Enjoy the beauty and scents of the flowers on your Madeira walking tour
Madeira is known for its rich history and wonderful subtropical climate which makes the island an ideal breeding ground for exotic flowers and plants. You can stroll through the immaculate gardens and parks in Madeira, the pride and joy of the locals and an absolute must see for visitors.
Discover the vast array of parks and gardens that Madeira has to offer starting with the Municipal gardens
If you want to escape from the hussle and bussle of Funchal, take the cable car up to the Monte municipal gardens, a real experience in itself ! The gardens were founded by José Berardo, a local business man in 1987 and are located at an altitude of 550 metres, span across 26 thousand m2 and are home to around 10 000 several exotic and indigenous species from 5 continents.
A great idea for your Madeira walking holiday ; enjoy a casual stroll in a gorgeous, enchanting and somewhat romantic setting.
The Japanese gardens
You can also visit the Japanese gardens for an authentic experience. In the blink of an eye, you’ll think you’re in Japan ! The poetic landscape of these gardens, complete with dragon symbols and lanterns creates real harmony. The fauna is just as impressive as the flora with ducks, black and white swans, chickens, peacocks, koi carps.
Orchid garden
If your Madeira walking holiday takes place between May and December the the orchid garden is a definate must ! Looked after by Betty the daughter of William Cooke, one of the pioneers of orchid breeding, the garden boasts a collection of 6 000 orchids, some of which are close to extinction.
Botanical gardens
The Botanical garden spans over 80 000m² and is home to tropical birds, tropical fruit trees as well as aloe vera and yucca trees. It’s also very active in the preservation of local flora. Located at an altitude of 300m, the garden offers stunning views over Funchal
The Quinta gardens
The Quinta gardens are home to a beautiful 18th century georgian house and gorgeous flora.
Today the house and gardens belong to the Medeira government who have restored the park.
Visit in summer and autumn and you will see flowers from the Himalayas and the amazing rosa de algodao that change colour throughout the day.
Funchal and around
Your Madeira walking stay can also take you to gardens in Funchal and around. We reccommend a trip to the Dragon Trees Nucleus, just east of Funchal in Sao Goncalo, a garden dedicated to dragon trees that are close to extinction. These trees take many years to reach maturity and grow very slowly. Some of the trees in the garden are centuries old.
