Garden Islands of Portugal

Duration: 13 Days / 11 Nights  April 8 - 20

At first, the islands of Madeira and Sao Miguel sound quite similar; both can be described as lush, beautiful, and peaceful. Yet they are very different.  Madeira has been a tourist destination well before Sir Winston Churchill came to paint here and  Sao Miguel’s economy is based on agriculture and fishing.

The island of Madeira, located only 700km off the coast of Africa, has one of the most perfect climates in the world. Never too hot or too cold, it is an exotic paradise of flowers, birds and trees. You can enjoy panoramic views over the mountains and the ocean and the natural beauty of local environments. There is an abundance of tropical fruits, fresh Atlantic fish and the famous Madeira wines. You will stay in the capital city of Funchal which is an ideal holiday location for those wanting a conservative peaceful atmosphere.

São Miguel is the largest island in the archipelago of the Azores, located in the mid-Atlantic. Typical of the group, this island is garden – like, cocooned in the ocean and where the villages and the homes nestle amongst the blue-green of the coastal lagoons. It has a pace of life in which there is time to stop and appreciate nature in its original splendour ad art treasures that bare witness to its centuries - long history. You will stay in the town of Ponta Delgada which has a charming old-fashioned atmosphere.

   Included in your tour:

° SATA Airlines from Toronto

° First Class Hotels (4 star) with service charges and hotel taxes

° Breakfast daily

° 3 dinners at your hotel in Funchal (drinks included)

° 3 dinners at your hotel in Ponta Delgada (drinks included)

° 1 dinner in a local restaurant with Folkshow in Madeira (drinks included)

° 3 tours with lunch in Madeira

° 1 tour with lunch on Sao Miguel

° Arrival & Departure Airport transfers in Funchal & Ponta Delgada

° Sightseeing tours as per itinerary

     - Madeira - 2 half day & 2 full day tours

     - Sao Miguel – 1 half day & 1 full day tour

Day 1       Apr 8 Toronto – Ponta Delgada

Depart Toronto 9:45pm on SATA Airlines.

Day 2       Apr 9 Madeira

Arrive non-stop in Ponta Delgada 7:20am. Depart at 9:40am and arrive 2 hours later in the capital city of Madeira. Funchal is situated in a large and attractive bay, surrounded by magnificent mountains.  Transfer to hotel and settle in before dinner at the hotel.

Day 3       Apr 10 City Tour. Dinner with Folklore Show

 A guide will lead you through the city, stopping at various points of interest. First stop will be at the local market, where you can see the local produce of Madeira, including some of the flowers Madeira is famed for (such as orchids and “birds of paradise”), baskets filled with tropical fruit and vegetables, local handicrafts and an impressive fish market. The second stop will be a visit to the Embroidery Factory. Here visitors can watch the various stages of design and creation. Large exhibition rooms enable the visitor to admire the full beauty of Madeiran embroidery and other craft items. After the factory the visitors will walk along the main shopping street, to visit the Cathedral, built in the XV century and is an impressive example of the Manueline style of Portuguese architecture. The tour concludes with a visit with tasting at one of the Madeira Wine Lodges.

This evening, you are taken to a old-style Madeiran restaurant to experience the warm hospitality of Madeira. During dinner you will be entertained by Fado singers (Portuguese song) and the highlight of the evening is the performance of a local Folkloric group and you are welcome to join in. The dinner includes a Madeira wine on arrival, the main meal of “Espetada” (beef with herbs grilled over an open fire and served on a large skewer), with mixed salad, chips, hot country bread and wine, followed by fresh fruit salad, coffee and brandy or liqueur. This is a fun night you will always remember!

Day 4      Apr 11 Full day Western Island Tour

A short distance from Funchal is the village of Câmara de Lobos, a picturesque and thriving fishing village, painted by Sir Winston Churchill during his stay in Madeira. The area around Câmara de Lobos is one of the most important areas for viniculture on the island. As we drive, note the small terraces carved into the sides of the mountain; as the road climbs higher; the banana plantations give way to grapes. Then we continue until the viewpoint of Cabo Girão, the second highest sea cliff in the world. It rises sheer from the sea, offering stunning views of the bay of Funchal and out over the distant horizon. Continuing along the south coast, the route leads us to Ribeira Brava, which lies at the edge of the deep ravine continuing up by the valley of Serra d’Agua and down to São Vicente village. Lunch will be served in São Vicente. From here to Porto Moniz - a small village on the north coast, famous for its volcanic rock pools, we will discover one of the most beautiful points of the north coast, a road built on the rocks near the sea where we can admire the astonishing waterfalls. We continue on the way up to Paul da Serra, sometimes referred to as the roof of Madeira. Here the landscape is reminiscent of moorland, entirely different to the lush vegetation of the rest of the island. The tour continues through Bica da Cana until Encumeada pass where a stop is made to enjoy the views; and then to back to Funchal taking the motorway to avoid repeating the same road. This tour will give you the opportunity to view some of the spectacular scenery for which Madeira is renowned.

