Northern Madeira: 6 reasons to visit the island's wild side
Cloaked in UNESCO-listed forests hiding flower-flanked waterfalls and sweet mountain villages, the autonomous Portuguese island of Madeira* sits atop a vast underwater volcano, like a splendid tropical crown.
Inland, the island's imposing cloud-shrouded peaks dramatically succumb to verdant valleys, dizzying ravines and craggy gorges. Beyond this beauty, you'll find a majestic patchwork of vineyard-etched clifftops overlooking kaleidoscopic beaches, salty lava pools and wind-whipped rock formations rising out of the raging Atlantic.
Its impressive mix of dramatic landscapes and micro-climates gives holidaymakers a bevy of spectacular destinations on one tiny island. In fact, its modest size is part of its appeal, letting visitors fill even the shortest of stays with jaw-dropping sights, bucket-list experiences, delicious food and world-famous wines.
For a taste of the island's wild side, tear yourself away from the fun-filled capital of Funchal* and venture north; home to Madeira's highest summits, its most dramatic beaches and more than its fair share of thundering cascades.
Whether you're after adrenaline-fuelled Atlantic adventures or simply want to unwind upon its soot-black shores, here are six incredible experiences to enjoy around northern Madeira.
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Step into a 20-million-year-old rainforest
One of the island's most precious natural wonders is its subtropical laurel forest, Laurisilva. Having survived even the Ice Age, this formidable UNESCO-protected landscape is one of the last remaining examples of the laurel forests which once carpeted much of southern Europe millions of years ago.
Despite almost disappearing across the entire continent, they still cover close to a quarter of the island, thriving in the northern highlands. Often shrouded in an eerie ethereal mist the gnarly Til trees which call the Fanal Forest home are so twisted and contorted that they resemble mythical creatures hobbling out of the fog - perhaps that's why they appear in the latest Star Wars film.
Witness sunrise from above the clouds
Few things warrant getting up at the crack of dawn for on holiday, but witnessing the ultimate Madeiran sunrise atop the island's highest peak definitely makes the cut.
Sitting pretty at 1,862 metres, at sunrise Pico Ruivo's vertigo-inspiring summit often looks down upon a sea of candyfloss-coloured clouds with neighbouring mountaintops breaking through like whack-a-mole.
No clouds? No problem. On a clear day, you can see Porto Santo and the Desertas Islands. Madeira's infamous 'stairway to heaven' hiking trail links this lofty peak with that of Pico do Arieiro, with much of the five-hour hike climbing in and out of the clouds.
If you're not a morning person, head to Beira da Quinta viewpoint at sunset for unparalleled views of the northwest coast.
Stroll upon soot-black sands
If you're after classic golden bucket-and-spade beaches the 'Pearl of the Atlantic' probably isn't for you; though you can always join the locals hopping aboard the ferry to Porto Santo to scratch that itch! Whilst the south has the odd blonde sand beach to please the crowds (albeit imported), Madeira's northern shores are blessed with a rawer, more rugged beauty.
Seixal Beach boasts a cinematic swathe of ink-black sand, cocooned in emerald green mountains which slope seaward towards the brilliantly blue ocean beneath.
Just five minutes' drive west takes you to the town's volcanic sea-fed pools (a crowd-free alternative to those found in nearby Porto Moniz) and to the east is one of the island's most photographed waterfalls, tumbling straight into the Atlantic; now, that beats squabbling over sunbeds down south.
Discover the island's hidden fajãs
These remote salt-slapped slivers of agricultural land hiding at the foot of Madeira's vertiginous cliffs are usually only accessible by cable car or boat, giving a trip to these secluded shores a welcome whiff of Robinson Crusoe about it.
With its bountiful banana crop and turquoise sea, the south coast's Fajã dos Padres may well be the island's poster child when it comes to fajãs, but those in the know head to Porto Moniz's Fajã da Quebrada Nova; after all, you get to ride one of Europe's steepest cable cars to reach it.
The dizzying descent from the clifftop village of Achadas da Cruz offers some of the most arresting views on the island, especially at sunset. Upon arrival, stroll its sweet allotments and kick back on its tranquil pebble beach before braving the ride back up.
See one of Maderia's most iconic waterfalls
Maderia's vine-woven cliffs and plummeting gorges hide more than 100 waterfalls; some require hours of intrepid hiking to reach, others you must don your finest canyoning gear for. However, one of the island's most impressive falls can be easily seen from the roadside.
To clap your eyes on the famous Véu da Noiva waterfall (the Bridal Veil) simply take the coast road between Seixal and São Vicente (known for its ancient volcanic caves).
Spurting out of the bottle green mountainside, the water plummets 30 metres before crashing into the ocean below. Smashing over unforgiving rocks along the way, the lengthy cascade takes on a brilliant white glow, reminiscent of a bride's flowing veil.
Tour Madeira's most scenic vineyards
Madeira has its balmy sub-tropical climate and spectacularly fertile volcanic soil to thank for the success of its world-class wine; well, that and George Washington, who famously favoured the tipple as his daily elixir.
Today, Funchal is considered the island's wine hotspot, but budding oenophiles should bypass the city's busy tasting rooms and head for the hills. Surrounded by the Laurisilva Forest, Cardo Valley's Terrabona Nature & Vineyards is a chic wine country wellness destination offering wine tours and tastings beneath the glorious Madeiran sun, with fabulous sea views to boot.
Quinta do Barbusano is another northern treat, with sweeping views over the São Vicente Valley; tour the vines and take in the views before settling down to a traditional feast of succulent beef cooked on laurel sticks perfectly paired with their delicious wine. Time it right and you can even help them tread their grapes.
Climate in northern Maderia
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
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| Maximum daytime temperature °C | ||||||||||||
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| Sea temperature °C |
The above guide shows the climate in São Vicente. For more information about conditions across the archipelago see our complete guide to the climate in Madeira.
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