Madeira

Madeira is a volcanic island in the Atlantic, 978 kilometres south-southwest of Lisbon, whose extraordinary blend of subtropical nature, dramatic landscapes, excellent wine and consistently mild climate ("Island of Eternal Spring") makes it one of the most beautiful island destinations in the world. It rises steeply from the sea — the central peaks reach 1,862 metres at Pico Ruivo, and hiking the exposed ridge walks above the cloud line is among the island's great pleasures. Funchal, the capital, climbs from the harbour up lush hillsides in a way that is immediately striking from the sea. The Mercado dos Lavradores (Workers' Market) is a beautiful Art Deco building filled with tropical flowers, exotic fruits and fresh fish. The Monte Palace Tropical Garden, reached by cable car from the seafront, is spectacularly beautiful — Japanese and Portuguese sections, azulejo tile panels and extraordinary tropical plants on steep hillsides. The famous wicker basket rides (toboggãs) carry passengers down from Monte to Funchal on hand-guided sleds — a tradition since the 19th century. The levadas — irrigation channels built by early settlers, now converted to hiking trails of extraordinary diversity — wind for 1,350 kilometres across the island through laurisilva forest (UNESCO World Heritage), river valleys and mountain terrain. Madeira wine, unique in the world for its fortification and heating process, has been produced here for five centuries. Paul do Mar (surfing), Ponta de São Lourenço (stunning cliff walks) and Seixal's natural seawater pools are all excellent.