The first settlers in Madeira Island soon realized that it only rained regularly on the south coast in winter but on higher altitudes and on the north there was plenty of water during all year. So they had to find out a way of transporting the water. Therefore the Levadas occurred during the intense colonization of Madeira.

For the last six hundred years Madeira people have built an extensive network of narrow water channels that carry water all the way down to the south coast where once the plantations of sugarcane, vines and bananas were thirsty.

All Levadas together have a 2150 km (about 1,350 miles) length, where 2% of these go through tunnels in the mountains. Levadas are a wonderful way to get to know the interior of Madeira Island, as almost all of them have a path which follows just beside it, where you will certainly find some Grey Wagtails (Motacilla cinerea shmitzi) to accompany you on your walk.

Come and experience it for yourself!

In this e-letter we show you a bit of Madeira’s indigenous forest:

Laurel forest had its origin in the Tertiary when it was much more widespread, covering large parts of Southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin. The drying of the planet since the Pliocene caused this forest to retreat to its present enclaves.

“Laurissilva”, as it is called in Portuguese, is a subtropical forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures.

This Madeira Island indigenous forest is generally characterized by evergreen and glossy-leaved trees, with members of the Laurel family (Lauraceae) prominent. It is individualised by the presence of ligneous, gymnosperms, squamiform and imbricate covering little branches. Many endemism of herbaceous, bushes and a large diversity of lichens and mosses are the reason why Madeira’s Laurel forest is tagged with the World Natural Heritage of UNESCO.

There are also some animal related to this forest, they are endemic molluscs and insects and our emblematic bird of Laurel Forest, Trocaz Pigeon (Columba trocaz).

Come and experience it for yourself!

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It starts with a pedestrian path through the Laurel forest, with approximately 4 hours (about 7 km) allowing the observation of a great diversity of endemic flora species of this habitat, including some centenarians examples.
Concerning to birds, the Madeira endemic subspecies, as the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the rare Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and still some of passerines can be distinguished.

Day 2 - from 2 pm to 7 pm

This afternoon is specially dedicated for hot-spots visits along the west of the island, with prominence for some water lines near the coast and a small lake, where it is possible to observe aquatic birds, gulls and small passerines characteristic of these places. This tour is essentially done by car.

Day 3 - from 5 pm to 7 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Day 4 - from 9 am to 4 pm

It starts with a pedestrian path on São Lourenço peninsula, with 6 km distance, during about 4 hours. Here it is possible to observe flora species with high interest, not only for its capacity of adaptation to a barren area but also for the presence of endemics species.
From fauna we detach the presence of the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis parva), Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and still the Madeira endemic Wall Lizard (Lacerda dugesii).
On this tour it can also be observed interesting aspects of the geology of the island.

Day 5 - from 8 am to 7 pm

This program is on the west of the island and begins with a short walk of about 5 km, easily done in 2 hours, with the aim to observe the Long-toed Pigeon.
The tour continues by car to the central area of the island, with stops in some hot spots to watch some passerines and birds of prey.
After lunch, another walk of approximately 1 hour will lead us to a diversity of breeding species, as well as some migratory.
Later, we will drive through the south coast and stop in some sites to observe passerines and aquatic birds.

Note: The order of the program may change

It starts with a pedestrian path through the Laurel forest, with approximately 4 hours (about 7 km) allowing the observation of a great diversity of endemic flora species of this habitat, including some centenarians examples.
Concerning to birds, the Madeira endemic subspecies, as the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the rare Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and still some of passerines can be distinguished.

Day 2 - from 2 pm to 7 pm

This afternoon is specially dedicated for hot-spots visits along the east of the island, with prominence for some water lines near the coast and a small lake, where it is possible to observe aquatic birds, gulls and small passerines characteristic of these places. This tour is essentially done by car.

Day 3 - from 2,30 pm to 6 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Day 4 - from 9 am to 4 pm

It starts with a pedestrian path on São Lourenço peninsula, with 6 km distance, during about 4 hours. Here it is possible to observe flora species with high interest, not only for its capacity of adaptation to a barren area but also for the presence of endemics species.
From fauna we detach the presence of the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis parva), Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and still the Madeira endemic Wall Lizard (Lacerda dugesii).
On this tour it can also be observed interesting aspects of the geology of the island.

Note: The order of the program may change

It starts with a pedestrian path through the Laurel forest, with approximately 4 hours (about 7 km) allowing the observation of a great diversity of endemic flora species of this habitat, including some centenarians examples.
Concerning to birds, the Madeira endemic subspecies, as the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the rare Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and still some of passerines can be distinguished.

