Top 10 Madeira (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)

Madeira’s Top 10
52
Left Caves at São Vincente Right Parrot Park, Funchal
Children’s Attractions
! Grutas de São Vincente
These caves were created
by molten rock. A cave tour,
simulated eruptions
and a short film will
teach you about
Madeira’s volcanic
origins. d São Vicente,
Sítio do Pé do Passo
• Map E2 • 291 842 404
• Adm charge
Santa Maria de @ Colombo
There are lots of boat trips to
choose from (see p48), but
younger children will particularly
enjoy a trip on a replica of the
Santa Maria, the ship that took
Columbus across the Atlantic. d
Tickets from Marina do Funchal • Map Q3
• 291 220 327 • Trips 10:30am– 1:30pm,
3–6pm daily; twilight cruises Jun–Sep:
7:15–8:45pm • Adm charge
£ Dolphin-watching
Few encounters with nature
are as exciting as those with dol-
Santa Maria de Colombo
Dolphin-watching
phins or whales in their natural
habitat, but this trip will appeal
more to older children, as a
patient wait is not
always met with an
appearance. d Tickets
from Marina do Funchal •
Map Q3 • Adm charge
$ Football
Madeira has two
soccer teams, Maritimo
and Nacional; both
play in the Portuguese
First League. Home matches are
friendly, family occasions. d Maritimo:
Estádio dos Barreios, Rua do Dr
Pita, Funchal. Map G6 • Nacional: Choupana
Stadium. Map H5 • Adm charge
% Twin Peaks
There is something magical
about emerging from the sun
and looking across the peaks of
Funchal from the Pico do Arieiro
(see p32), Madeira’s third highest
peak at 1,810 metres (5,938
ft). The 5-km (3-mile) round trip
on foot to the top of Pico Ruivo,
Madeira’s highest peak at 1,862
m (6,109 ft) (see p77), is within
the capacity of fit children over
the age of nine.
Ribeiro Frio ^ The trout farm at Ribeiro Frio
is fun for younger children, as
they can get close to fish at different
stages of growth. The
walk from Ribeiro Frio to Balcões
(see p51) is safe for children as
the levada is dry, so they will not
get wet if they fall in. d Map H4