![Illuminated by the last sunlight of the day: a spectacular viewpoint on the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F01-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Illuminated by the last sunlight of the day: a spectacular viewpoint on the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route.
![View of the northeast coast from the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F02-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
View of the northeast coast from the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route.
![View on Seixal](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F03-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
View on Seixal
![Again and again, the barren highlands offer fantastic views over the tiered landscape.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F04-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Again and again, the barren highlands offer fantastic views over the tiered landscape.
![Fanal: The til is the largest tree in the laurel forest, reaching up to 40 meters in height. Here it has enough space to form mighty branches and canopies.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F05-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Fanal: The til is the largest tree in the laurel forest, reaching up to 40 meters in height. Here it has enough space to form mighty branches and canopies.
![Fanal: the long branches of a til want to catch as much moisture as possible from the cool air.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F06-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Fanal: the long branches of a til want to catch as much moisture as possible from the cool air.
![Chaffinches pick up leftover bread crumbs at many lay-bys.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F07-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Chaffinches pick up leftover bread crumbs at many lay-bys.
![Many orchids are perennial plants that feed on water and nutrients from their hosts.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F08-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Many orchids are perennial plants that feed on water and nutrients from their hosts.
![Jose Spinola, 54, has worked for more than 10 years as a levadiero, a kind of janitor for the water channels.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F09-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Jose Spinola, 54, has worked for more than 10 years as a levadiero, a kind of janitor for the water channels.
![Again and again the hiking trails along the levadas are spanned with rock arches.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F10-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Again and again the hiking trails along the levadas are spanned with rock arches.
![One of the few places that allow an unobstructed view of the enchanting laurel forest.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F11-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
One of the few places that allow an unobstructed view of the enchanting laurel forest.
![A typical levada hike: foggy, cloudy, little visited](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F12-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
A typical levada hike: foggy, cloudy, little visited
![The famous 25-waterfall hike has up to 700 visitors a day, with very few taking a dip.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F13-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
The famous 25-waterfall hike has up to 700 visitors a day, with very few taking a dip.
![A typical levada hike: dense vegetation, narrow path, hardly visited.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F14-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
A typical levada hike: dense vegetation, narrow path, hardly visited.
![Funchal, early in the morning, a sidewalk cafe is open.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F15-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Funchal, early in the morning, a sidewalk cafe is open.
![In the barrels of Blandy's distillery matures delicious Madeira liqueur.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F16-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
In the barrels of Blandy's distillery matures delicious Madeira liqueur.
![Some Madeira wines can still be perfectly enjoyed after 150 years. It is said that the older the Madeira, the softer, woodier, spicier, nuttier and more vanilla its bouquet.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F17-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Some Madeira wines can still be perfectly enjoyed after 150 years. It is said that the older the Madeira, the softer, woodier, spicier, nuttier and more vanilla its bouquet.
![The headland of São Lourenço, the easternmost part of Madeira.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F18-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
The headland of São Lourenço, the easternmost part of Madeira.
![View below the Miradouro do Curtado in the northeast of the island.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F19-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
View below the Miradouro do Curtado in the northeast of the island.
![A Madeiran man carries home cut grass, a treat for cows, goats and sheep.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F20-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
A Madeiran man carries home cut grass, a treat for cows, goats and sheep.
![View from Hotel Quinta do Furão on rugged coastal landscape.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F21-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
View from Hotel Quinta do Furão on rugged coastal landscape.
![At Ponta de São Lourenço: view of rugged sea cliffs.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F22-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
At Ponta de São Lourenço: view of rugged sea cliffs.
![View from the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route to a coastal settlement in the northeast.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F23-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
View from the Vereda do Arieiro hiking route to a coastal settlement in the northeast.
![The floral emblem of the island, the blue giant adder head, also called 'pride of Madeira'.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F24-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
The floral emblem of the island, the blue giant adder head, also called 'pride of Madeira'.
![Porto Santo: The uninhabited neighboring island Ilhéu da Cal.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F25-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Porto Santo: The uninhabited neighboring island Ilhéu da Cal.
![Porto Santo: View over the island near the viewpoint Pico do Facho.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F26-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Porto Santo: View over the island near the viewpoint Pico do Facho.
![Porto Santo: Close-up of the survivalist called ice plant. How this succulent manages to conjure up water from its desert-like surroundings is beyond me.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F27-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Porto Santo: Close-up of the survivalist called ice plant. How this succulent manages to conjure up water from its desert-like surroundings is beyond me.
![Porto Santo: A work by the artist Vera Menezes in her own hands.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F28-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Porto Santo: A work by the artist Vera Menezes in her own hands.
![Porto Santo: Annette marvels at the basalt formation on the southern slope of Pico de Ana Ferreira.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F29-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Porto Santo: Annette marvels at the basalt formation on the southern slope of Pico de Ana Ferreira.
![Two of Porto Santo's landmarks: Milk thistle and Caracois snails.](https://www.malteclavin.com/wp-content/plugins/justified-image-grid/timthumb.php?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.malteclavin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F10%2F30-madeira.jpg&h=230&q=90&f=.jpg)
Two of Porto Santo's landmarks: Milk thistle and Caracois snails.