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Wonders of Madeira






          Day 1 | Arrival in Funchal (-/-/D)  Take the chance to taste the four different types of   tude of 1094 m, at Eira do Serrado, a viewpoint domi-
          Welcome  at  the  airport  and  transfer to  your hotel   Madeiran wine (Malvoisie,  Boal, Sercial, Verdelho)   nating the valley, at the end of which is nestled the
          with assistance. Dinner and overnight in Funchal.  and  then  enjoy some  shopping.  Lunch.  Free  after-  village of Curral das Freiras (the nuns´ village). Then
                                            noon. Optional: Join  a  maritime excursion. Dinner   descend to the village of Curral das Freiras, enclo-
          Day 2 | Funchal (B/L/D)           and and overnight in Funchal.      sed by the volcanic mountains and in a valley formed
          After breakfast, information  meeting at hotel.  Re-                 through erosion. This is one of the most fascinating
          mainder of the day is free. Lunch at the hotel. Op-  Day 5 | Tour of the West (B/L/D)  and memorable landscapes of the island. Then, leave
          tional:  Discover the  Botanic Gardens,  a garden for   Depart towards Quinta Grande and all the little villages   the interior of the island and head towards the co-
          tropical birds and the garden of Quinta do Lago with   with terrace cultivations. Continue your discovery via   ast  to  discover  the  most  important  fishing  port  of
          its huge variety of native flora and fauna. Folkloric   Ribeira Brava, before you go on to Ponta do Sol and   Madeira: Camara de Lobos. Relax in this charming
          dinner highlighting  regional specialities accompa-  Madalena do Mar, where you will visit a banana plan-  and picturesque bay, just as Winston Churchill did,
          nied by wine. Overnight in Funchal.   tation. Then we drive further towards the plateau of   on his first visit to Madeira. Lunch. In the afternoon,
                                            Paul da Serra, the only flat area of the island at 1400   discover the museum, Quinta das Cruzes, also called
          Day 3 | Tour of the East – Monte (B/L/D)  metres. Here you can find a nature reserve listed as a   Zarco museum, where you will find numerous exam-
          Depart from Funchal towards the east of the island to   UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999. Then, conti-  ples of old constructions, a little orchid plantation,
          reach the tip of Sao Lourenco offering an unforgetta-  nue to see the village of Porto Moniz and its famous   an impressive  furniture  collection, porcelain, cera-
          ble panorama. Continue to the north-east coast with   natural pools carved into the lava. From there, you will   mics and silver pieces from the 15th, 16th and 18th
          an initial stop at Porto da Cruz, a very pleasant little   follow a section of the oldest and most beautiful of the   centuries OR try the famous museum Frederico de
          coastal village. Then, discover the village of Santana,   island’s roads: the Corniche coastal road, narrow, car-  Freitas, based in the former residence of this lawyer
          famous for its little houses with thatched roofs, built   ved into the rock and steeply overlooking the sea. This   and great collector. This place conceals some real
          between flowers, vineyards and apple trees. Lunch   magnificent road will lead you to the little village of   treasures (magnificent exhibition of ’azulejos’ – de-
          in Faial, where you can see the impressive work of   Sao Vicente, located on the north coast. Lunch by the   corative tiles). Continue your tour to the monastery
          the local Madeirans with their steep, terraced culti-  sea and time to explore the village. Following this, lea-  of Santa Clara. The nuns who gave their name to the
          vations. Continue to the interior of the island, more   ve the coast towards the Encumeada pass at 1007 m,   village of Curral das Freiras, in the heart of the is-
          precisely to Ribeiro Frio, to see its trout farming and   from where, in clear weather, you can appreciate the   land, originate from here. A very beautiful monastery
          its luxurious vegetation. Then, on to Pico do Arieiro   two sides of the island. End your day passing through   that has assumed numerous roles during its history
          at 1810 m, via the Poiso pass at 1400 m. After this   numerous little villages and finally reaching the cliff of   and which, nowadays, has been transformed into a
          mountain discovery, we are on to the remote village   Cabo Girao. This is one of the highest cliffs in Europe,   primary school.
          of Monte. Dinner and overnight in Funchal.  reaching 610 m of altitude. From here, you have an
                                            amazing view over Funchal. Return to the hotel. Dinner   Day 7 | Free day (B/-/D)
          Day 4 | Traditional Funchal (B/L/D)  and accommodation.              Free  day. Optional:  Guided walking  tour along the
          This morning will be dedicated to the city of Funchal,               Levada (irrigation canal), OR jeep excursion to the in-
          the capital of the island. Visit to the market “Merca-  Day 6 | Eira do Serrado – Curral das Freiras –   terior of the island. Dinner and overnight in Funchal.
          do dos Lavradores“, where you have the chance to   Camara de Lobos (B/L/D)
          discover incredible displays of vegetables and exotic   Depart for a mountainous landscape abundant with   Day 8 | Departure
          fruits, beautifully arranged around the central patio.   eucalyptus and chestnut vegetation. Stop at an alti-  Transfer to Funchal airport
          60 | European Tours Travel Europe
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