TOUR DESCRIPTIONS AND OPTIONAL TOURS - 2012

Prices valid only from/to Hotel Funchal:
Certain Hotels in Funchal Supplement  Quinta da Bela Vista / Casa Velha do Palheiro / Jardins do Lago / Casa do Caseiro / Quinta do Monte / Quinta Mirabela / Ocean Gardens / Quinta da Fonte / Quinta do Estreito / Quinta Mãe dos Homens / Choupana Hills:  Euro 6 per person

EI24 Funchal and Botanical Garden
Duration of the excursion: about 4 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Wednesday and Friday (afternoon)
We will start by presenting you the Old Town, including the Historical Nucleus of Santa Maria dated from 1425, when the settlement of Madeira began. From this period the nucleus still preserves the urban lines, the Chapel of Corpo Santo and a small door in manueline style. Then we visit the Fish Market, where you can see several types of typical madeirian fish like tuna fish, black scabbard fish and parrot fish, and the famous “Mercado dos Lavradores”, built in 1941, where flowers, fruits and fish are sold. In the inner court, you will find fruit and vegetable salesmen, which offer in wicker baskets exotic fruit and vegetables. The flower women in the typical costumes are offering orchids, birds of paradise, flamingo flowers and straw flowers of all colours. Not far from the market is an embroidery factory located. Here you will get acquainted with one of most beautiful handicrafts of Madeira and see how the embroidery is made. You will find here table cloths, napkins, handkerchiefs with monogram, among others, with the guaranteed seal from Madeira. Afterwards, we will visit the Sé-Cathedral, built in the 15th century in manueline style. The next Stop is in the Botanical Garden where you may enjoy a magnificent view over Funchal from the different sightseeing points. Here you can find, besides orchids, an enormous amount of tropical and subtropical plants from all over the world. To conclude, we will visit a wine cellar, where you have the opportunity to taste the famous Madeira Wine.
Price : € 26 per person

EI17 Santana
Duration of the excursion: about 8 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Saturday & Monday
Camacha is a wicker work centre located in the eastern part of Funchal. Here you cannot only buy wicker work products, but also appreciate the process of manufacturing. After passing by Poiso, we follow towards Pico do Arieiro, the third highest mountain in the island (1.818m).When the weather is clear you can see the neighbour island Porto Santo. We return through the same road towards the Natural Park Ribeiro Frio. Here, we have the opportunity to taste a typical Madeirian drink, poncha, made out of sugarcane brandy, honey and lemon juice (optional) and to visit a trout farm. After this stop, we continue towards Faial and Santana. In Santana you can admire the typical thatched-roof houses. The lunch is served in Santana (inclusive). Afterwards we continue towards Porto da Cruz and Portela, from where the impressive Penha d’Águia can be seen. Return along the southern coast, passing by the fishing village Machico.
Price:  € 54 per person

EI15 Madeirian Dinner
Duration of the excursion: about 4 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Sunday
In a restaurant in the outskirts of Funchal you will taste the famous Espetada, beef on skewers, served with crispy fried corn. There won’t be missed the typical round and flat bread made of wheat flour, from Hebraic origin, cooked over a basalt stone and traditionally covered with garlic butter - the bolo do caco. During dinner, you will get acquainted with the folk Madeirian culture through the performance of a folklore group. After dinner, we will stop in a magnificent view point to enjoy the panorama over the fabulous amphitheatre of Funchal.
Price: € 40 per person

EI08 Pico dos Barcelos, Eira do Serrado and Monte
Duration of the excursion: about 4 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Wednesday & Friday (morning)
On the way to Eira do Serrado (1.094m) stop at the view point of Pico dos Barcelos (335m), from where we enjoy a magnificent view over the bay of Funchal. The way to Eira do Serrado is sinuous and sided by eucalyptus. From Eira do Serrado we walk a few minutes through a foot-path till a view point. The view over Curral das Freiras, an 800m deep abyss, is fabulous. Then we go to Monte, a parish of Funchal, which is still nowadays a pilgrimage place. We will visit the famous church of Nossa Senhora do Monte, with the tombstone of Emperor Charles I of Austria beatified by John Paul II in 2004. Here you will have the possibility of sliding in the famous typical toboggan (optional). These toboggans are controlled through ropes, by men with straw hat, dressed in white and wearing leather boots and that slide us till Livramento.
Price: € 33 per person

