Madeira island vacation package: Portugal’s Pearl of the Atlantic
Spend 7 days discovering unique birdlife, subtropical forests, and delicious food and drink on our expertly guided Madeira Island vacation packages.
Highlights
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.
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 waters to the islands South, where the depths can reach up to 3000m. We’ll search for shearwaters and if we’re lucky see whales and dolphins.
Take a refreshing dip in the Atlantic at the spectacular north coast rockpools next to striking black-sand beaches.
Taste the authentic flavours of the island as you watch your host prepare a traditional three-course meal, sample seasonal produce, and sip Madeira’s renowned 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 incredible wildlife, balmy climate and mouthwatering 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, 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.
- 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, small comfortable coach, 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: Our 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.
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 the tour.
- 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
- Group Dinner in Funchal restaurant
Optional early start to see the sunrise in Pico do Arieiro, with our local guide(s), followed by a walk through the protected UNESCO World Heritage Laurissilva rainforest. The distance will be tailored to the group, an easy walk, or a moderate walk of up to 12km.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal
- Group Dinner in Funchal restaurant or the hotel
Enjoy a leisurely walking tour of Funchal’s Farmers Market, Mercado dos Lavradores, famous for its excellent regional produce. After lunch, look forward to a Wildlife Safari boat trip in the afternoon.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal.
- Free evening to dine at your leisure.
Free day with options to book your choice of additional half-day or full-day tour or take the ferry to Porto Santo for the day.
- Hotel: The Castanheiro Hotel, Funchal.
- Private authentic evening food experience, meeting local food producers, at their 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.
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
Depart after breakfast. Taxis to the airport will be arranged for everyone, at a time to suit individual departure times.
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, small comfortable coach, 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 from Funchal Airport. (taxis arranged)
- 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.
- Six breakfasts, and five group dinners. (one free evening)
- 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.
- One dinner 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.
The Castanheiro Boutique Hotel, Funchal, Madeira.
Levadas walk and waterfall, Madeira.
Explore the history and culture of the Mercado dos Lavradores.
Pico Do Arieiro has one of the most beautiful sunrise views in Madeira.
Testimonials
[This was a] wonderful small group tour with local experts of beautiful and fascinating places off the main tourist path, from cathedrals and Norman churches to ancient fossil beds and sea-cliffs shaped by the movement of the continents.
Treasures of Southern England | Paula D, September 2023
I thought the week was excellent; very interesting and with good variation in the days activities and not overdosing on any one activity. I liked the flexibility shown by taking in Kingston Lacey which nicely completed the Corfe Castle and Lady Bankes story. The information and guiding was excellent – at a good level for everyone with supplemental detail where requested – by lunchtime of the first day it felt like an outing of friends and that’s pretty special!
Fossil Treasures of England’s Jurassic Coast | David M, March 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this fun and educational tour; I got to take a great many photos of spectacular scenery and it was just the right length. I recommend it to anyone seeking a vacation that combines an educational experience with hiking in beautiful scenery.
The Geology and Dinosaurs of Alberta, Canada | Dan S, June 2024
UPCOMING TOURS
Prices from GBP £3,450 pp
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