Madeira island vacation package: Portugal’s Pearl of the Atlantic
Spend 7 days discovering subtropical forests, walking the levadas and enjoying authentic local food and drink on our expertly guided Madeira Island vacation packages.
Highlights
Stay in a top rated 4-star Funchal boutique hotel Castanheiro, located in the old town, close to restaurants, cafes and shops.
Have a safari-style 4X4 adventure through the UNESCO World Heritage-protected Laurissilva forest, a subtropical rainforest unique to Madeira.
Enjoy a boat trip along the crystal-clear Atlantic Ocean waters to the islands South, where the depths can reach up to 3000m. If we’re lucky, we’ll see whales and dolphins.
Stroll along Madeira’s famous Levadas, a centuries-old network of irrigation channels built to carry water from the lush north to the drier south.
Taste the authentic flavours of the island as you watch your host prepare a traditional three-course meal on their farm, sample seasonal produce, and sip some Madeira wine.
Funchal city, Madeira Island
Overview
Tiny Madeira has it all – vineyards and volcanoes, black-sand beaches and ancient forests, remote trails and a cosmopolitan capital. Add to that its wildlife, balmy climate and mouth-watering local delicacies and it’s easy to see why this rugged, mist-clad island is known as the Pearl of the Atlantic.
Our small-group, expert-led Madeira vacation package gently guides you to the heart of this spellbinding island. Led by Dr Vickie Heaney, an artist and ornithologist, who herself lives on an island in England but enjoys regular trips to Madeira. With her, you’ll explore the island’s best sights, enjoy leisurely walks, and savour authentic Madeiran flavours. Relax in a stylish boutique hotel set across five beautifully restored buildings that span 300 years of history, with views across the beautiful Bay of Funchal.
Useful details about your Madeira island vacation package:
- Start / finish: Your tour starts and finishes in Funchal, Madeira.
- Activity Level: The activity level is rated as Leisurely to Moderate, requiring an average level of fitness (view our activity level definitions). The tour will involve walking in generally easy terrain, but will require good walking boots (please note, some paths may be uneven and loose underfoot). Walks are mostly 1 to 5km (0.8-3 miles) long, with longer hikes for those who choose them. This tour also involves boarding a passenger boat.
- Transport: Transport will be by 4×4 jeeps, minibus, and passenger boat.
- Weather: Average temperatures on Madeira range from lows of 10°C (50°F) to highs of 19°C (64°F) in March), with an average of 5-7 hours of sunshine in spring. Thanks to its mild, subtropical climate, there isn’t really a best time of year to visit Madeira; rain and sunshine are possible at any times, and temperatures are relatively balmy year-round. However, we especially love visiting in autumn and spring, when the weather is warm and sunny and the summer crowds have thinned out.
- Accommodation: Castanheiro 4-star boutique hotel comprises five linked historic buildings, in the heart of a historic zone overlooking the Bay of Funchal. Top-rated by our tour leader, Vickie and online reviewers, TripAdvisor 5.0 and Booking.com 9.3, making this the perfect base for our tour.
If walking is an issue, alternative arrangements can be made during the scheduled walks, so please let GeoCultura know in advance.
Where you will visit…
An optional short afternoon walking tour of Funchal with your tour leader, before the group gathers early evening for a welcome drink – time for introductions and overview of your Madeira vacation.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Group dinner at the hotel
Full day private 4 x 4 tour, off the beaten track, with local guide taking you through amazing mountains to explore the beautiful fishing villages and banana plantations of Magdelena do Mar. Explore the narrow stone cobbled streets of Paul and Jardim do Mar, with time for tasting local delicacies along the way. There will be plenty of stops for refreshments and photos. See local life, with locals as your guide.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Free evening to dine in the hotel or choose a nearby restaurant
Morning sea safari boat trip in Magic Dolphin’s eco catamaran offering good chance of seeing dolphins, whales or turtles. For those who like a more exhilarating trip, choose Magic Dolphin’s fast rib which goes further out to sea.
Afternoon Funchal guided heritage tour with specialist local tour company. The well paced 2.5 hour private walking tour starts at the hotel, takes in the cathedral, the market and the old town.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Free evening to dine in the hotel or choose a nearby restaurant
Early morning trip to see the sunrise at Pico Do Arieiro or Sao Lourenco followed by a walk through the protected UNESCO World Heritage Laurissilva rainforest.
Free afternoon for guests to choose from other local experiences, such as the cable cars, basket toboggan or vintage car rides.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Private authentic evening food experience for the group, meeting local food producers, at their small farm. After a welcome drink, enjoy a tour of the farm with your host, harvesting together some of the ingredients for your 3-course meal, with plenty of vegetarian dishes to taste. Enjoy the fantastic views over Funchal.
This morning there’s an opportunity to go and visit Funchal’s farmers market, Mercado dos Lavradores, famous for its excellent regional produce, followed by a private wine tasting and tour at Blandy’s Wine Lodge.
Today, another option is to join a small group for a longer half-day walk led by an experienced local guide. Ideal, if you like a longer hike.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Free evening to dine in the hotel or choose a nearby restaurant
Leisurely drive through the old roads across the countryside to Paul de Serra and then to Porto Moniz. We’ll stop for lunch and an opportunity to swim in the natural volcanic pools. We will return via the north coast villages and see the beautiful waterfalls.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Final group dinner
This is where your Madeira, Portugal vacation ends. Depart after breakfast.