EI16 Porto Moniz
Duration of the excursion: about 8 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Tuesday & Thursday
We follow along the southern coast and stop at the idyllic fishing village Câmara de Lobos. We continue towards Cabo Girão (580m), the highest cliff in Europe. Enjoy the view over Câmara de Lobos, the southern coast and the sea. At Ribeira Brava we will make a short stop. Afterwards, we follow towards the northern coast crossing Encumeada. We pass by São Vicente, one of the oldest villages in the island, known for the picturesque streets and for the baroque style church. Although the village is located a few metres from the sea, the sensation that remains is that we are on the mountains. Then we continue to Seixal and reach Porto Moniz, well-known for the natural pools. Lunch will be served underway (inclusive). The way back to Funchal will be trough Paúl da Serra, the island’s unique plateau (1.600m). Green in spring, brown in summer and nearly red in sinter, delightful in every season, Paúl da Serra is a naked area with goats and sheep, broom, ferns and small heather bushes.
Price per person : € 54 per person

EI18 The Northern Charm
Duration of the excursion: about 8 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: Wednesday
Along the coast, on the way to São Vicente, we will have the chance to evidence the development and progress that Madeira has been through during the last years. At São Vicente you will visit the Volcanism Centre and the caves. In this complex, you will learn a bit about the geological development originated by a volcanic eruption and how did the island emerge. Lunch will be served underway (inclusive).We continue towards Ponta Delgada and Arco de São Jorge, to visit the Roseiral in Quinta do Arco. Here you can see one of the largest rose collections in Portugal, counting more than one thousand different kinds of roses. From November till April, nature renews itself therefore it is impossible to visit these exuberant gardens. In this period, the Roseiral is replaced by the Museu do Vinho e da Vinha. It is a museum that presents the past in a lively way, both on its main building as well as in the old wine cellar equipped with relics. The museum has also a small shop where local products are sold. The return will be through Santana’s motorway.
Price: € 64 per person

EI19 Porto Santo
Duration of the excursion: about 14 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Days of operation: daily, except Tuesday & Friday
Departure from the port of Funchal in direction of Porto Santo Island, where exists a long 9 km sandy beach. An island tour will take you to the most beautiful places. After lunch (included), you will have some free time to swim. Return to Funchal in the late afternoon.
Price  € 128 per person

BI02 Sailing Trip with Nau Santa Maria
Duration of the excursion: about 3 hours (departure and return to harbour)
Days of operation: daily – 10:30 & 15:00
Sail along the spectacular southern coast on board Nau Santa Maria, a replica of Columbus ship, built according to historic sources descriptions. Santa Maria, together with Nina and Pinta, were the ships used by Christopher Columbus on the mission to reach the Indies by west, during which he ended up discovering America. It was built between July 1997 and July 1998 by 7 local craftsmen and immediately after its construction, Santa Maria sailed towards Lisbon to represent Madeira wine in Expo 98, receiving in 25 days a total of 97.016 visitors. On our way back, we will sail again along the magnificent southern coast, passing by Cabo Girão (580m), the highest cliff in Europe, and the idyllic fishing village Câmara de Lobos. During the tour we will have not only the opportunity to socialize with the crew members, dressed up as pirates, but also to admire dolphins and turtles and to swim in the sea. The use of light and comfortable clothing is essential, both during summer and winter, plus bathing suit, raincoat and hat. Arrival at the port of Funchal.
Price: € 34,00 per person

