Madeira

Madeira is a volcanic island in the North Atlantic, approximately 900 kilometres southwest of the Portuguese mainland and 630 kilometres northwest of the Canary Islands, blessed with a perennial spring climate that has made it internationally known as the Pearl of the Atlantic. With altitudes ranging from sea level to 1,862 metres at Pico Ruivo, the island offers exceptional landscape diversity: UNESCO World Heritage laurisilva forests, vertiginous valleys, levadas threading through the mountains, and a coast of black basalt cliffs plunging into the Atlantic's deep blue. Madeira's beaches are predominantly pebble and black volcanic sand — a reflection of the island's geological origin — with the most notable being Machico, Praia Formosa, and Reis Magos on the east coast. On the west coast, Porto Moniz and its famous natural lava pools are a unique attraction. The island has no native white-sand beaches, but Calheta features an artificial beach with imported Saharan sand. The sister island of Porto Santo, 45 kilometres away, compensates with 9 kilometres of golden sand with reputed medicinal properties. Madeira attracts nature lovers, hikers, cyclists, and discerning travellers seeking unique landscapes and exceptional gastronomy. Visitable year-round.