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Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve… Those are probably the top destinations most people think of when it comes to Portugal. But lately, the island of Madeira has been growing in popularity. It’s nicknamed “the Hawaii of Europe”, and for good reason. It’s a volcanic island just like the Hawaiian islands and it has a very similar climate and scenery. If you are a hiker who wants to check out the island but also… Read More
[Pico de Areiro / Santana, Madeira, May 14, 2025] I had been watching the weather every single day, hoping for a window of opportunity to hike one of Madeira’s best known hikes. At almost 6,000 ft, Pico de Areiro is the third highest peak on the island. An 8-mile round-trip trail connects it to Madeira’s highest, Pico Ruvio. In the Madeira hiking system, it’s marked as PR1. PR stands for “Pequena Rota,”… Read More
[Funchal, Maderia, May 11, 2025] Parking was free in Funchal on Sunday. We took it as a sign to leave the car behind and spend the day in the city. As we headed out, we encountered a small parade part of the Madeira Flower Festival. We walked by the Madeira sign again, and I had to take a photo! We walked along the ocean front and I marveled at these huge concrete… Read More
[Funchal, Madeira, Portugal, May 10, 2025] Finally, the destination this whole trip was centered around was on the docket – Madeira! The 4-island archipelago is located just 320 miles west of Morocco and 500 miles southwest of mainland Portugal. The two populated islands are Maderia and Porto Santo, with Maderia being the larger one. Madeira was uninhabited when Henry the Navigator discovered it in 1419 and claimed it for Portugal. The archipelago… Read More
