Madeira Lido Tours

Northern Wonders Tour – Ponta Delgada

lewis — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 13:57:42 +0000

Ponta Delgada is a small, picturesque village on the northern coast of Madeira, offering beautiful views of the mountains and sea.

This stop on the Northern Wonders Tour will take you to this charming village. It’s not very big, but the local church has a delightful charm to it and the recently opened swimming pool complex provides fun for all the family (Only open during the summer). Here you also have the opportunity to visit a ‘house museum’ that belonged to the famous teacher, writer and journalist Horácio Bento de Gouveia, with a display of his published works and antiques.

This cozy village is also proud of its yearly religious festival ”Arraial da Ponta delgada” that takes place on the first weekend of September.

Northern Wonders Tour – Sao Jorge/Cabanas de Sao Jorge

lewis — Tue, 31 May 2011 13:49:39 +0000

São Jorge is a very peaceful village located in the north of Madeira, with magnificent views over the mountains and sea, perfect for keen photographers. The dramatic coastline that stretches across this area of Madeira is renowned for its spectacular beauty; something no visitor to these shores should miss.

Known not only for its natural beauty, it is also known as perhaps the most fertile of all the northern villages, producing all types of agricultural products, specially grapes of the Malvasia wine from which the famous Madeira wine is made.

It is also very proud of its church dating back to 1761, built over the same area where a small chapel used to exist in the 15^th Century, giving the name (São Jorge) to the village.

Northern Wonders Tour – Faial

lewis — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 12:43:47 +0000

Faial is another small town in Madeira and the name originated after a local tree that is very abundant in this area, called “Myrica Fayanamed”. It was first colonized around the year of 1519. At the time, the sugar plantation was at its peak and water mills were built in various small rivers, like Ribeira do Faial and Ribeira Seca so that they could crush the sugar cane. Nowadays, when going back to those places you can still see the remains of these water mills under many bridges.

The main industries are still founded in agriculture today. The main fruit that grows around Faial is the Anona”Cherimona” fruit. Every year in the month of March there is a famous event better known as the “Festa da Anona”, one that any avid traveler should definitely experience!

Northern Wonders Tour – Porto da Cruz

lewis — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 15:27:02 +0000

Porto da Cruz is a charming village located on the eastern coast of the island of Madeira. The name originated from when the discoverer fixed a steel cross on the shore to indicate the port for other Portuguese explorers. This port was used much when the early Northern settlers received goods for the communities.

The Main agricultural products found here were sugar canes and today there still operates a factory for the processing of the honey molasses taken from the sugar cane, as it has since 1927. Another well known product from this region is a dry red wine known as ‘vinho seco’. This has become very popular and every year a grape festival is hosted in the town.

Between the areas of Porto da Cruz and Faial there is a place called the Penha d´aguia, meaning “Eagles Rock”. These rock formations are very unique and rise above sea level at an altitude of 580 meters, something fantastic to behold whilst on our Northern Wonders tour.

North and West Tour Stops – Paul da Serra

lewis — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:33:54 +0000

Paúl da Serra is situated at 1,300 – 1,500 metres above sea level. Here, you will find the flattest place in all of Madeira with stunning views over the green mountains and valleys. On a clear day it’s even possible to observe the south and the north sea!

Paúl da Serra is the starting point of many paths and levada walks which connect you to different locations on the Island, such as Rabaçal, Risco, 25 Fontes, Ribeira do Alecrim, Lombo do Mouro and Bica da Cana all passing through the Laurissilva forest.