 metres from the promenade.

On our journey around Funchal we visited the Market Place. Here you can find some fresh produce such as fruit, flowers, fish and local Madeira Wine and it is also where the locals do a lot of their daily shopping. There are two major shopping centres in Funchal ; The Dolce Vita in the Centre of Funchal and The Forum Shopping Centre which is in the Lido tourist area.

The majority of beaches in Madeira are black sand and pebble. Praia Formosa is the largest free public beach on Madeira Island. Located west of Funchal, it consists of four mix sandy and pebble beaches, known as Praia Nova, Praia Formosa, Praia dos Namorados and Praia do Arieiro, all offering excellent water quality, Blue Flag certified and having great facilities such as, parking, sport activities, skate board ramp, changing rooms, lifeguard surveillance, snack bars and restaurants and a children’s play area. Also along the seaside is the starting point of a long promenade linking to Lido beach. The island of Porto Santo is the best place for golden sandy beaches. A ferry from Funchal will take you on the 2 hour journey to this beautiful island and if you decided to visit Madeira, a trip to Porto Santo is a must.

Contrary to popular belief Madeira had got a reputation for being an island for older people, however this could not be further from the truth. Madeira caters for all ages, couples, families, groups and solo travellers and it also has plenty of activities for all ages. The city really comes to life at night-time with its bars open until 7a.m. in the morning. Water sports such as sailing, fishing, whale and dolphin watching are very popular. Levada walks are some of the best opportunities to get in tune with the nature and lush green landscape of the island.

The Santa Cruz Aqua Park and the Madeira Theme Park in Santana are very popular with families as well as Horse Riding for all levels. Golf is available on two spectacular golf courses both with lovely views and excellent conditions. The popular Palheiro Golf course - 18 hole golf course was designed by Robert Trent Jones and hosts the Madeira Island open which is part of the PGA European Tour and is rated as one of the best in Europe. Monte Toboggan Ride which is a ride down from Monte to Funchal on a wooden sledge down narrow winding streets which is steered and pushed by two men; this downhill ride takes 10 minutes. Adventurous, yet a safe mode of transport. Madeira has a great natural beauty with tropical gardens and spectacular panoramic views. It’s green mountains, cliffs, steep valleys, flowers, sun, its blue sea, and hospitality melt together to create an island of sublime peace. Whether you’re a first timer or a returning visitor, this unique island will leave you speechless with its stunning natural beauty and culture.

I for one am really looking forward to my next trip to Madeira if you have any questions about Maderia please give me a call and I will be happy to help.