Note: If required for reasons beyond our control, GeoCultura reserves the right to substitute alternative accommodation of equal or higher quality or adapt the itinerary if required.
Double room for single occupancy is £549 March 2025 tour and £710 on the October 2025 tour.
Your tour starts and finishes in Funchal, Madeira.
The activity level is rated as LEISURELY to MODERATE, requiring an average level of fitness (view our activity level definitions). The tour will involve walking in generally easy terrain, but will require good walking boots (please note, some paths may be uneven and loose underfoot). Walks are mostly 1 to 5km (0.8-3 miles) long, with longer hikes for those who choose them. This tour also involves boarding a passenger boat.
If walking is an issue, alternative arrangements can be made during the scheduled walks, so please let GeoCultura know in advance.
Transport will be by 4×4 jeeps, minibus, and passenger boat.
Average temperatures on Madeira range from lows of 10° to highs of 19° in March (50°F to 64°F), with an average of 5-7 hours of sunshine in spring and autumn.
Rain is always possible, so you should bring light waterproof clothing, insect repellent is also recommended.
The tour includes:
- The services of your expert tour leader who will be with the group throughout the tour, staying at the same hotel.
- All transportation costs once checked into the hotel
- Entry fees, local guide fees and activity fees, where arranged as part of the tour.
- All accommodation costs for the nights stated, assuming two people sharing a double room. Single occupancy rooms are available for a surcharge. See Single Supplement in ‘Need to Know’ tab.
- 6 breakfasts, and 3 group dinners. (3 free evenings)
- All service charges and most gratuities.
The tour excludes:
- Travel insurance. Guests should carry their own health and travel insurance.
- Extra or optional activities not described in the tour.
- Lunches not included.
- 3 dinners not included.
- Personal expenditures, any alcoholic drinks with meals, and extras at hotels such as laundry bills.
- Air fares to Funchal not included.
- Passport and visa fees.
Nights 1 – 6: Castanheiro Boutique Hotel, Funchal
This boutique hotel comprises five historically classified buildings, that lead guests on a journey through three centuries in the heart of a historic zone overlooking the Bay of Funchal.
Deposit: A deposit of 10% of the tour price is due upon registration for a tour.
Final payment: Full payment is due 60 days before a tour begins, or upon registration if within the 60-day window.
Cancellation by participant: A participant may cancel a registration after securing a confirmed place on a tour for any reason. The following refund terms will apply:
- Greater than 60 days before tour begins: Any monies paid plus half of the deposit will be refunded
- 30 to 59 days before tour begins: 35% of tour price will be refunded
- 15 to 29 days before tour begins: 25% of tour price will be refunded
- Within 14 days of tour or during the tour: No monies will be refunded
Cancellation by GeoCultura: GeoCultura reserves the right to cancel any tour due to low enrolment, inability to run the tour or concerns about the safety, health or welfare of participants. If a tour is cancelled before it begins, all monies paid will be refunded (including any deposit).
Please refer to our Terms and Conditions page for additional details.
Your tour leader
Vickie Heaney
Dr Vickie Heaney’s background is in zoology with a PHD specialisation in seabirds. During the winter months, her ornithology expertise takes her to the far south, helping to engage expedition cruise ships passengers about wildlife in places like the Falklands Islands, South Georgia and Antarctica.
The Isles of Scilly provide plenty of birdlife for her to study and conserve. As a part-time seabird ecologist with the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust, Vickie’s work includes monitoring the Isles’ avian visitors, and improving conditions through initiatives like the Seabird Recovery Project. Among other outcomes, this has been credited with bringing successful breeding populations of Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels back to Scilly.
Vickie’s other passion is printmaking, and from her studio on St Mary’s she creates limited runs of linocut prints inspired by seabirds, nautical themes and island life, together with hand decorated ceramics with striking designs.
With Jess Vian, Vickie runs Isles of Scilly tours and our GeoCultura tours have benefitted from their input, working closley with the local boatmen, artists and producers to design unique tours to delight GeoCultura guests.
Meet Vickie on our Isles of Scilly tours, Isles of Scilly small holidays and Isles of Scilly tours: 4 night inclusive short break and visit our scheduled tours page for a full list of GeoCultura tours.
Enjoy a private group dining experience and meet local producers at a farm.
Explore Madeira on a magic dolphin rib boat
Rock pools in Porto Moniz
Cable cars in Funchal
Exploring Ribeiro Frio Natural Park, Madeira
Testimonials
The Geology of the Pyrenees, Spain | Nick C, September 2024
Just got back from the Scilly Isles tour it was FANTASTIC. Your organisation and communications were faultless, your guides on the Islands are a credit to your company. The hotel and staff were excellent, and the food was outstanding we look forward to travelling with you again.
Isles of Scilly Holidays – Small group guided tours | Bryan B, September 2024
The whole experience was great as a taster for the Isles of Scilly – I enjoyed the small boat trips more, the larger ones less so. I really liked St Agnes.
I enjoyed exploring St Mary’s and finding gems like the community garden, Penninis Head, and the amazing crab sandwich and view from Juliet’s garden.
I appreciated the small group size and the tour gave me an excellent overview of the beautiful Scillies and was a good balance of activities and free time. And thanks to Julie in the office who coordinated everything so well.
Isles of Scilly Holidays | Alison J, April 2024
Prices from GBP £2,849 pp
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