Why Madeira is the ideal destination in winter

2021-12-29T06:10:00.201Z

Celebrate carnival in shirt sleeves, swim all year round or hike in a laurel forest ... The Portuguese archipelago located in the Atlantic Ocean stands out as a sunny and varied destination all winter long.

Discover Funchal, the historic capital of Madeira

Funchal is the main city and capital of the island of Madeira. Its historic heart is full of bars, restaurants and shops, but, a little originality, you have to take a cable car to access the splendid panorama over the bay of Funchal. Once at the top, a visit to the

gardens of the Monte Palace is a

must. In addition to a collection of stones unique in the world, a stroll in these gardens full of "follies" is a delight. The building that sits in the center of this seven-hectare park has long been a luxury hotel frequented by the local aristocracy and wealthy visitors. It is easy to imagine the grandiose festivals around the lake and in the midst of plants characteristic of the laurel forest endemic to Madeira and listed as World Natural Heritage by Unesco.

To go back down to town, the most original means of transport is also a reminiscence of the past.

The "

carreiros do monte

" are kinds of wooden sledges with wicker seats in which you sit down to hurtle down two kilometers of asphalt, accompanied by two sturdy fellows who pull or push in the bends.

The “

carreiros

” are unique in the world and a must for any stay in Funchal!

A way to treat yourself to a little adrenaline rush before visiting the museum dedicated to the most famous native of Funchal, a certain Cristiano Ronaldo ...

Read alsoCreeks, beaches, natural pools ... The most beautiful swimming spots in Madeira

Experience the magic of carnival in a subtropical atmosphere

For December 31, an XXL fireworks display will be fired at around sixty sites on land and at sea. VisitMadeira

If the whole winter season is a delight in Madeira, with temperatures between 14 and 18 degrees and a subtropical climate, the period of December is even more fantastic thanks to fairy lights in all the cities. The Madeirans celebrate the end of the year celebrations with pomp, erecting giant and sometimes very creative nativity scenes in every village. But it is in Funchal that this love of Christmas decorations takes on an unparalleled scale. The streets of the historic center are lit by thousands of electric garlands that can also be found, like so many rivers of fire, dripping from the streets and alleys descending from the surrounding hills. It is estimated that 60 kilometers of garlands and over a million bulbs are used to illuminate Funchal and its surroundings!

At night, the spectacle is mesmerizing, giving you the impression that the whole city is set ablaze.

A Christmas market, decorated trees and shiny cherubs also brighten up the squares and the waterfront, giving the city a unique festive feel.

For December 31, an XXL fireworks display will be fired in some sixty sites on land and at sea. The whole population then rushes to the hills to witness the spectacle that illuminates the bay of Funchal.

A fireworks display repeatedly referred to as the largest and most spectacular in the world.

Finally, know that the carnival, in February, is one of the other winter highlights during which Funchal, like all the cities of Madeira, comes alive and celebrates ...

Read alsoSpotlight on Madeira in winter

Watch whales and swim in natural pools

Off Madeira, boat trips allow you to see dolphins and whales.

Miguel moniz

All around the island of Madeira, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are rich in a multitude of fish and marine mammals, such as the monk seal, an endangered species.

Several companies offer sea trips to meet dolphins and different species of whales.

Boats depart from the south coast and within minutes you are guaranteed to be sailing with peaceful and curious aquatic companions.

Ocean lovers will be delighted to find some pebble or black volcanic sand beaches where to laze and swim. But to swim safely, it is best to immerse yourself in the natural pools formed in the volcanic rock. They are found, for example, in the villages of

Seixal

and

Porto Moniz

. We swim in sea water, admittedly a little cool in winter, but in complete safety, in kinds of very photogenic lagoons. Finally, Madeira is also a destination for surfers. The villages of

Paul do Mar

and

Jardin do Mar

, for example, concentrate a young population who meet to surf beautiful waves in a gently hippie atmosphere ...

Read alsoHotel Le Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal in Madeira, the expert opinion of

Figaro

Hike in the middle of the lush flora of the island

Ponta de São Lourenço (the Pointe de Saint-Laurent).

Francisco correia

When the first Portuguese navigators discovered Madeira in 1420, the island was covered with trees. Hence its name meaning "wooded island" in Portuguese. No human and not many more animals thrived on these isolated lands. The flora and fauna that we meet today have therefore been introduced over the centuries. The primary forest consisted of laurels which are still widely present. The bananas, sugar cane and vines that cover the smallest plots of farmland, on the other hand, have been planted by man. Like the many flowers, birds of paradise, agapanthus, orchids and proteas that grow everywhere along the roads and paths.

If spring is the most beautiful of the seasons to take advantage of the flowering, winter is not to be outdone.

Helping subtropical climate, you will be sure to always find colorful plantations, such as tree aloes called here “Christmas fireworks” for their red flowers which bloom in December.

We appreciate this vegetation even better when hiking.

Madeira Island is famous for its wide range of walks of all levels.

Many run along the levadas.

More than 2000 kilometers of canals distribute water from the mountains and forests through the terraced farms.

Hiking while listening to the gurgling of cool water is in Madeira and nowhere else!

Read the fileHiking: the Figaro guide

Take the time to taste the local gastronomy

The magnificent Funchal market and its fruit and vegetable stalls.

André Carvalho

Madeira has a lot of great restaurants.

Some are at the level of trendy tables in London, Berlin or Paris, like the delicious Kampo and Akua by chef

Julio Pereira,

where you are served fish and meat cooked in a very creative way.

Even more chic, the

restaurant of the Nini Design Center

that the decorator and architect Nini Andrade Silva has opened in an old fort on the port of Funchal.

Refined cuisine and a trendy atmosphere await you.

In the north-west of the island, the small restaurant for surfers

Maktub in Paul do Mar

will treat you to delicious fish dishes accompanied by caipirinha, in a relaxed atmosphere.

The

Funchal market is

full of vegetables, fruits and fish that you buy after a stop at

Fábrica Santo Antonio

. Since 1893, candies made with plants and fruits of the island have been produced there, such as fennel (which gave its name to the city of Funchal in Portuguese!), Ginger or tangerine. You can also buy a “

bolo de mel

”, a typical Christmas cake that can be enjoyed all winter. A kind of gingerbread with sugar cane molasses very comforting.

Finally, in addition to the world-famous fortified wines from Madeira, it is the local rum that is consumed by drinking a "

poncha

A punch that combines fruits (lemon, orange, passion fruit ...), agricultural rum and honey.

Everything is mixed with a very ingenious wooden stick.

The unmissable aperitif of Madeira to be tasted in small typical bistros, like at

A venda do André

on a picturesque road outside Funchal ...

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