Nicknamed the “Dragon’s Tail”, the easternmost tip of Madeira is one of the most curious and unique parts of the island.
After hiking the highest peaks of the island, and one of the greenest paths in the middle of laurissilva forest, Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço just seemed to us out of this world. Famous for its rugged coastlines and geological features, this peninsula was bound to impress us right from the start.
Located in the municipality of Santana, on the northern coast of the island of Madeira, the Queimadas Forest park is one of the best places to observe Laurissilva Forest. Home to the typical flora of Madeira’s Laurissilva Forest, we found this park very peaceful, especially PR 9 – Levada do Caldeirao Verde the perfect place to have a relaxing walk, and admire nature, especially after a demanding hike on the previous day, Pico to Pico.
Memories of the wonderful time we had on our trip to Madeira keep coming. We hiked and walked around this small island, we explored the Laurissilva forest, and Funchal, the capital of the island; we enjoyed the food, the Madeiran cuisine, and learned a bit of its culture. We found a real foodie scene on the island, with a lot of traditional dishes.
If you are a gourmand, and want to learn more about the local food and drink while you are there, you could opt for one of the Food, Wine and Cultural tours. If you want to check what our top picks were, you can read more: Top 10 local foods you need to try in Madeira.
The small island of Madeira is known for many things. From sea to the mountains, the scenery looks stunning, and highly treasured. Famous for its walking trails, getting to know Madeira is a rewarding adventure: either along the 2,000+ km hiking trails in the wilderness, or strolling through the towns and villages, discovering centuries of culture and traditions. But nevertheless, dining is a big affair. For foodies, and not only, Madeira gastronomy offers some unique local flavours, that you must try while you are on the island.
With a subtropical climate, and a unique setting, the island of Madeira, nicknamed the Pearl of the Atlantic, is a little oasis made of the ancient forests, high mountains, and beautiful beaches. The island is located at 1.5 hours – flying distance from Lisbon, and offers a huge array of activities. If you like being outdoors, this rugged and picturesque island is for you!
The small island of Madeira, only 57 km long and 22 km wide, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1000 km from the continental Portugal, and 700 km from Morocco. With an average annual temperature of almost 200 C in Funchal – the capital of Madeira, it seems that the island has an “eternal spring” type of weather, at least for us!
After a beautiful hike in the stunning Newfoundland, and a few short trails in the Adirondacks, my appetite for hiking had just ignited throughout 2023. With over 200 Levadas (hiking trails following the water canals) plus 30 Veredas (mountain or coastal paths), Madeira’s hiking network totals over 2000 km of hiking trails, a paradise for nature lovers.
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1000 Places and Memories 