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The “Madère fleur de l'océan” tour at a glance

Madère fleur de l'océan (Madeira, Flower of the Ocean) is an 8-day, 7-night Club Med Discovery tour of the Portuguese island of Madeira, listed under the Nature Escape theme. It starts and ends in Funchal, the capital, and heads out each day to a different corner of the island. The highlights: the easy climb to Pico do Arieiro, at 1,818 m, a 10 km hike through the UNESCO World Heritage laurel forest, the Cabo Girão cliff and the natural pools of Porto Moniz, the colourful little houses of Santana, then the Monte cable car. You spend all seven nights in the same hotel, Quinta da Bela Vista, a 4-star hotel in Funchal, or a similar hotel. Full board with a drinks package at meals, travel in an air-conditioned vehicle, visits and a French-speaking local tour guide are included.

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How do the first days in Madeira unfold?

On day 1, you settle in in Funchal for the welcome dinner. Day 2 stays in town: the fruit and flower market, the botanical garden, an embroidery workshop, a speciality of the island, and a Madeira wine tasting. Day 3 heads east, over 105 km: the easy climb to Pico do Arieiro, at 1,818 m, for the view above the clouds, then Ribeiro Frio and the colourful thatched cottages of Santana. On day 4, over 100 km, you walk 10 km along the Levada do Rei to Ribeiro Bonito, through the laurel forest, before a traditional lunch.

What do you discover in the second half of the tour?

Day 5 circles the west, 153 km: the fishing port of Câmara de Lobos, the Cabo Girão cliff, the Encumeada pass, then the natural lava pools of Porto Moniz. On day 6, you set out by 4x4 to Camacha, then follow the Levada do Paraíso on an easy walk. Day 7 goes down into the Nuns' Valley, Curral das Freiras, before riding the cable car up to Monte: the church of Our Lady of Monte holds the tomb of Charles I of Austria, the last Habsburg emperor, who died in exile in Madeira in 1922. Day 8 is departure day. To plan your trip, read our guide Portugal travel.

Why stay in the same hotel all week?

Madeira is easily explored from Funchal: every corner of the island is within a day's round trip. The tour therefore relies on a single hotel, Quinta da Bela Vista, a 4-star hotel in Funchal, or a hotel of similar category. You unpack only once, set out light in the morning and return to the same setting each evening. The pace is relaxed, ideal for those who like to walk by day and rest in the evening.

What is included and what costs extra?

Full board runs from dinner on day 1 to breakfast on day 8, with a drinks package at every meal: a local drink or a soft drink, water, coffee or tea. Travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with water on board, the visits and excursions on the program, taxes and service charges are included. Paid separately: international flights, transfers between the airport and the hotel, extra drinks, personal expenses, tips and insurance. Your advisor books flights and transfers with the tour.

What level of walking does this tour require?

The tour alternates easy days with one more active day. The climb to Pico do Arieiro is easy, as is the walk along the Levada do Paraíso. The 10 km hike on day 4, through the laurel forest, is of moderate level: it follows a levada, an irrigation channel cut into the mountainside, on a fairly flat but sometimes narrow path. Walking shoes with non-slip soles and a light rain layer are all you need to enjoy it fully.

Who travels with the group during the stay?

A French-speaking local tour guide stays with the group every day, on the road as on the trails. The guide knows the levadas, the island's flora and its history, from embroidery to Madeira wine. Discovery tours run in small groups, with departures guaranteed from the first booking. Assistance is available 24 hours a day throughout the trip.

When should you go to Madeira for this tour?

Your advisor tells you which departures are available and helps you pick the right one. Madeira lives up to its nickname, the island of eternal spring: the climate stays mild all year, and flowers are everywhere, from Funchal's gardens to the roadsides. In spring, the city celebrates its Flower Festival, and your advisor checks whether a departure coincides with the festivities. In the mountains, the air cools quickly: a warm sweater is welcome at Pico do Arieiro. To place Madeira within a wider trip, read travel to Portugal from Montreal.

How do you get to Madeira from Quebec?

You fly from Montreal to Funchal, with a connection. The tour starts and ends in Funchal, which keeps the round trip simple. A connection in Lisbon can become a chance to add a few days in the Portuguese capital. Transfers between the airport and the hotel are booked separately, and your advisor adds them to your file. A valid Canadian passport is required, and your advisor checks the entry requirements at the time of booking.

Which Club Med resort pairs well with this tour?

To stay in Portugal and add the beach, Club Med Da Balaia, in the Algarve, is the natural complement. It sits on two red cliffs jutting into the Atlantic, above the golden Maria Luísa beach, with a natural pool filtered by plants, golf, a spa and kids' clubs for ages 0 to 17. Faro airport is about 40 minutes away. All the details are on our page Club Med in Portugal, and every resort on the continent is on our Club Med resorts in Europe.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

Our advisors build the trip around the tour: flights to Funchal, transfers, a stop in Lisbon on the way there or back, then a week at the beach in the Algarve. One file and one person to call, from departure to return. To compare, see all our Club Med tours and the Europe, Africa and Middle East selection. In Portugal, the Escapade à Lisbonne and the Balade entre Douro et fado tour round out this trip nicely.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

  • Coastal village at the foot of Madeira

    Coastal village at the foot of Madeira\'s mountains

  • Dancers in traditional Madeiran costume

    Dancers in traditional Madeiran costume

  • Flower beds in a Funchal garden

    Flower beds in a Funchal garden

  • Lush tropical garden in Madeira

    Lush tropical garden in Madeira

  • Cobbled lane with colourful facades in Funchal

    Cobbled lane with colourful facades in Funchal

  • Cliffs plunging into the Atlantic in Madeira

    Cliffs plunging into the Atlantic in Madeira

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Levadas are irrigation channels cut into the mountainside to carry water to the crops. Paths run beside them, almost level, through the forest. The tour follows two of them, the Levada do Rei and the Levada do Paraíso.
It is a subtropical forest some 20 million years old, listed as a UNESCO World Natural Heritage site. It covers the damp northern slopes of the island. The day 4 hike crosses it over 10 km.
The natural pools of Porto Moniz are lava basins filled by the ocean, where locals come to swim. Slip a swimsuit and towel into your bag on the morning of day 5. Your guide tells you on site how much time the stop allows.
Yes, a Madeira wine tasting is planned on day 2, in Funchal. This fortified wine is often enjoyed as an aperitif or with dessert. Bottles bought locally are extra.
Madeira is part of Portugal and uses the euro. Credit cards are accepted in most shops in Funchal. Keep some cash for small cafés in the villages.
Madeira is 5 hours ahead of Quebec, like Lisbon. The first day is limited to settling in and the welcome dinner. You therefore have time to recover before the excursions.
Cabo Girão is among the highest cliffs in Europe, and its glass platform offers a plunging view of the ocean. You can enjoy it from the edge without stepping onto the glass. Everyone chooses how to take in the panorama.
Yes, you can sign up alone and join the group in Funchal. Your advisor checks the single-room options available on your dates. The small group and the guide make solo travel easy.
Tips are paid separately and are at your discretion. They are usually given to the guide and driver at the end of the tour. Your advisor gives you a guideline before departure.
Insurance is purchased separately and is strongly recommended for a tour that includes hiking. Your advisor suggests cancellation and medical coverage suited to your situation. It is paid at the time of booking.
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