I had long set my sights on Madeira and managed to find cheap flights for it along with Porto!
In February, I noticed that on March 25th, there was a direct Wizz Air flight from Madeira to Budapest for 40 €. After a bit of searching, I found a flight to Porto for 20 € on the 18th, and from there to Madeira for 11 € on the 20th. A perfect combination! I hesitated a bit because I had spent four days in Dubai and Abu Dhabi the week before, but I had to take the opportunity with such flight prices!
I had four full days (and five nights) on the island. I spent the first three nights in the capital, Funchal, the fourth in Sao Vicente, and the last night in Santa Cruz, near the airport.
So, on Monday the 20th, I landed in Madeira at 7:45 PM. I took the Aerobus to Funchal, which goes directly to the city center. The ticket costs 5 euros (return ticket for 8 euros) and can be purchased from the bus driver. It takes half an hour to reach the center, but the bus continues to the hotel „zone”. You can tell the bus driver your hotel name, and they will tell you which stop to get off at.
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Tuesday: Funchal – Dolphin watching tour, Jardim Botanico, Monte Palace
I booked a dolphin watching tour at 10 AM. A double-decker catamaran left from the harbor to see dolphins (and hopefully whales) swimming in the ocean. The two-and-a-half-hour trip allowed us to observe three different groups of dolphins. Plus, there’s a fantastic view of Funchal from the water.
Then, I took a local bus to Jardim Botânico da Madeira, the botanical garden on the hillside. A must-do! The view of the city is gorgeous, and you can spend hours walking and sitting among the flowers and cacti. I even lingered here for a while!
I initially planned to take the cable car to Monte Palace, but it wasn’t operating. So, I went back to the center by bus, had a late lunch, and then took the Teleférico Funchal cable car to Monte Palace. The journey offers a full view of the city, and it arrives right next to the upper garden. The entrance fee is 12.50 euros, which seems a lot, but the palace garden itself is worth it! The sizable area is adorned with pathways, waterfalls, lakes, Portuguese tiles, and a pagoda.
By the time I descended to the shore, it was getting dark, so I walked to the CR7 Museum. Ronaldo’s statue stands in front of the building.
In the evening hours, I strolled along the shore and downtown. The area is easily walkable and not very large.
Wednesday: Pico Ruivo hike, Levada walk, Santana
Hiking is a must for those who enjoy active vacations! I planned to hike to the highest peak, Pico Ruivo, which is 1861 meters high.
Most people drive or take an organized bus to the Areeiro parking lot and start from there. I took a scheduled bus to the lower Poiso stop, from where it was 6 km to the mentioned parking lot. It wasn’t an easy trek.
A well-maintained trail leads to the summit from the parking lot, but good stamina is needed. I read that even non-hikers should try it, but some strength is required. There are many stairs, especially going down. However, the effort is well worth the experience and view!
The trail passes through tunnels carved into the rock, where you need to watch out for puddles. A separate lamp is not necessary; the flashlight function on mobile phones is sufficient.
Just below the summit is a tourist house where you can rest, buy coffee, beer, etc., before the final 15-minute ascent to the long-awaited summit. If the weather is good, you’ll be greeted by brilliant sunshine and panoramic views. Since I had been checking the weather for days, I consciously chose this day (you can check the forecast here).
Most people go down to the nearby Teixeira parking lot and then drive or take an organized bus down. However, I continued on the PR 1.1 and then the PR 9 hiking trail to Santana. This was a much longer route, so I hurried to catch the 5:25 PM bus. The first half is a steep descent through a laurel forest, and the PR 9 trail is a pleasant path along a levada. The view is beautiful, passing by two waterfalls. The end is 3 km of asphalt, and I was in Santana before 5 PM.
Santana is famous for its cute, triangular little houses. You can see them in several places, and many are still inhabited. In the village center, some houses are set up for tourists, containing shops. It’s worth stopping by if you’re in the area.
I was relieved when I got back to the accommodation, as the many downhill stairs were quite taxing, especially on the lower calf muscles.
Thursday: Porto Moniz, Sao Vicente
The 80 bus to Porto Moniz, a main destination in Madeira’s northwestern part, departed at 10 AM. Operated by Rodoeste, the ticket costs 6 euros, and the journey takes 3 hours. It’s worth staying awake for the stunning views along the way.
Porto Moniz is popular among tourists, not only for the high cliffs visible to the east but also for its lava pools. Many were swimming there, although the water wasn’t exactly warm for splashing around. 🙂
An hour later, I moved on to Sao Vicente, where my accommodation was located. It’s a coastal town squeezed between high cliffs, with a black beach that reflects its volcanic past. There’s a tall waterfall along the main road, emerging from the cliff face, which is definitely worth a look!
I also had a steak served in the local style. It was brought out hanging on a skewer, from which I had to strip off the meat. Not only delicious but also a huge portion! Worth trying when you’re in Madeira!
Friday: Arco de Sao Jorge, Faial, Santa Cruz, “plane spotting”
I set off for Santa Cruz in the morning, where my last accommodation was located. Bus 6 took me to the village of Arco de Sao Jorge, where you can capture an iconic picture. The combination of the ocean, cliff face, and black beach is truly impressive from above!
From there, bus 103 took me to Faial for lunch, and then bus 53 brought me to Santa Cruz. The airport is here, so the planes taking off and landing are within arm’s reach. Moreover, about a 10-minute walk from downtown is a perfect plane-spotting spot, offering the best view for this activity.
On Saturday, my only plan was to get to the airport, flying back to Budapest on the 11:30 AM Wizz Air flight.
Summary
As I mentioned earlier, Madeira is a great place for active vacationers! The people are friendly, prices are similar to Hungarian prices, and the weather was perfect in late March.
You should definitely explore the countryside, not just stay in Funchal, as the landscape itself offers plenty of experiences! And if you’re adventurous, dedicate a day to climbing Pico Ruivo for a breathtaking view!
So, if you see a well-priced flight ticket, don’t hesitate, book it!