9-day Madeira tour
Funchal - Santana
Your journey at a glance
- Your journey includes the following stops
- Funchal (4 nights)
- Santana (4 nights)
- Further highlights
- Nun's Valley Curral de Freiras
- Pico Areiro Mountain
- Ponta de São Lourenço
- São Vicente
- Parque Natural de Ribeiro Frio
Geotoura – Hotel concept
When we include a hotel in our programme, it is not only a high standard of quality that is important to us. We prefer typical local accommodation, often boutique hotels with a special ambience. They emphasise the character of an individual trip: Panoramic views, particularly lovely furnishings, a location in historic centres, no mass tourism and, of course, exceptionally friendly hosts – these are important criteria for us.
We divide our hotels into four separate Geotoura categories. Of course, you have the choice and can also combine the categories on one trip.
Boutique Hotels – Four categories
Encantador (“Charming”): Our most affordable option. Lovingly furnished rooms that offer everything the discerning traveller expects.
Especial (“Special”): Hotels with a special ambience – historic palaces, monasteries, haciendas or beach hotels with exceptional charm. Perfect for the classic cultural tour.
Extraordinario (“Extraordinary”): Luxurious hotels in excellent locations and with the highest level of comfort, often in centuries-old aristocratic palaces, old oil mills or haciendas.
Luna de Miel (“honeymoon”): For the honeymoon – span. Luna de miel – or if you want to treat yourself to something out of the ordinary …
Character of this travel idea
Experience culture
It was once the fennel that gave Funchal its name. Today, however, the town is not only a reminder of the plant that was once common here, but also an invitation to discover the island’s history on your stroll through the town. Stop by the baroque Igreja de São João Evangelista and visit the oldest church on the island, the Sé Catedral de Nossa Senhora da Assunção. Follow the pirate stories of yesteryear on a flying visit to the Fortaleza de São Tiago or discover living tradition on a racy basket sledge ride from Monte down into the valley.
In Santana, you will be greeted on your 9-day round trip by true Madeira landmarks: the Casas de Colmo or Santana huts. Take a look inside one of the huts and feel the flavour of life on Madeira in the past.
If you then stop in your hire car in the pretty Caniço, you will almost feel reminded of Brazil when you look up at the imposing statue of Cristo Rei.
Experience nature
As you stroll through Funchal, you will discover an amazingly green city. The highlights are undoubtedly the elegant, Far Eastern-inspired Jardim Tropical Monte Palace and the Jardim Botânico with its more than 2,000 different plant species.
Beyond its towns and villages, you will discover Madeira’s natural wonders on this 9-day round trip. One of the most beautiful is probably the Ponta de São Lourenço, which welcomes you with a multi-faceted coastline, small islets in the turquoise blue sea and millions of seabirds for a break in a picturesque landscape.
The majestic Laurisilva is even a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ancient laurel forest takes you into an enchanted world with giant trees, clear streams and a wonderful silence.
Madeira's culinary specialities
The islanders love to celebrate cooking and eating. Accordingly, Madeira cuisine, which is actually quite simple, is quite varied. Popular appetisers include lapas and gaiado, a fish related to tuna. Typical of Madeira main courses is espada, the black scabbardfish, which you will find on almost every menu. Fish and seafood are also served grilled, fried, deep-fried or steamed. In addition to tuna, you can also savour exotic fish such as bodião, the parrotfish, on the island.
Among the meat dishes, the espetada meat skewer is a culinary symbol of Madeira. Simply seasoned with bay leaf and sea salt, the skewers of beef, veal or chicken are grilled. Alongside pork, these are the most common types of meat in the local cuisine. They are served with side dishes of various vegetables, batata doce and milho frito. If it smells deliciously of fresh bread, it’s probably the bolo do caco. Both fish and meat are also given an exotic flavour with bananas in Madeira.
Fruit is also popular for snacking here, including unusual specialities such as the pineapple banana, the fruit of the Monstera deliciosa, which we cultivate as a houseplant. Bolo de Mel, a honey cake typical of the island, is a refined speciality that you should definitely try. Madeira also produces excellent wines and even distils its own rum, which is essential for poncha, among other things.
The authentic Madeira
Madeira’s wonderful Mediterranean cuisine also thrives on local produce, which gives the island’s cuisine its unmistakable character. However, you probably wouldn’t have expected to find bananas on the island. Discover why some of the yellow fruits come directly from the island and how they are grown during a visit to the banana plantation. Perhaps you can even try an original Madeira banana.
Why can't I find any prices on geotoura.com?
We do not offer standardised packages. Your Geotoura trip is customised according to your wishes.
We make this possible thanks to our high level of expertise and in-depth knowledge of the country as well as our excellent network of partners. You can look forward to extraordinary experiences, charming boutique hotels and very special insider tips on site.
Geotoura stands for the perfect planning of your personalised dream trip. Your individual price will therefore only include what really enriches your holiday.
Compared to standard holidays, this price is competitive. You will usually receive the comprehensive holiday design within 24 hours on working days.
Highly personalised trips are our speciality and the pleasure you deserve.
