Exploring Madeira - Levada walking, Botanic Gardens & Ponta Sao Lourenco

The next day we had hoped to walk the 3 highest peaks of Madeira (1800, 1818, 1850) but as we drove to Pico Areeiro the weather started to deteriorate and by the time we parked the car you were unable to even find the start of the path in the cloud.

The cloud on top of the mountain

So headed down the mountain out of the cloud to Ribeiro Frio where we joined a levada walk to Portela which was 10km away although we only did around 9km each way.  The walk was through the enchanted woods which almost looked like they had fairies living in them! The greens of the ferns and mosses went particularly well with Mark’s blue shirt.

Wow look at those colours!

Amanda tentatively looking over the ravine

Mark about to enter the darkness

Stunning view through the trees to the north coast

We had friends following us along the way

With aching legs the next day was more leisurely, firstly with a visit to the Botanic Gardens, Madeira is full of gardens but not being great horticulturalists we picked only one to visit.  The gardens were full of exotic plants even with our very limited knowledge. There were also lovely views over Funchal even with the low lying cloud.

Botatic gardens with Funchal in distance

Botanic Gardens

We also enjoyed the bird park which was part of the gardens.

An aviary full of Macaws 

As we left the gardens the clouds opened and we were glad to be in the car, we spent the remainder of the day driving to a few town/villages in the east of Madeira.  Camacha is popular for its basket weaving with a shop full baskets, bottle holders, bags, etc, thankfully no room on boat so no pressure to buy anything! Porto Cruz is seaside resort but very little there and volcanic beach.  Santana seems to have even less apart although there are a few traditional thatched roof Madeiran houses but by this time too worn out even to take a photo! We then drove out to Ponta Sao Lourenco not far from the marina on the barren east coast of the island, the colour of the cliffs was stunning, really red, shame the photos don't really capture.

Mark looking worn out

Amanda being brave straddling the crevice