A fantastic week away with friends in Funchal
Funchal Airport’s runway is carved into the side of a mountain with a steep slope on one side and a 200ft drop into the sea on the other. Half the runway is actually built on stilts as there was not enough land to build a runway of sufficient length!
We stayed, along with our friends at the Pestana Carlton Ocean Resort Hotel in the bustling capital of Funchal in February – Carnival week! Our hotel was located just up the hill and a 10-15 minute stroll to the main attractions, it was the perfect setting for all of us to relax and enjoy a week together. A bus stop and taxi rank outside the hotel also meant easy access to transportation.
There are activities and things to do and see all week during Carnival week, we chose to walk into Funchal on the Saturday evening when the full procession was on. It really was a carnival atmosphere with music, floats and costumes providing a feast of entertainment, we had a fabulous time enjoying the festivities and joining in dancing in the streets with the thousands of other locals and tourists who had ventured in to Funchal.
We took the cable car up into the mountains to Monte from just outside of the Old Town in Funchal which had an array of shops, restaurants and bars for all taste. The cable car ride was outstanding with 360* views of Funchal. Julie and Michael left us to head off to another cable car to visit the Botanical Gardens while the rest of us sat outside a Café and had lunch, the views were breath taking.
After lunch we walked round to the “basket of Monte” where Caroline and Wendy queued for their ride in a basket sledge. (A tradition dating back to the early 19th century when they were used as a means of transport by the residents who wanted to travel quickly from the village of Monte to the city of Funchal) I didn’t have a go but really wish I had now as the girls said it was great fun! The rest of us walked back to the cable car for the panoramic ride back to Funchal. A little tip – take an extra layer as there is a drop in temperature when you reach the top!
We also picked up the open top tour bus outside our hotel which took us on a circuit into Funchal and along the coast road, we got off at a fishing village had lunch and went for a walk before returning to the hotel to relax and swim in the indoor pool.
An attraction that’s certainly not for the faint-hearted, is the Skywalk on the cliffs of Cabo Girão. Jutting out of the side of some of the highest cliffs in Europe (580 meters above sea level), the glass walkway offers incredible views of the Madeira coastline, Funchal and the town of Camara de Lobos, those of our party that went said the views were incredible and not to be missed if you are brave enough!
If you are interested in hiking or long walks in the forest, the Levadas (meaning water channels) is a must. Built at high altitudes, the channels capture the water from the rainfall in the mountains all over the island. These impressive structures allow locals and tourists to go deep into the forest by following its trails. There are many Levadas and trails that will take you to an unspoiled and exceptional world of nature.
Cristiano Ronaldo was born in Funchal on 5th February 1985, and as we walked along the promenade we came across Pestana CR7 Hotel and Museum, if you are an avid Manchester United/Real Madrid fan I’m sure this would be a must on your visit.
All in all, we had a fabulous week on the beautiful island of Madeira, the weather was quite warm for February although a jacket or jumper was needed at times. It didn't matter where we were the views were always outstanding and we all agreed Madeira is definitely worth a visit.