What’s up, guys? This is a short vlog video from a recent trip we did to Madeira Island in Portugal.
It was a great trip and a really good destination to explore. Madeira has a ton of high cliffs and wild coastal scenery, plus big hills and river valleys, small towns and lovely people, fresh fruits and veggies, and so much great seafood!
Just be careful with the Poncha, the traditional Madeiran alcoholic drink that packs a punch if you’re not used to it.
Classic Madeira poncha is made with aguardente de cana (sugarcane spirit), honey, sugar and lemon or orange juice, stirred with a wooden muddler called a mexelote. Many bars also pour versions with other fruit juices.
Madeira won the World Travel Awards title of World’s Leading Island Destination in 2015 and kept it every year through 2024, and it is easy to see why.
If you plan to hike, non-residents pay a fee on Madeira’s official PR trails, and everyone books a 30-minute entry slot on the SIMplifica portal (simplifica.madeira.gov.pt). The standard fee has been €3 and is rising to €4.50, with a higher fee announced for the PR1 Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo route, so check the current rate before you go.