Day 2 - from 2 pm to 7 pm

This afternoon is specially dedicated for hot-spots visits along the west of the island, with prominence for some water lines near the coast and a small lake, where it is possible to observe aquatic birds, gulls and small passerines characteristic of these places. This tour is essentially done by car.

Day 3 - from 5 pm to 7 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Note: The order of the program may change

It starts with a pedestrian path on São Lourenço peninsula, with 6 km distance, during about 4 hours. Here it is possible to observe flora species with high interest, not only for its capacity of adaptation to a barren area but also for the presence of endemic species.
From fauna we detach the presence of the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis parva), Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and still the Madeira endemic Wall Lizard (Lacerda dugesii).
On this tour it can also be observed interesting aspects of the geology of the island.

Day 2 - from 8 am to 4 pm

Walk on the North of the island for about 2 hours, to observe the Long-toed Pigeon (Columba trocaz) and the characteristic species of this habitat.
Later, the destination is Porto Moniz for seawatching where, with good weather, we may be able to make excellent observations of seabirds.
After lunch, the tour continues with a car ride along the west of the island, stopping in some hot spots to watch some passerines and birds of prey.

Day 3 - from 6 pm to 8 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Day 4 - from 2 pm to 8 pm

This tour starts with a pedestrian path through the Laurel forest, with approximately 4 hours (about 7 km) allowing the observation of a great diversity of endemic flora species of this habitat, including some centenarians examples.
In what concerns to birds, the Madeira endemic subspecies, as the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the rare Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and still some of passerines can be distinguished.

Day 5 - from 9 am to 12 pm and night from 9,30 pm to 1 am

Morning will be spent on a small walk of 4 to 5 km, during about 3 hours, in the mountain ranges of Funchal, more necessarily in the Ecological Park of Funchal. Along this path it is possible to observe birds of prey and also the Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa), the Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus berthelotii).

The afternoon will be free.

For about 9,30 pm the destination is Pico do Areeiro, where we will do a nocturnal walk of 25 minutes to reach a place near the breeding area of Zino’s Petrel (Pterodroma madeira), one of the most threaten seabirds in Europe.

Note: The order of the program may change

It starts with a pedestrian path on São Lourenço peninsula, with 6 km distance, during about 4 hours. Here it is possible to observe flora species with high interest, not only for its capacity of adaptation to a barren area but also for the presence of endemic species.
From fauna we detach the presence of the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis parva), Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and still the Madeira endemic Wall Lizard (Lacerda dugesii).
On this tour it can also be observed interesting aspects of the geology of the island.

Day 2 - from 8 am to 4 pm

Walk on the North of the island for about 2 hours, to observe the Long-toed Pigeon (Columba trocaz) and the characteristic species of this habitat.
Later, the destination is Porto Moniz for seawatching where, with good weather, we may be able to make excellent observations of seabirds.
After lunch, the tour continues with a car ride along the west of the island, stopping in some hot spots to watch some passerines and birds of prey.

Day 3 - from 6 pm to 8 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Day 4 - from 2 pm to 8 pm

This tour starts with a pedestrian path through the Laurel forest, with approximately 4 hours (about 7 km) allowing the observation of a great diversity of endemic flora species of this habitat, including some centenarians examples.
In what concerns to birds, the Madeira endemic subspecies, as the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs), the rare Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) and still some of passerines can be distinguished.

Note: The order of the program may change

It starts with a pedestrian path on São Lourenço peninsula, with 6 km distance, during about 4 hours. Here it is possible to observe flora species with high interest, not only for its capacity of adaptation to a barren area but also for the presence of endemic species.
From fauna we detach the presence of the Berthelot’s Pipit (Anthus bertheloti) Goldfinches (Carduelis carduelis parva), Madeiran Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) and still the Madeira endemic Wall Lizard (Lacerda dugesii).
On this tour it can also be observed interesting aspects of the geology of the island.

Day 2 - from 8 am to 4 pm

Walk on the North of the island for about 2 hours, to observe the Long-toed Pigeon (Columba trocaz) and the characteristic species of this habitat.
Later, the destination is Porto Moniz for seawatching where, with good weather, we may be able to make excellent observations of seabirds.
After lunch, the tour continues with a car ride along the west of the island, stopping in some hot spots to watch some passerines and birds of prey.

Day 3 - from 6 pm to 8 pm

Boat trip along the South coast of Madeira, to watch seabirds

Note: The order of the program may change