Why the
Madeira Islands
are special

Their main island has been called a Garden of Eden because of its natural beauty and year-round spring-like climate.

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Madeira Islands
tips & insights

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Name

Both the island group and its main island bear the name "Madeira" (which translates as "wood", referring to the thick forests).

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About Madeira Island

It is by far the most populous, touristed, and beautiful of the four islands.

It has many luxury, midmarket and mass-tourism resorts. Yet, despite its lengthy coastline, it has no beaches. Reason: The seacoast has a steep drop off. (For a beach, you have to go to Santo Porto, the second largest island. Unfortunately, it lacks sufficient beauty.)

Funchal, the capital city, is the epicenter for restaurants, bars, and clubs.

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Location

Madeira is in the North Atlantic Ocean roughly 550 kilometers (310 miles) directly west of Morocco. From Lisbon, it's a 1.5-hour flight.

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History in brief

The Portuguese say they discovered Madeira in 1419. Some historians argue that the event happened earlier and by non-Portuguese.

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Volcano height

Pico Ruivo is the highest peak, measuring 1860 meters (6110 feet) above sea level. But since the base of the Madeira mass sits on the ocean floor 9 kilometers (5.5 miles) below, the Pico Ruivo peak would be near the height of Mount Everest if the Atlantic Ocean were drained.

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When to come

Non-winter months are best. Winter is the rainy season - and temperatures occasionally become too nippy for ideal sunbathing.

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Photo by Selfmade

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