Itinerary: Madeira
Day 1 - September 21
Our hour and a half flight from Lisbon brings us to Madeira, an island that nature seemingly intended for a refreshing getaway from the everyday world. Described variously as “a land of eternal Spring” and “the land of flowering cliffs”, it’s truly one of the most beautiful islands anywhere, sea and light and sky interlacing with mountain, coast, and countryside. The climate is mild year-round, the volcanic slopes are shaded by the verdant green of laurel forests, the soil excellent for growing the grapes that go into the robust wines, red and white, sweet and dry, that have been famous for centuries under the name “Madeira”.
Our 5-star seaside hotel just outside the island’s capital town, Funchal, is Belmond Reid’s Palace, a favorite with elite travelers since it opened in 1891. Before checking in, our private motor coach will take us on a brief orientation tour around Funchal – one of the prettiest, cleanest, and most interesting municipalities in Europe, with historic sites, gorgeous parks, plenty of shopping and restaurants, and a vital nightlife scene.
We’ll drive north of Funchal into the wooded hillsides overlooking the Bay and the sea, to the mountain-resort town of Monte for a taste of the atmosphere of elegant leisure that characterizes this lovely place. The wealthy of Madeira (and upper-crust vacationers from elsewhere) built summer mansions here to benefit from the healthy mountain air. The houses and their grounds, the hilltop church of Our Lady of the Mountain, and the romantic Municipal Gardens, all speak of a less hurried lifestyle. We WILL get a hurried return back toward Funchal though – a downhill ride via a method unique to Monte: wickerwork toboggans! The two-seater conveyances move on polished runners on the incredibly picturesque downward route with twists and turns revealing amazing views of city and bay, each controlled by two straw-hatted conductors.
Back in Funchal, we’ll lunch at the Restaurante do Forte in the old town section of Funchal, a gourmet establishment in the 17th century fortress of Sao Tiago, a well-preserved castle whose yellow battlements give amazing views of the Bay.
Then it’s back to Reid’s Palace for check-in, and afternoon free time to settle in and get to know the pleasures of this wonderfully welcoming hotel with its famous tropical gardens.
In the evening, we'll dine at Adega da Quinta Restaurant in Estreita da Camara das Lobos, a seaside suburb west of Funchal. This favorite restaurant is well known among locals and travelers for its generous portions of finely prepared Portuguese dishes and its range of excellent local wines – and for fine views of the sea and town.
Day 2 - September 22
After our buffet breakfast at Reid’s, we’ll set out for a morning catamaran cruise along Madeira’s southern coast. Much of Madeira’s scenic appeal and interest lies in its relationship with the Atlantic that surrounds its dramatic volcanic coast. After we embark at the south pier in Funchal, we sail westward to the Cabo Girao, the world’s second highest sea cliff, where we’ll have time to swim and do some snorkeling. But you won’t have to get wet to enjoy this excursion: there’s plenty of room on board the catamarans for comfortable sunning and relaxing, with a shady canopied area, refreshments and toilet facilities – not to mention the over 90% likelihood that we’ll see some fascinating wildlife! The waters around Madeira are very hospitable to different species of whales and dolphins, also rare seabirds that are seldom seen anywhere else.
The afternoon is free for exploring Funchal, enjoying the hotel, shopping, or whatever appeals, with lunch on your own. The Carpenter Hospitality Desk at Reid’s can help with any information you need, or offer suggestions for a wide variety of sport, recreation, and sightseeing.
Evening: Dinner is at Restaurante Armazem do Sal, a real food-lover’s paradise just inside the town gates of Funchal, in the old trading quarter. It’s in a 200-year old building that was once a salt warehouse, hence its name. Holder of multiple awards, it’s as much a favorite with local patrons, who show up regularly to enjoy the lunch menu, as with tourists. The cuisine is international and Portuguese artfully combined, and consistently wins raves, as do the wines and the friendly, unobtrusive service.
Day 3 - September 23
Our final full day here is one of freedom. You may want to try Reid’s wonderful Spa in its own pavilion out in the gardens – or how about the salt and freshwater pools? Zone out on the pool terrace, or take an ocean dip from the hotel’s ocean platform; the water temperature stays pleasant well into fall. The hotel also has outdoor tennis courts, an excellent fitness center with ocean vistas, a library, a pleasant boutique, and many places indoors and out for relaxing and letting your mind unwind.
This may be the ideal afternoon to take part in a famous Reid’s tradition: Afternoon Tea on the terrace. It’s an optional indulgence and the dress code is “smart casual attire”. It’s emblematic of the Edwardian British elegance which is at the heart of the hotel’s history: fine china, delicate pastries and finger sandwiches, and an extensive menu of choice teas.
There are numerous optional excursions available too, such as:
Half day tour of Funchal. Get better acquainted with this charming city: the tour takes in the picturesque Old Town, then proceeds to the Mercado dos Lavradores, a fruit, flower and fish mart dating from 1941, full of traditional color. Then comes a tour of one of Madeira’s famous embroidery factories, where the process of creating the artistic needlework is demonstrated. You'll visit the Cathedral of Funchal, designed in the exuberant Manueline style, before a final stop at the Adegas de Sao Francisco Wine Lodge and Museum -- a compact complex on the site of a former convent in the Old Town -- dedicated to Madeira’s art of wine-making.
Half day jeep excursion to Camacha and Pico do Arieiro. East from Funchal, and then northeast up into the mountains, this tour takes you first to Camacha, a lovely village that has a deserved reputation as the heart of Madeira’s folklore culture. It’s also the heart of the wickerwork craft industry, and you’ll see the amazing variety of objects, both useful and esthetic, that the town’s experts create from a very renewable resource, native willow branches. Our round trip takes us next through some of Madeira’s wildest and most magnificent mountain terrain, over the crest of Pico do Ariero on the edge of the National Park of Madeira, where the clouds waft below our feet, and the sun shines brilliantly on the fantastic contours of the volcanic peaks.
Evening: Private Farewell Gala at Reid’s. The evening will start off elegantly with a cocktail reception on the Terrace with live piano accompaniment. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a superb dinner, fine wines and beverages in the sumptuous Gilded Age Dining Room with its lofty pillars and crystal chandeliers. A live musical ensemble will entertain.
Day 4 - September 24
After our buffet breakfast, the Carpenter staff will manage all the details of transportation and baggage handling from the hotel to the airport, for our return flights home.
Please note that the above itinerary is subject to change.