Here in the Atlantic Ocean, not too far from the centre of Europe, we find the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. The archipelago is famous for its friendly people, exceptional natural beauty and mild climate. Madeira Islands are just a short trip from Europe, to a destination where you can combine holidays on the beach, in the mountains or in the city.
Madeira and Porto Santo are the ideal places to relax and restore the balance of mind and body that you need to face the stress of daily life.
Madeira is also very famous for its natural environment, where the most important feature is the Laurissilva Forest, a relic of the Tertiary Age, which has been classified by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site. It is no less well known for its year-round outdoor sports.
The island’s mild climate and a water temperature that never goes below 17ºC mean that you can be on the go all the time. Its traditions and customs, visible in its old buildings, museums and churches and even in regional products like its wine and embroidery, have lasted for centuries and deserve your very special attention.
Porto Santo is 40 km from Madeira and is quite simply heaven on earth! This island, with a 9-kilometre beach of golden sand washed by warm, crystalline waters is the ideal refuge for a quiet, relaxing holiday.
As for the uninhabited Desertas and Selvagens Islands, take a trip there and, in a few hours, you will get to know some of the rarest fauna and flora on the planet.
The Desertas Islands are about 22 miles southwest of Funchal and have been made a biogenetic reserve, which, today, is that last Atlantic refuge of the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), the rarest seal in the world. The Selvagens Islands are made up of two groups of small islands, Selvagem Grande and Selvagem Pequena, and are about 180 miles from Madeira.
These islands also have a nature reserve, where we can find some of the rarest flora on the planet. They are also considered a bird sanctuary because of their ideal nesting conditions for sea birds.
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