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Madeira and its neighbouring island Porto Santo is an autonomous region of Portugal, with the two islands set in the Atlantic Ocean some 600 kilometres from the African mainland.
They are visited by some 300,000 tourists each year largely due to the fact that the whole area is blessed with an almost perfect climate. It is never too hot in the summer (average 24 degrees C) and 17 to 22 degrees in the winter. The official language is Portuguese but English is widely spoken particularly in the coastal towns. The interior of both islands is volcanic and not surprisingly Pico do Ariero (Madeira) and the twin peaks in Porto Santo do pose traffic problems in the high season. If �coastal village hopping� is what you are looking for when relaxing on holiday, then hiring a luxury yacht will offer a little more seclusion.
Funchal, the capital city of Madeira and Vila Baleira, the capital of Ports Santo both have good marinas to start to explore life in this part of the world where Columbus lived and must have acquired most of his nautical skills. Both islands have airports close by and once the point of departure is decided then planning to circumnavigate Madeira can be started.
If chartering a yacht in Madeira, then walk from the marina to the Tourist Office at Avenida Arriaga 18 where English-speaking staff will answer any queries you have and supply free maps. Also on the Avenue is the Madeira Wine Lodge well worth a tasting visit.
It will be noticed that the hills rise sharply above Funchal with an 18-hole golf course (Palheiro Golf) a taxi-drive away. Lower down there will be some evidence of the February 2010 flash-floods that have necessitated a complete overhaul of the river beds and drains to the north of the marina. The clean up is however not expected to greatly effect tourism. Funchal has had previous floods in 1803 and 1993, and has always retained its charming fountains and squares where one can relax under sub-tropical trees. Funchal’s main square (Praça do Municipio) is a few minutes walk from the Tourist Office and has the �City Museum� (Museu de Cidade) nearby which traces the history of Funchal. The museum is located on the first floor and admission is free. If staying overnight before exploring the coastal villages, then a recommended hotel would be Reid’s 5-star Hotel, where Winston Churchill was a regular visitor who would arrive by sea at the hotel’s private landing stage.
To leave Funchal and sail clockwise around the island is probably the best route to view the southwest scenic villages and enjoying a little swimming. Churchill favoured painting the village of Cãmara de Lobos. This is a real hard-working fishing village where the men fish at night and sell their catch early in the morning. Moving round the coast 32 km west of Funchal is Ribeira Brava -not recommended for swimming but popular with walkers. Leaving the village to navigate the western lighthouse at Dolphin Point (Ponto do Pargo) leads to Porto do Moniz, a former whaling station and into western Madeira where there are lots of secluded coves and where surfing is popular. Exploring towards the northern tip of the island past Seixal and Sâo Vincente, the bay of Ponto Delgada has a tiny harbour. Further round the coast the village of Santana has unique triangular roofed houses and the village has restaurants and some guesthouses. Moving along the coastal villages to the most easterly point on Madeira there is the village of Ponta de Sâo Lourenco where you can sit and enjoy the bird life (buzzards, hawks and birds of prey) and the views of the lighthouse with a deserted island beyond.
If finishing your coastal trip ends on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo this will be a visit to an island of never-ending sandy beaches and although 40 km from Madeira is a "must-see" place to anchor in the yachting marina at Vila Baleira. The beaches are virtually undeveloped on the south side of the island but with the nearby "Campo de Baixo" tennis complex, a golf course close to the airport and a thalasso-therapy complex, nothing could be more relaxing.
Find the perfect luxury charter yacht during your Madeira and Porto Santo yacht charter holiday. We have an exclusive portfolio of the finest charter yachts. Bluewater is a Madeira and Porto Santo yacht charter specialist.
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