Pearl of the Atlantic

1. 1

   Day 1

   Arrive in Funchal

   Meals included: lunch and dinner

   On arrival, we are met by our local STC Expedition Leader and take a short transfer to our accommodation in Funchal city centre. Our Leader will give us a briefing on what to expect from our trip. The rest of the afternoon will be spent settling in before our first traditional meal.

2. 2

   Day 2

   Discover Madeira, above & under ground

   All meals included

   Our discovery of Madeira begins as we take to the skies… literally! Our first visit of the day is to the highest sea cliff in Europe and the second highest in the world, Cabo Girão. At 580m the views from the skywalk platform are breath taking. Continuing along the coast we reach Seixal where we have a language lesson. Time for our cooking class! We learn how to make traditional dishes such as Espetada and Bolo do Caco and then enjoy a lunch of our own making.

   This afternoon we visit Porto Moniz in the northwest of the island and can take time to relax in the natural lava swimming pools. From the coast we continue our journey underground and explore São Vicente Caves. The caves were formed 890 thousand years ago by a volcanic eruption in Paul da Serra. There is now an underground route running over 1km for us to explore as well as incredible 5-6m high caves and unique series of lava tubes. The Volcano Centre offers a range of educational displays showing the geological evolution of the Madeira Islands.

3. 3

   Day 3

   Whale & dolphin watching

   All meals included

   Today we have the opportunity to spot and observe some the 20 cetacean species that can be found in the Madeira, a short walk from our accommodation in Funchal. Although nature offers no guarantees, whales and dolphins are regularly seen during these half day tours along the south coast of the island. Local marine biologists will brief us on which cetacean species can be observed, safety measures aboard, how we respect the animals and rules of observation at sea. Spotted and Bottlenose dolphins, Pilot and Fin Whales are among the species we have the chance to see. Rare species are also spotted here such as the Rough Toothed Dolphin and Blainville Beaked Whale, which are the least studied animals in the world being a deep water animal. After the boat trip and a scenic picnic lunch, we have time this afternoon to explore the city of Funchal.

4. 4

   Day 4

   Levada hike & bike tour

   All meals included

   Besides its natural beauty, Madeira is also well known for its great network of irrigation channels the Levadas. 3,000km of waterways or ’’Levadas’’ are a living reminder of the monumental effort of past generations to distribute water from the mountain springs to the lower slopes, agricultural land and valleys of the island. Our morning hike follows the Levadas through lush vegetation and indigenous forest. After a picnic lunch, the adventure cranks up a gear. Jumping onto mountain bikes, we cycle along quiet roads, paths and dirt tracks that wind through epic mountain landscapes. This is an easy to moderate mountain bike tour, suitable for all levels, and with its stunning mountain and Atlantic Ocean views, one we won’t easily forget!

5. 5

   Day 5

   Forest Conservation & Pico do Arieiro

   All meals included

   At the Ecological Park of Funchal, we receive a talk from the Ecological Park Team on sustainability. We then spend the morning volunteering with the current conservation activities taking place in the park. If our visit is between October and April, we can help with a reforestation project focusing on endemic plant species. Next we visit Pico do Arieiro, an extinct volcano and the third highest peak of the island standing tall at 1,818m. The incredible panoramic views from the top are a great backdrop for a team photo! From here we descend to Ribeiro Frio, meaning ‘’Cold River’’. This is a natural park located in the north of the island, in a deep valley surrounded by mountains. A short Levada walk along an ancient water channel gives us the chance to spot different bird species such as the Madeira Firecrest and Trocaz Pigeon. The incredible Balcões viewpoint is a real highlight and we can see the Laurissilva Forest from here which is what gives the area World Heritage UNESCO status. We can also visit a nearby sugar cane factory to see how they produce molasses used in honey and rum!

6. 6

   Day 6

   Bananas & beaches

   All meals included

   Green landscapes, a pleasant climate and the unique coastal environments make Madeira an ideal environment for growing exotic fruits. This morning we walk along banana fields to a banana factory and learn about the different types, growing stages and climate conditions. Lunch will be enjoyed in an exotic forest composed of ancient Mimosa, Eucalyptus and Acacia trees. Next we travel to Calheta which is famous for its sandy beaches. Here we take part in an Environment Clean Up project and clean a section of the beach. There will be time to relax on the beach before returning to Funchal for our last team meal.

7. 7

   Day 7

   Hiking the Volcanic Peninsula

   All meals included

   Today we enjoy a full day hike along São Lourenço, a long and narrow peninsula at the eastern end of the island, . The peninsula is volcanic in its origin, mainly formed of basalt, although there are some limestone sediment formations. The semi-arid climate and exposure to the north winds have sculpted the low vegetation and explains the lack of trees, which makes this part of the island very unique compared to what we have experiences so far. At the end of the trail we can enjoy a well deserved swim and relax in Sardinha port.

8. 8

   Day 8

   Last goodbye & departure

   Meals included: breakfast and lunch

   There should be time for final souvenir shopping today before we catch our return flight to the UK.

Itineraries can change with the seasons, local conditions and your group's needs. Ask us and we'll tailor it.