The adventure of being a Portuguese #Madeira 2
Madeira has an extremely diverse, majestic, and beautiful mountainous terrain full of charm and a rich selection of tourist activities. In this article about Madeira, we will explore some places that will put the island on the palm of your hand. We will see different and unique landscapes, which stretch long eco-trails between the mountain hills, intertwined in the distance with the dark blue of the surrounding Atlantic Ocean.
Cristo Rei
Many years before my adventure in Madeira, I had seen a picture of Cristo Rei and I wished that one day I would take a picture of it. Well, what are dreams for if not for making them a reality?
In addition to the beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean, there is also the panoramic platform of Cristo Rei, which provides views over the Gulf of Funchal and the marine reserve Garajau and Caniço de Baixo. This place owes its name to the statue of Christ, which faces the ocean and was built in 1927 in fulfillment of the promise of Councilor Ayres de Ornelas. A few steps down from the statue is the peninsula of the eponymous reserve Garajau, where is the famous photograph of a path surrounded by wild cacti, which seems to merge into the endless blue of the ocean.
Pico Ruivo
I promised that in this article you will put Madeira on the palm of your hand, and the time has come to climb high. Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on the island of Madeira, is 1861 meters high and provides panoramic views of the island from coast to coast. However, unpredictable weather conditions can make it quite dangerous.
The peak can be reached only on foot, the trail is 2.8 km long and takes about 1:30 hours to walk. The road runs along the ridge that separates the Faial and Santana cliffs, presenting excellent views to the left of the Ribeira Seca valley, topped by Pico das Torres and Pico do Areeiro in the background.
Overall, I can say that I am deeply impressed with the quality of how the trails are maintained here, despite the wild and difficult terrain. The paths were in good condition and where additional safety infrastructure was required, it was present. I would not replace the views I witnessed during this hike for anything!
Cabo Girao
We continue with the stunning views of Madeira and head towards Cabo Girao. It is the highest cape in Europe, at 580 meters above sea level. It is famous for its hanging glass skywalk platform, which was built during the renovation of the site.
The Cabo Girão panoramic site offers amazing views of the Rancho and Cabo Girão land’s – small areas of arable land at the foot of the cliff – as well as a unique panoramic view of the ocean and the municipalities of Camara de Lobos and Funchal.
And so this is how our second day in Madeira ends. With amazing views, unforgettable emotions and recharging walks in nature on this paradise island. Don’t miss to find out what we saw on our last day here, or to remind yourself what we saw the previous day.