This verdant walk from Parque Florestal, Pico Das Pedras in Santana to Quiemadas is a delight to the senses with the sound of the water running along the levada, sun filtering through the forest canopy, continuous birdsong and the earthy smell of the fallen leaves. It is suitable for the whole family, and is a wonderful immersion in nature experience. The walk is 2.1 km and ends in the Queimadas park which now has a little tea house. The park itself has extensive grounds including a bird observation area and is wonderful to walk in especially in the summer. We caught fleeting glimpses of the trocaz pidgeon and heard them cooing in the forest canopy.
At Pico das Pedras there is a popular picnic spot with toilet facilities and parking for cars, but the turn off for the walk is located just before the picnic spot.
The walk to Balcões starting in Ribeiro Frio is an easy walk through laurisilva forest alongside the Balcões levada. It is an out and back walk, with a wide path suitable for the whole family and is lovely and cool in summer with its overhanging branches. Balcões, a rocky protruding outcrop which serves as a belvedere, has views of the high peaks of Madeira and is reached after about 1.5kms. At Balcões (the word means balcony), the Madeiran chaffinch are always on show and are quite tame due to the number of visitors who feed them.
Getting there
By bus use the interurban service of the Horarios bus company (no 103/56):
On the East coast of Madeira the blue flag has been awarded to the following beaches: Palmeira beach in Santa Cruz, Reis Magos in Caniço and Ribeira do natal in Machico.
Praia Dos Reis Magos (Caniço)
Located in Caniço, this beach has an enclosed swimming area surrounded by boulders for secure swimming. It also has a pier with a ladder for access to the sea. You can either sit on the concreted area or on the beach, but this is very stony. There is a long promenade with two piers which is pleasant to walk along.
Facilities
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Two beach restaurants
Life Guards
Entrance Cost
Free
There is also a diving centre located on this beach.
Praia Da Palmeira (Santa Cruz)
Praia da Palmeira
Continuing along the Eastern Coast from Funchal, is the Praia da Palmeira in Santa Cruz. Another popular beach in the summer it has a children’s swimming pool and main swimming pool, as well as access to the sea from the rocky beach. There is a busy beach restaurant, and a long promenade.
Facilities
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Two beach restaurants
Life Guards
Entrance Cost
Free
Ribeira do Natal Beach (Machico)
Machico Beach
One of the best beaches on the island, as it has a yellow, sandy beach and thus is very accessible obviating the need to clamber over rocks and pebbles as is the case with many of the other beaches in Madeira. The sand was imported from Morocco and is very fine and soft. It has also been enclosed by a breakwater made of enormous boulders making it very safe and although very popular in the summer, if you arrive in the early evening you will find plenty of parking and not many people on the beach.
It is wheelchair friendly and for those with mobility problems there is a amphibious chair available, free of charge.
Six beaches/bathing complexes in the Funchal area have been awarded the blue flag in 2019, namely Clube Naval, Ponta Gorda, Praia Formosa, Areeiro, the Lido and the Barreirinha swimming complex.
The Barreirinha Swimming Area
The Barreirinha Swimming area consists of a platform out to sea and access to the sea is via ladders – one located in the bay and the other on the other side of the bay. Barreirinha is located on the eastern side of the Old Town in Funchal. There is no beach and you have to climb down the ladders into the sea which means that you have to be fairly agile and also a competent swimmer, however this is a wonderful swimming experience without the drawbacks of getting full of sand or negotiating a stony beach.
Facilities
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Wheel chair friendly
Umbrellas and loungers for hire
Bar
Life Guards
Charge
€1.50 – Adults
€1.00 – Children (3 years or younger for free)
On the north coast Porto Moniz and Ponta Delgada swimming pools were awarded the blue flag for 2019.
Porto Moniz – Volcanic Rock Pools
Porto Moniz Rock Pools
The Porto Moniz volcanic rock pools provide a safe means of sea bathing for the whole family. The volcanic rock provides a natural means of enclosing the bathing area from the sea. The water is crystal clear, being renewed with the tides. In a Guardian newspaper article, the lava pools were listed as one of the top ten seawater swimming pools in Europe.
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Locker Facilites
Wheel chair friendly
Umbrellas and loungers for hire
Café
Charge
€1.50 – Adults
€1.00 – Children (3 years or younger for free)
Entrance Times
Summer – 9am to 8pm
Winter – 9am to 5pm
Other Ameninities in Porto Moniz
Porto Moniz has several restaurants and bars. It also has an aquarium.
Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada
The Ponta Delgada swimming pools (main pool and childrens’ pool) provide a safe sea water swimming option, with all the facilities.
Facilities
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Locker Facilites
Umbrellas and loungers for hire
Café
Charge
€1.50 – Adults
€1.00 – Children (3 years or younger for free)
Entrance Times
Summer – 9am to 8pm
Winter – 9am to 5pm
Other Ameninities in Ponta Delgada
Ponta Delgada has a hotel, two restaurants, tearooms, etc.
Porto da Cruz
Porto da Cruz swimming pools
The Porta da Cruz swimming pools (main pool and childrens’ pool) provide a safe sea water swimming option, with all the facilities.
Facilities
Changing Rooms
Toilets
Showers
Locker Facilites
Umbrellas and loungers for hire
Café
Charge
€1.50 – Adults
€1.00 – Children (3 years or younger for free)
Entrance Times
Summer – 9am to 8pm
Winter – 9am to 5pm
Other Amenities in Porta da Cruz
The rum factory and shop, Engenhos do Norte, is located in Porta do Cruz and is open for visits.
The local cuisine, whether you are self catering or eating out, is to be relished. Madeira has an abundance of fresh fish, fruit and vegetables. Restaurant food is generally freshly cooked, using the local ingredients. Continue reading “A Guide to Food specialities in Madeira”
Botanical Gardens
If driving in Madeira does not appeal to you, a fun way to see the island is to use the local bus services. By doing so, you will imbibe the local atmosphere and enjoy the adventure and accomplishment of making your own way around. Once you have an idea of how the public transport system works, the buses are very accessible and generally on time. All the bus timetables are available online.
Painted door in the Old Town (Zona Velha)
The Old town with it’s cobbled streets and painted doors, is an ideal place to browse when looking for somewhere to eat and/or drink. The choice is enormous – practically every establishment is either a bar or restaurant. Continue reading “A Guide to Eating out in the Old Town (Zona Velha)”
Spring in Madeira is a delight to the senses as the earth bursts forth in a kaleidoscope of colours – the yellow of the accacia trees, the purple of the jacarandas and hydrangeas which grow along the roadsides. The bountiful flowers and different plants can be viewed in numerous parks and open gardens around the island. Continue reading “Spring in Madeira”