BI01 Sailing trip with Catamaran
Duration of the excursion: about 3 hours (departure and return to harbour)
Days of operation: daily – 10:30 & 15:00
Sail along the spectacular southern coast on board of a catamaran. On our way back, we will sail again along the magnificent southern coast, passing by Cabo Girão (580m), the highest cliff in Europe, and the idyllic fishing village Câmara de Lobos. During the tour, we may have the opportunity to admire dolphins and turtles and to swim in the sea. The use of light and comfortable clothing is essential, both during summer and winter, plus bathing suit, raincoat and hat. Arrival at the port of Funchal.
Price: Euro 30 per person

Walking tours / Levadas:

LI17 Pico Arieiro – Pico Ruivo
Duration of the excursion: about 7 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Duration of the walk: about 4 hours
Track: 11km
Difficulty level: difficult
Days of operation: Saturday
The walk starts in Pico do Arieiro (1.818m), the third highest of the island and ends in Pico Ruivo (1.861m), the highest of Madeira. The ground till the top is covered by slabs of basalt ripped from the encircling rocks by the force of the ice, introduced in its fissures over thousands of years. The vegetation throughout the ascent is poor, being dominated by broom bushes and the bracken. The ironwort, known as Selvageira or Erva Branca, is the only endemic species with presence amongst these bare rocks. If the weather allows, it is possible to enjoy a magnificent view over Madeira, Porto Santo and the Deserted Islands. From Pico Ruivo we walk down till Achada do Teixeira in Santana. Return to the hotel after a light lunch (inclusive).
Price : € 51 per person

LI03 Levada Santo da Serra – Portela
Duration of the excursion: about 6 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Duration of the walk: about 3 hours
Track: 11km
Difficulty level: easy
Days of operation: Sunday (morning)
The walk starts 650m high through the eucalyptus and laurels. The horizon opens itself giving us a fantastic view over the northern coast and the highlands of Madeira. After a walk of 2,5 hours it starts the descent of approximately 15 minutes to Portela.
Price: euro 35 per person

LI15 Levada Rabaçal – 25 Fontes
Duration of the excursion: about 7 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Duration of the walk: about 3,5 hours
Track: 10km
Difficulty level: medium
Days of operation: Monday & Friday
In Bica da Cana, we start a walk of approximately 20 minutes that leads us to Rabaçal, the departure point of the walk, starting by visiting Risco. The path is flat and just a few minutes later we will be standing before an impressive landscape, impossible to imagine finding when crossing the monotonous and harsh surface of Paúl da Serra. After absorbing enough the landscape of Risco, we continue our walk and just over an hour after starting the walk we get to 25 Fontes, a small lagoon surrounded by dense vegetation into which spill the waters of a series of fountains located on the nearby rocks. After a small break we continue through a tunnel in the direction of Calheta, where the lunch will be served (inclusive).
Price;  € 51

LI02 Levada Quinta Grande – Boa Morte
Duration of the excursion: about 6 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Duration of the walk: about 3 hours
Track: 9km
Difficulty level: easy
Days of operation: Wednesday (morning)
We follow along the south coast in the direction of Europe’s highest cliff, Cabo Girão, and then we continue till Quinta Grande. Over the first stretch of the walk, we may register marvellous views over the vast area extending from Câmara de Lobos to Funchal. During the levada, we may also appreciate the houses in a rural landscape and the sea. Return to the hotel after the lunch (inclusive).
price : € 45 per person 

LI12 Ponta de São Lourenço
Duration of the excursion: about 7 hours (departure and return to hotel)
Duration of the walk: about 3,5 hours
Track: 8km
Difficulty level: medium
Days of operation: Thursday
The walk starts in Baía d’Abra, the largest and most spectacular bay of Ponta de São Lourenço. The Ponta de São Lourenço presents itself as a great contrast to the green we find all over the island. The lava rocks are impressing, rising up from the ocean. Return to the hotel after a light lunch (inclusive).
Price: Euro 51 per person

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