Madeira Island Off The Beaten Path

If you want to have your breath taken and to see stunning views then the place to be is the hike trail between Pico do Areeiro, Pico das Torres and Pico Ruivo. Those 3 tops are the highest on the island. The hike trail is good and difficult, if you not a hiker then better think twice before you start walking...
The advice is to have water, sun cream protection adn hiking shoes with you.If you go there by car make sure you have spear water, shoes (slippers) food and dry t shirts with you.
The trail goes up and down, has alot of stairs and tunels, great views and it will make you forget the pain you get in your leggs, trust me.
We not at all hikers but we adventured to make the longest hike 14km and it was worth the pain. It took us around 4 hours round trip. Was exosting but we proud we did it.
All i can say is enjoy.

Leaving Funchal drive to Pico do Arieiro from where you should start the walk to Poco da Neve, an ice storage facility (shaped like a well), dug into the ground in the early part of the 19th century. It was easy to keep ice here because of the low temperatures.

Ilheu da Viuva is the newest protected area in Madeira. The clear blue waters, the macaronisien species make this place a different spot to visit. With the new cablecar you can go down the beach. Enjoy!

I wouldn't go there, but I was taken there. Santo da Serra is a somewhat plane area in a generally steep island, and that's why (maybe) it became the destination of golfers in Madeira. It has an interesting organization to preserve biodiversity.

In Portugal we use to say that "one image speaks more than 1000 words". Having that in mind, and more than 1000 pictures to post, I decided to change my behaviour, posting the pictures as soon as they are ready, and adding the comments later.
Don't get mad on me - I'm glad to share my pictures with you, and the comments will be added soon.

4 more images

In Portugal we use to say that "one image speaks more than 1000 words". Having that in mind, and more than 1000 pictures to post, I decided to change my behaviour, posting the pictures as soon as they are ready, and adding the comments later.
Don't get mad on me - I'm glad to share my pictures with you, and the comments will be added soon.

2 more images

1.st flore on the cafe at Monte squere, is like a time machine, not much changed for the last 50 years. And the soup was good at a fair price.
If you arraive on a boat their is teleferit from Funcial harbor.

Monte is a hilly village just outside Funchal, the capital of Madeira. It was used to be the place where rich English merchants used to live to escape from the hotness of the seaside. Actually, it is still very pictoresque. I would reccomand, however, to go there only for a visit without staying there, although the "Quinta do Monte" is pretty attractive (but no comparison with Casa Branca, which is much better and much closer to Funchal centre). In Monte you can visit a very nice church and experience a very strange means of transportation, born in the last centuries. Some white-dressed people pull and push a sort of basket where one person or more can sit and go down (for 1 mile more or less) just taking advantage of the gravity. I did not have enought courage but people who did seemed to have a great time. You can't miss it, when you arrive in Monte.
Actually I found it was terrebly expensive: I think 20 € was the minimum fee for one person ride.