The Madeira Archipelago, discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, is made up of the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo and the uninhabited islands of Selvagens and Desertas. It is located 310 miles from the African coast and 620 miles from the European continent, which is the equivalent of a 1 hour 30 minute flight from Lisbon. The archipelago is famous for its friendly people, exceptional natural beauty and mild climate. A wonderful destination where you can combine holidays on the beach, in the mountains or in the city, and the ideal place to relax and restore the balance of mind and body that you need to face the stress of daily life.
The island, due to its privileged geographical position and mountainous relief, has fantastic climatic conditions. Very mild average temperatures, 25ºC in the summer and 16ºC in the winter, and a moderate level of humidity, confer upon the island’s exceptional subtropical features. The seawater temperature is also very mild, because of the influence of the warm Gulf current, presenting averages of 22ºC in the summer and 18º in the winter.
Funchal is the capital of the archipelago and on Madeira’s south coast, in a beautiful bay washed by the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by tall, green mountains and deep valleys.
Caniço is an important tourist centre about 10 km from the Madeiran capital. It has the typical hustle and bustle of a small town and the seaside area in Caniço de Baixo is a real holiday resort.
On Madeira’s east coast each place has its own, different landscape. Here we can find scenery ranging from the lonely aridness of Ponta de São Lourenço in Caniçal to the tall, verdant summits of Machico and Santo da Serra.
The west coast is the sunniest part of Madeira. Washed by the warm, limpid sea, most places have attractive bathing areas tempting you in for a swim. Surfers will find some of the best waves in Europe at the beaches of Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar.
Untouched nature is the main feature of Madeira’s north coast. Here we find high mountains and deep valleys full of a wide variety of fauna and flora belonging to the Laurissilva Forest, a relic of bygone ages that has been declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. The best ways of getting to know the north coast include rambling through the forest, enjoying the landscapes that seem to plunge into the sea or cooling down in the natural swimming pools.
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