> Hire a car small enough to get into European parking spots but with a powerful enough engine to get up the Madeiran mountains. We thought our rental car person was just upselling us. She wasn’t

> We stayed in the Sao Martinho neighbourhood - where a lot of resorts are, i liked that it was less than 10min bus ride, 35 mjn walk or €8 Bolt/Uber from the busyness of Funchal but you can alao access the West of the island

Head to the North for spectacular scenery:

📍Fanal - part of Laurisilva forest. 10,000 yeqr old forest with 500 year old treeshttps://maps.app.goo.gl/b2BNJc23fbFfq5QA7?g_st=ic

📍Fanal Pond - a volcanic crater that fills with water when it rains https://maps.app.goo.gl/NeXbjPRCnh1x7Jwt7?g_st=ic

📍Miradouro Ilheus da Ribeira da Janela - wild beach with rock formationshttps://maps.app.goo.gl/uu6mg6v4kSZUajYV8?g_st=ic

📍Porto Moniz Natural Swimming Pools - If its a hot day, this is a great option for swimming in Ocean water without getting into the Atlantic https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEpCBvby4NhKJj7w7?g_st=ic

In hindsight, I wish we visited Poça das Lesmas instead.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zQ5U96dy68Dqup4V7?g_st=ic

📍Lombinho waterfall - only go if it has been raining, as it’s dry otherwise. It’s literally a drive-thru waterfall!

https://maps.app.goo.gl/fDPMKRD5HziPdvzn8?g_st=ic

📍Miradouro do Teleférico das Achadas Da Cruz - this steep cable car to brings you to my favourite landscape I saw in Madeira https://maps.app.goo.gl/YPPih6FBGZcBRWQNA?g_st=ic

📍Parking PR1.2 Achada do Teixeira - this 2 hour hike (both ways) is a part of the larger PR1 Pico da Ariero (3rd highest peak) to Pico Ruivo (Highest peak). This is the link to the car park for the shorter hike. https://maps.app.goo.gl/3XaEGdBCWUeLjZMx7?g_st=ic

If you’re lucky enough to do the big hike, you can get picked up from your hotel, dropped off at the start and picked up at the end of the 11km. https://www.picotransfers.com/transfers/sunrise-transfer-arieiro-ruivo-teixeira/

MUST EATS