Gardens of Madeira 733

We depart from London Gatwick on a direct flight to Funchal. On arrival we will be met by our local guide and our coach, which will take us to our accommodation. A welcome dinner is included in the hotel this evening.

Today we have a three-quarters day tour today, beginning with a visit to the local market, the Mercado dos Lavradores, followed by the Quinta Vigia, a small garden which is part of the Presidential Palace, and the neighbouring Santa Catarina Park, set in a natural amphitheatre. We conclude at a tea house where we enjoy some Madeiran specialities.

The Children’s Parade is a highlight of the Madeira Flower Festival, taking place on the morning before the main parade on Sunday. Hundreds of children dress in colourful costumes and parade from Avenida Arriaga to Praça do Município, each carrying a flower that will create the “Wall of Hope” – a symbolic green wall of flowers. Following the Children’s Parade, enjoy a lunch at a restaurant, overlooking the bay of Funchal. Savouring the traditional Madeiran cuisine in a charming setting, tasting the local flavours and relaxing after the morning’s vibrant parade.
Later we visit the Madeira Botanical Garden, a true oasis of natural beauty, nestled within the grounds of a former private estate in Funchal. Spanning an impressive 80,000 square meters, this lush garden is a veritable treasure trove of plant life from around the world, thriving in the island’s temperate climate. We will encounter terraces and greenhouses, you will be greeted by a stunning array of rare and indigenous flora, all carefully labelled in both Portuguese and Latin. The herbarium serves as a testament to the garden’s commitment to preserving and displaying the incredible diversity of plant species found on this enchanting island. One of the garden’s greatest assets is the breathtaking panoramic view it offers over the city of Funchal. We then head to the Quinta da Boa Vista Gardens, renowned for its exceptional collection of orchids. The gardens boast a 20-year-old orchid exhibition, displaying the incredible diversity and beauty of these captivating flowers.

We depart this morning on a visit to the Quinta do Palheiro (formally known as Blandy Gardens). Established over several generations, the gardens are most famous for their camellias, though there is something for everyone with green fingers, including a wonderful spread of agapanthus and arum and belladonna lilies in season. In the afternoon we will enjoy a gentle half-day walk on the footpaths alongside the “levadas” (small man-made irrigation canals), which wind their way around the island. This is one of the nicest ways to explore the island and offers the opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of Madeira.
This afternoon, enjoy the magnificent Flower festival parade being a spectator from one of the grandstands seats located along the main avenues of Funchal, and includes hundreds of participants, allegorical floats, allusive to flowers. The floats cross the city of Funchal to the sound of music, displaying combinations of multiple species of flora typical of the island, filling the air with gentle fragrances.

Today is at leisure to relax in the hotel or explore on your own. Alternatively join us on an optional full day tour of the island, including lunch. We will visit the picturesque villages of Camara de Lobos, which was made famous by Sir Winston Churchill in 1950 when he painted the sea cliffs at Cabo Girao; Ribiera Brava, (wild river), which was one of the earliest settlements in Madeira; Encumeada, a 1000m high mountain pass where fascinating cloud displays can often be seen and Porto Moniz, which has long been famous for its natural bathing pools and wonderful scenery, where lunch will be served. In the afternoon we continue via Santana, a pretty village characterised by its thatched houses; the forests and high plateau of Paul da Serra and finally Ponta do Sol, which as the name implies is the sunniest part of the island.

After breakfast at the hotel this morning we take the 10-minute cable car ride from the centre of Funchal to the fashionable hill town of Monte, which offers splendid views over the harbour and the bay. We will visit the glorious Monte Palace Gardens which surround the chateau-like Palace. After our tour of the gardens, we will have the option of taking part in one of Madeira’s most treasured traditions: a 10-minute toboggan ride where you slide down the streets from Monte to Funchal in traditional wicker toboggans. It’s safer than it sounds! In the afternoon we go to Reid’s Palace Hotel. Since it opened in 1891, this luxurious hotel has welcomed the rich and famous, from the Empress of Austria to Sir Winston Churchill and George Bernard Shaw. After a look around the lush gardens that surround the hotel, we will enjoy a delicious afternoon tea of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones, home-made pastries, jam, butter and cream and your choice of tea.

Today is at leisure to relax in the hotel or explore on your own. A farewell dinner will be served in the hotel in the evening.

We transfer to Funchal airport in time to catch our flight home.