Activities & Services

Boredom is a word that will never be associated with your stay on Madeira. Here we leave with you some ideas of the various activities here to enthral you.

Night-time Entertainment

Begin the night in our restaurant or at one of the numerous others that the island has to offer. Take your pick from all kinds of cuisine, but we strongly suggest that you try the regional gastronomy – the “espetada” (grilled beef on a skewer with laurel) being just one of the delicious typical dishes.

After dinner, why not visit some of the many regional bars. Given the small dimensions of Madeira, in a flash one can leave Funchal to other areas of night time interest, such as the small town of Câmara de Lobos - a must-see thanks to its enchanting bay and famous “poncha”. It is immaterial whether you are looking for live music or calmer climes; either way, your enjoyment is guaranteed until sunrise.

Commerce

In the centre of Funchal, one may find a good variety of shops, ranging from those selling regional and national products, to those sporting big international names. On the outskirts, there are even some commercial centres such as the Fórum Madeira and Madeira Shopping, thus taking care of all your retail needs.

Motorised Sports

Rent a car or motorbike, and get to know the amazing tracks and byways. You may also have the opportunity of joining one of the jeep safaris to discover the interior of the island.

Nautical Sports

Choose this island in the middle of the Atlantic, and a world of nautical options open up to you, such as canoeing, diving, game fishing, sailing, surf and windsurf. There is so much choice that there is a different one for you to try-out every day of the week!

Radical Sports

Other activities such as tracking, mountain bikes, paragliding and mountaineering are all well-established sports for those who are thrilled by strong emotions and are adrenaline “junkies”.

Taxi and Coach Excursions

Less of an adrenaline high perhaps, but offering the same amount of pleasure and strong feeling! Take a coach or taxi excursion –a rather more conventional way - to get to know the many wonders of the Island of Madeira. Book a typical “round the island” tour or take a short trip to one of the many points of interest.

Festivals

The overwhelming tourist attraction of the Island of Madeira does not end with its natural beauty and picturesque landscape. Being an island full of traditions and pageantry, there takes place throughout the year, various celebrations and festivals for the delight of both the tourists and natives alike. These include the Carnival Parade, Easter, the Flower Festival, the Festival of Popular Saints, without forgetting of course the famous End of Year celebrations and its spectacular show of lights and colour.

Golf

For lovers and speculative followers of this sport, Madeira annually holds the Madeira Island Open and boasts two golf courses, the Palheiro Golf (17 holes) and the Golf Club of Santo da Serra (25 holes) respectively, for your pleasure.

The Estalagem Quintinha de São João offers its guests, special conditions for both courses.

Horse Riding

At the Horse Riding Centre of Santo da Serra, one may make the most of learning to ride and relishing in some of the wonderful treks through the interior of Madeira.

Gardens

Funchal, the capital of the Island of Madeira, is one of the most enchanting and cleanest cities that you may have the fortune to encounter, and has already been awarded the prize for the “Cleanest and Prettiest City in Europe”.

The many green spaces contribute immensely towards this award, without forgetting one of the greatest tourist attractions - the Botanical Gardens – that was created in 1960.

Levadas and walks

For those appreciative of nature, the levadas present you with an experience of a lifetime. Visitors thus may get to know the old irrigation channels around the island and catch a glimpse of scenarios of unforgettable and unique beauty.

Other natural wonders may be appreciated in the “Natural Park of Madeira”, the “Partial Nature Reserve of Garajau”, the “Natural Reserve of Rocha do Navio” and, off the island, on both the “Natural Reserve of the Desterta Islands” and the “Natural Reserve of the Selvagen Islands”.

Speaking of the nature of the Island of Madeira inevitably brings us on to make an unassailable reference to the Laurissilva - twenty two thousand hectares of primitive forest, whose biodiversity of animal species and vegetation is unique in the world. The Madeiran forest gained the stature of world heritage, awarded by USESCO in December 1999.

Museums

For those not wishing to neglect the rich culture whilst on holiday, the Island of Madeira offers the option of a variety of internationally renowned museums of quality.

Helicopter Flights

Try a flight around the island in a helicopter and allow yourself to get to know Madeira from a totally new perspective. Prepare yourself to embark on an exciting adventure overflowing with amazing beauty.

Wine and Local Handicrafts

Madeira Wine is a product clearly recognised among foreign parts and one of the best “bets” of the region in terms of tourism. In addition, Madeira embroidery and articles made out of wicker are industries of prominence in the inner Madeira and much sought-after by our tourists.