What is the Solar do Aposento This Solar (Portuguese for manor house) is located at Ponta Delgada. It was just recently opened to the public (spring of 2018) by the municipality of Sao Vicente. Aposento meaning retreat, a visit to this well preserved manor takes us back to the 19th century. At the time Ponta …
What is canyoning and why Madeira? Canyoning on Madeira is all about exploring canyons using a variety of techniques: walking, crawling, sliding, climbing, jumping, abseiling, and swimming. The island has built up a reputation as a prime destination for canyoning in Europe. An abundance of rivers and canyons, allows for exercising this activity at all …
The Sugar Museum of Funchal The City of Sugar museum makes for a nice and informative activity in downtown Funchal. The City of Funchal set up the Museum A Cidade do Açúcar (The City of Sugar). It opened to the public for the first time in October of 1996. It underwent a thorough renovation and …
Zino’s Petrel Zino’s Petrel (or Pterodroma Madeira) is an endemic seabird of Madeira. Furthermore, Zino’s Petrel is Europe’s most endangered seabird species with only 75 to 80 pairs alive today. It only breeds on Madeira island and nests above 1600m on extremely steep ridges in the central mountain range of the island, thus between Pico …
Passion fruit or Maracuja is one of the most popular fruits on Madeira next to Bananas. Passion fruit is famous for its exceptional flavor and for its many uses. It can be sliced open, spooned out and eaten fresh or used in Poncha for example. It is also present in the Brisa Maracuja, a fresh …
Engenhos do Norte Rum distillery In Porto da Cruz, a small village located in the North Eastern part of Madeira, an ancient rum distillery testifies the importance of sugarcane for Madeira. Ancient steam engines set the working pace in this distillery. The original factory workers still maintain and keep the equipment operational. But in spite …
Ribeiro Frio’s Trouts There is a short levada / verada walk (PR11) which offers a great reward and its name is Balcoes. But the easy walk begins in Ribeiro Frio in Madeira’s North. Ribeiro Frio is well known for its trout farm. The Ribeiro Frio trout farm is worth a visit, located in a beautiful park like setting, …
Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse The Ponta do Pargo Lighthouse is Portugal highest lighthouse. It is located in the western most tip of Madeira island and is most impressive. First, some trivia about the name Ponta do Pargo. Rumor says that Zarco’s son-in-law caught a huge specimen of Pargo (Red Porgy / Red Snapper Fish) while …
We have been featured! This is exciting news. We have been featured on a renowned blog by two young avid globe wanderers and photographers. They normally travel around the Canada and the Globe, but ventured to Madeira and chose to stay at Casa do Miradouro during their active travels around the island. Both Martina and …
Moutain Biking for all levels Madeira is a perfect place for mountain biking. That’s because it has trails everywhere, through the protected laurisilva forest, through rural areas and coastal villages. However, biking the mountains with its steep gradients on the plateau and at high altitude does demand fitness and strength. A challenge for the trained. …
