Destination Spotlight | Discover the Portuguese islands

Dear Partners,

As most of Europe cools, the Portuguese islands are still cloaked in sunshine - with perfect temperatures for eating outdoors, walking around the picturesque villages and exploring its natural wonders. Both the Azores and Madeira Archipelagos tick all the boxes whether you are seeking relaxation or a stay with a little adventure.

In this newsletter, we bring some of the very best experiences in the islands, so that you can better advise your clients with opportunities to explore what lies beyond its glorious flora and fauna.

Yours sincerely,

Ines Almeida Garrett
Visit Portugal Canada

Exploring the new wave of eco travel

São Miguel island, the largest of the Azores archipelago, is a beautiful green jewel in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. With stunning lush landscapes, exotic plants, dormant volcanoes, hot springs, and surrounded by clean waters, São Miguel is the perfect vacation destination for nature lovers and those looking for an off-the-beaten-path European destination.

A drive along the island's north coast takes you through tea plantations and surf beaches. Located in a clifftop is the Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort: a chic hotel focused on the surf, mountains and nature of the Azores, with 30 villas and studios. The minimalist architecture was adjusted to the morphology of the land, in order to minimize its impact on the natural landscape. This was enhanced by the use of natural building materials sourced locally or nationally, such as the islands’ cryptomeria, exotic bamboos and domestic cork that built on the simple natural setting.

On site there is a surf school where you can have lessons, as well as activities such as bodyboarding, snorkelling, SUP or kayaking. Whale watching, swimming with dolphins and fishing can all be arranged. On land, there are walking trails, bike tours and activities at the resort’s biological farm. Yoga sessions and massages are also available.

Wild at heart

As a part of the global network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, the island of Flores is the wildest and most elemental. Green meets blue wherever you look: sea and sky border bright mountains; tall waterfalls drop into streams; alpine forests nudge crater lakes, being a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Here you can enjoy a little relaxation in the natural bathing pools. Choose those at Santa Cruz or the beaches along the Lajes das Flores. For something "wilder" the choice should fall on the island’s many waterfalls, such as that on the Ribeira Grande, and Poço de Bacalhau, found in Fajã Grande, is especially perfect to dive in at sunset, when the mountains are illuminated in the background. Also a must-see on your list should be The Poço da Ribeira do Ferreiro and its more than 20 waterfalls, which provide a stunning scenescape that will take your breath away at any time of the day, year-round.

As you follow the many footpaths on the island, you can observe the various migratory birds that fly there, because Flores is one of the best destinations in the Azores for birdwatching, especially in Lagoa Branca, in the central part of the island, the months of September to November being the best for this activity.

Pico island: Explosive beauty

The immense volcanic cone of Pico Mountain, the third largest volcano in the Atlantic, imposes itself on the island’s landscape and the climb to the top is one of Europe’s most popular hiking trails!

For lovers of geotourism, there are must-see sites to visit in Pico island: the Gruta das Torres (largest visitable lava tubes in the world), the Furnas (geothermal sites) of Frei Matias, Silveira and Montanheiros; the “Mysteries” of Santa Luzia, Prainha and S. João, formed by lava from volcanic eruptions that occurred in the sea and were joined to the island; and also the Arcos do Cachorro, an impressive grouping of lava perforated by numerous tunnels and caves through which the sea passes creating a maelstrom.

High on a hillside, the resort Lava Homes, offers unique panoramic sea views and an incredible heated swimming pool. Their position is based on the conservation of nature, environmental quality and the safeguarding of the historical-cultural heritage and local identity, all 14 housing units are equipped with photovoltaic panels, heating is done by salamanders to pellets, cooling is done by natural ventilation, water tanks have been kept for use in the irrigation, and the drinking water served is filtered local water by an active carbon system.

Adrenaline-fueled adventure

Madeira may have a sedate reputation but the wild, rugged landscape is the perfect place for hiking and trail-running, whatever the time of the year. If you want to surpass your own limits, Madeira is the right place. Each route is a challenge without time to finish, with fantastic settings, constant surprises and engaging activities. Madeira island, has the ideal scenario for the practitioners of this modality, offering the ideal conditions for the practice of this sport. Explore all the trails, activities and competitions on the Madeira Ocean Trails website.

The Madeira Island Ultra Trail, which will take place on the 20th of November this year, is the longest event and attracts some of the biggest names in the sport. The race has 115 km and 7100 d+ and crosses the island, from sea-to-sea, in the Northwest-Southeast direction, starting in Porto Moniz, at sea level, with passages by the highest points of the island, then again to sea level, in Machico. It is an undoubtedly true experience of a lifetime.

Flavours of Madeira

In tandem with its commitment to sustainable tourism comes a lively generation of islanders who are reinvigorating its food, art and social life. Hence, you can find numerous restaurants, from traditional ones to more avant-garde. Traditional food is rural and hearty, based on fresh and varied local ingredients. Traditional dishes include “tuna steak with fried corn”, “sword steak”, “skewers”, “passion fruit pudding”, “limpets”, among others.

At the restaurant Sabores do Curral, there's a focus on regional products, especially chestnuts, with which they make various dishes - chestnut soup, chicken stuffed with typical sausage and chestnut, pork loin stuffed with chestnut, and a very successful starter: the Limpets of Curral. You can also try their homemade cherry brandy.

The Funchal’s three-storey art deco farmer’s market, Mercado dos Lavradores, offers a wide variety of local products: fruits, vegetables, flowers, meat, fish, crafts, herbs and spices; some typical delicacies, such as wine and garlic meat sandwiches, bolo do caco (round flat breads), and various sweets and chocolates. Fennel, from which the city gets its name, grows wild and its essence has been captured in sweets from Fabrica de Santo Antonio since 1893. This family bakery also makes delicate biscuits and traditional cakes.

A wine to be tasted over and over again

Full day Madeira Wine tour: Over an 8 hour tour you will be driven to the magical and secular world of Madeira Wine and where you will find out the unique Madeira’s terroir and its wines, highlighting the extraordinary production process.

During this tour you will have the opportunity to see the best of Madeira island, past the south coast to the north coast and getting to know the emblematic populations of Câmara de Lobos, São Vicente, Seixal and Porto Moniz. The tour starts by visiting one of the most emblematic Madeira Wine Producers and learning how the original production process of the fortified wine is made. The lunch is served in a Madeira Wine Producers house, harmonised with several local wines. After lunch the tour carries on visiting part of the awesome north coast of the island. On the way back to Funchal there´s a visit to another Madeira Wine Producer. In this one everyone will have the chance to see the modern way in Madeira wine producing and to taste the wine.