About the Gourmet walks on the flower island trip

• Arrive on your own at Madeira's international airport. Transfer to Santana, a rural village with a strong agricultural tradition located on the northeast coast. Santana is especially known for its beautiful examples of traditional houses with triangular thatched roofs. Settle in for 3 nights in a 4* hotel located in a vineyard overlooking the ocean.
  Optional: every Saturday at 5pm it is possible to join a guided tour of the Quinta’s botanical garden (included in your trip - to be booked in advance according to your arrival time)
• Night in Santana
• MEALS included: Dinner
  
  
• ACCESS:
  . By air: There are regular flights that go directly to Madeira's airport or via Lisbon, the Portuguese capital.
  Click here for more travel information 

• Walk - Machico > Sao Lorenzo
  3 hours /  7.2 km - 4.5 miles / Ascent: +400 - Descent: - 400m
• Private taxi transfer to Santo da Serra, located at an altitude of 600 metres on a plateau covered with pine and eucalyptus forest. For your first morning, take the time to discover the village: its church, its small square and its botanical garden with a belvedere offering a panoramic view of the Machico valley. Every Sunday morning the village hosts a typical and colourful market selling farm products. Different from the tourist markets, here you will meet the local producers and sample some traditional food of the island: sweet potatoes, anones, the fruit of the rhododendron, but also some unusual drinks such as coffee with lemon ...
• After a morning of immersion in the local culture, transfer to the peninsula of Sao Lorenzo at the eastern end of the island.  Characterized by a coastal ridge formed by the wind and the sea, the tip of São Lourenço offers an unusual spectacle of rocky formations. It is famous for its numerous fossils, birds and unique flora.  Swimming is possible in small isolated coves. Transfer back to Santana.
  Optional: every Sunday at 5pm it is possible to join a Portuguese language lesson to learn some basic words for the rest of the trip. (included in your trip - to be booked in advance). If you confirm this option, your walk will have to be shortened.
• Night in Santana
• MEALS included: Breakfast & Dinner

• Walk - Queimada > Caldeiro Verde > Queimada
  4 hours 30 /  14 km - 8,6 miles round trip / Ascent: +110 - Descent: -110m
• Today, after a short transfer, you walk along an ancient levada carved centuries ago into the rock and discover Madeira's primary forest: the incredible Laurissilva, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Levada rises above dizzying cliffs, passes through 4 tunnels dug into the basalt (don't forget your headlamp) to finally reach the source of the Levada: the Caldeiro Verde, an amphitheatre of subtropical vegetation, framing a waterfall that plunges into a basin. You can jump in for a refreshing dip if you are brave enough! Return to the Queimadas Botanical Park via the same route.
  Optional: every Monday at 5pm it is possible to join a cooking class. After visiting the vegetable garden, you will prepare a typical salad with fresh fruits and vegetables with the chef (included in your trip - to be booked in advance)
• Night in Santana
• MEALS included: Breakfast & Dinner

• Walk - Achada Texeira  > Pico Ruivo > Achada Texeira
  2 hours 40 /  5,6 km - 3,5 miles round trip / Ascent: +300 - Descent: -300 m
• After a short transfer, a wide paved and landscaped path leads you to the highest peak of the island, Pico Ruivo (1862m). Breathtaking scenery of the jagged volcanic peaks, the shimmering blue of the ocean with the sea of clouds as a backdrop... This is a spectacular and unmissable stop on the central ridge of the island.
• Transfer to Funchal, the capital. A charming city built like an amphitheater around the bay, its name comes from the fennel (‘Foncho’ in Portuguese) which grew in the bay when the Portuguese first arrived. Afternoon at leisure to stroll through the narrow streets, along the marina or take the cable car up to the Tropical Gardens or the Botanical Garden (to be paid directly)
• Night in Funchal
• MEALS included: Breakfast 

We recommend: dinner at a local’s home.
. If you are looking for a more authentic experience and wish to immerse yourself in the Madeiran culture, we recommend dinner at a local's home. Eleonor opens her house for a heart-warming experience inviting you to sample a typical Madeiran meal inspired by old family recipes. Only possible on Tuesday evening with a maximum of 6 guests (non-private). 3-course meal including wine and pre dinner drinks.

• This morning you meet with a local guide in Funchal for a gourmet stroll in the historic centre of Funchal for a wonderful mix of gastronomic and cultural discovery. No less than 15 tastings to sample the savoury delights such as the hot pork and garlic sandwich, sword fish and grilled tuna and the sweet treats such as ginger biscuits, honey cake and not forgetting of course the famous Poncha (Tour possible on Tuesday and Friday afternoon or Wednesday morning).
• Free afternoon to explore the colourful streets and take a stroll along the seaside promenade or simply relax by the hotel swimming pool overlooking the bay!
• Free evening in Funchal to enjoy one of the many restaurants in the old town
• Night in Funchal
• MEALS included: Breakfast

We recommend: booking a table in one of Madeira's two Michelin starred restaurants:
. William's Restaurant - 1 Michelin star - located in the iconic Belmonf Reids Palace (open from Wednesday to Saturday)
. Il Gallo d'Oro – 2 Michelin stars - the gourmet restaurant at the five-star hotel The Cliff Bay (open from Tuesday to Saturday) William's Restaurant - 1 Michelin star - located in the iconic Belmonf Reids Palace (open from Wednesday to Saturday)

• Today we take you on a discovery of the vineyards of Madeira. Accompanied by an English-speaking guide and other travellers, your first stop will be in the charming village of Camara dos Lobos where you will find some of the largest vineyards on the island. Visit a family production specialising in white wine. Tasting and visit of the vineyard where they also grow all kinds of fruits and vegetables. You then continue to the north coast in the region of Sao Vicente. You will visit some of the most beautiful vineyards on the cliffs before having lunch in one of the wineries. On our way back we will visit another Madeira wine producer with a more modern approach to the production of Madeira wine. And of course, we will enjoy another wine tasting
• Transfer to your hotel located on the south coast. Another charming Quinta settled among the vineyards.This evening, dinner is served in the wine bar of the Quinta with magnificent views of the ocean..
• Night in Estreito de Calheta
• MEALS included: Breakfast & dinner

• Walk - Rabacal > 25 Fontes > Do Risco waterfall
  . 4 hours /  11 km - 6,8 miles / Ascent: +400 - Descent: -400m
  . Possibility to shorten the walk by 1 hour by taking a shuttle from the Rabacal car park (to be paid on spot - 3 € per person)
• Morning transfer to the Paul da Serra plateau, at an altitude of 1200 metres. This is where the deep valley of Ribeira de Janela is born. On the site of Rabaçal, following the many levadas that fetch water in the heart of the mountain, you will discover numerous waterfalls, a forest of remarkable tree heather, the famous giant dandelion and the Madeira daisy. After the walk, transfer back to your hotel.
• Tonight we have reserved a table for a dinner in the most famous surfing pub on the island (in Paul do Mar) for a delicious meal of fresh fish! Return to your accommodation after dinner.
• Night in Estreito de Calheta
• MEALS included: Breakfast & dinner

• End of your trip in  Madeira! Private transfer to the airport.
• MEALS included : breakfast
  
  
• ACCESS: Madeira airport information here.