Page 59 - Dreamscapes Magazine | Fall/Winter 2024

MADEIRA/LUIS FREITAS
TIPS & TRICKS
To explore the archipelago’s secrets, and to get the most out of your visit, guided tours are recommended: visitmadeira.com/en/what-to-do/ nature-seekers/activities/madeira-tours
On Porto Santo, Europe’s Leading Beach Destination 2024, there are numerous tour companies offering services to safely explore the island on land and sea: visitmadeira.com/en/where-to-go/ porto-santo/discovering-porto-santo
If the coast is calling to you, the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço (PR 8) is a moderate option where you can enjoy an all-you-can-see buffet of crumbling, volcanic cliffs, barren, basalt landscapes and soaring protected seabirds like shearwaters and Bulwer’s petrels. The 20-million-year-old Laurisilva Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that protects an ancient ecosystem, is the perfect place for strolls on the Levada trails. Vereda do Fanal (PR 13) is a good choice on a misty or rainy day as the rolling fog adds an air of intrigue to the twisting trees and their gnarled, mossy roots.
CRUISE THE COASTLINE
Trade in your hiking legs for sea legs on a whale- and dolphin- watching tour for stunning marine life encounters. Atlantic spotted dolphin, short-finned pilot whales and loggerhead sea turtles are some of the possible sightings during this popular year-round activity. Mild water temperatures mean that the underwater delights are also not to be missed, so strap on your snorkel or oxygen tank to explore the nature reserve of Garajau, or the artificial reefs formed
from sunken ships. Enjoy the varied marine life, including rays, sea- horses and barracudas, before coming up for air.
Relish views of leafy mountains and soaring waterfalls while relaxing on the black sand beach of Seixal or when swimming in the nearby volcanically formed pools of Poças das Lesmas (for a more developed experience, opt to take a dip in the Natural Pools of Porto Moniz). Experienced surfers should head for Achadas da Cruz to combine the thrill of Europe’s steepest gondola with a backdrop that inspires the island’s “Hawaii of Europe” moniker; however, if you’re a beginner wave chaser, check out Madeira Surf Center for lessons. You’ll then be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding the perfect beach for hunting down that flawless barrel.
PORTO SANTO’S JOB IS MORE
THAN JUST BEACH
While you should eventually find the white sand of Porto Santo’s pristine beaches between your toes, be sure to get a taste of the island’s incredible activities that are still flavoured with an ample dose of sea salt. Quench your thirst for the coastline by circumnavi- gating sharp sea cliffs and isolated beaches by kayak, or flip a traditional snorkelling experience on its head by taking a twilight plunge into the marine life of Porto Santos. Hike along Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã (PS PR 1), a narrow rock trail that is emblem- atic of the island’s past—it was once a thoroughfare for mules. Suck in that hearty sea air and savour the heady scent of cypress trees while admiring the coastal views before the trail splits, taking hikers to two unique but equally beautiful viewpoints. Pico de Ana Ferreira, a spine of jagged rocks that slices its way through the centre of the island, is another worthy hiking destination, and don’t resist the siren song of the iconic “organ pipes” formation located near the trailhead. DS
FALL/WINTER 2024 DREAMSCAPES 59
PHOTOS: VISIT MADEIRA/RICARDO FARIA PAULINO | VISIT MADEIRA/JOÃO FARIA | VISIT MADEIRA/TIAGO SOUSA | VISIT MADEIRA/TIAGO SOUSA DESENQUADRADO | VISIT