10 Top reasons to visit Madeira


Levadas are small irrigation canals that can be found on Madeira Island and on the island of La Palma, in the Canary Islands. This term is also applied to canals, usually smaller ones that direct the water to watermills.

A Unique Story
The Portuguese navigators Tristão Vaz Teixeira, Bartolomeu Perestrelo and João Gonçalves Zarco officially discovered the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo in 1419.
The Portuguese navigators Tristão Vaz Teixeira, Bartolomeu Perestrelo and João Gonçalves Zarco officially discovered the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo in 1419.

The simple food enjoyed in Madeira Islands reflects the soul of a simple but generous people. Nevertheless, a great variety of local products are available, as well as multitude of local, international and gourmet dishes.

Madeira is proud to present a wide range of diverse, regional, Portuguese and international events that are staged throughout the year.

Laurissilva is the name given to a type of humid subtropical forest made up mainly of trees from the lauraceae family of trees and widespread in the Macaronesia - a region which includes the archipelagos of Madeira, the Azores, the Canaries and Cape Verde.

The 9 kilometre beach, with an extensive and continuous shoreline of fine golden sands, has given the island the popular name of “Golden Island”, becoming its trademark and main icon, together with its uniquely crystal-clear, turquoise-blue warm waters.

The Portuguese international footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, returned to Madeira to unveil a statue in his honour and he received the «Cordão Autonómico de Distinção», the highest honour awarded by the Regional Government.

Fireworks are used in popular festivities or celebrations and in Madeira are no exception, loudly announcing Sylvester's Night and the arrival of every New Year.

The range of accommodation in Madeira is vast and top quality, from the refined charm of traditional hospitality to the modern five-star hotels, the warm welcome of rural tourism establishments and traditional Madeirean manor houses (“Quintas da Madeira”).

The mild climate of Madeira and Porto Santo allows for all kinds of outdoors sports and leisure activities, at any time of the year.