Day 5       Apr 12 Free day

Enjoy a quiet day exploring on your own. Lined with palm trees and bordered by splendid botanical gardens, there is a promenade along the coast offering breathtaking views over the sea to all those who stroll, walk or relax on one of the many benches!

Day 6       Apr 13 Half day Cable car with lunch

Monte has been a favourite destination for visitors to Madeira since the late 19th century, when a rack and pinion railway was built to haul cruise liner passengers up the hillside from Funchal. The cable car takes you on a picturesque trip up to Monte where the first image that you see is the twin-towered façade of the Church (18th Century), a landmark throughout the city. In Monte a visit will be made to Monte Palace Tropical Gardens. These gardens are amongst the finest on the island and its history dates back to the XVIII century. The gardens contain thousands of plant species from different parts of the world, something for each visitor to enjoy. It also has several lagoons with exotic “Koi” fish. You will also have the opportunity to contemplate some marvellous panels with tiles that date back from the XVI to XX centuries. The toboggan ride back to Funchal in a wicker sledges is an exciting one, providing you with a taste of the Madeira of past decades when this was the regular mode of transportation.

Day 7       Apr 14 Free Day

Relax and enjoy the balmy weather or take the ferry to the island of Porto Santo. The small island has a beautiful 9km beach.

Day 8       Apr 15 Full day Eastern Island tour

Leaving Funchal, we take the road that leads to Camacha, one of the largest inland villages of the island and the centre of the wicker industry. We will stop at the warehouse to see the wicker work, baskets, trays and chairs, as well as some more unusual items. There are also working show rooms, available to view. The tour heads north to Pico de Arieiro. On a clear day, there are magnificent views over the north, south and centre of the island. Continue to Ribeiro Frio, where we stop to visit the trout hatchery, tucked into the side of the mountain and surrounded by gardens. The drive continues down the mountain, until we reach the coastal Faial. This part of the coast is dominated by the magnificent rock outcrop, which rises out to the sea, and is called “Penha de Aguia” or “Eagles Eyre”. The tour then heads out further east, until the village of Santana is reached. Sights to look out for include the traditional houses with thatched roofs, and the vineyards, planted densely along the road side. This part of the island is well known for the variety of agriculture it produces. After lunch (included) the group returns to Funchal over the Portela Pass, where a short stop will be made to enjoy the spectacular view over the Madeiran coastline to Caniçal - Baía d’Abra, a sandy dry area as opposed to the rest of the island, the beauty of the landscape is impressive. The last stop will be at Machico, the town where Zarco, the discoverer of Madeira first landed.

Day 9       Apr 16 Funchal to Ponta Delgada

Morning free. Check-out of the hotel and transfer to the airport. Depart at 4:30 and arrive Ponta Delgada at 5:25pm.

Dinner at hotel.

Day 10     Apr 17 Half Day Sete Cidades

Departure from the Hotel at 09h30 towards the western most part of the Island, where the Mountains and Lakes of Sete Cidades are situated. Drive through the Southwest road, along the Coast through green pastures where cattle are grazing. Stop at the Belvedere of Vista do Rei, one of the most important panoramic spots of the Island, where the Blue and the Green Lakes placed in an enormous volcanic crater can be seen. Return to Ponta Delgada through a Mountain Road, on the North Western part of the Island, stopping at Pico do Carvão where the North and South coasts of the Island can be seen. On the outskirts of Ponta Delgada, stop to visit the Pineapple Plantations in greenhouses to observe how this tropical fruit grows. Sample a Pineapple liqueur.

Day 11     Apr 18 Full Day

Departure from Ponta Delgada along the North road. Stop at Sta. Iria Belvedere, to admire the North Coast and visit the tea plantation. Another stop at Pico do Ferro Belvedere, where the visitors can see the fascinating sight of Furnas Valley, on the bottom of a crater, the village of Furnas and the lake, all surrounded by a luxuriant vegetation. Visit of Furnas Valley, where you can see and taste springs of cold and hot minero-medicinal waters. “Cozido” lunch at Hotel Terra Nostra is prepared from meat and vegetables which are cooked in a pot buried in the hot sand. After lunch, stroll through the park, with its 20 hectares of different varieties of plants and trees from all over the world. Departure to Ponta Delgada through the South road, along Furnas Lake, Vila Franca do Campo and Lagoa. Return to Ponta Delgada around 6pm.

Day 12     Apr 19 Free

Leisurely day to stroll along the harbourfront and visit the downtown shops. Possibility to book a dolphin/whale watching tour. Whales or dolphins are spotted in 98% of the trips, regardless of the time of the year.  Farewell dinner at your hotel.

Day 13     Apr 20 Azores – Canada

Morning at leisure. SATA departs at 5:10pm and arrives Toronto 7:45pm.