Nat Geo Day Tour: Sustainable Agriculture in Quinta Pedagógica da Camacha

Nat Geo Day Tour: Sustainable Agriculture in Quinta Pedagógica da Camacha

Drive through Funchal's bustling town and Madeira's magnificent rolling hills towards Quinta Pedagogica da Camacha, a small farm committed to sustainable agriculture. Here, your National Geographic-trained guide will offer insights into the region and introduce you to the farm's owner, Bruno Santos. Having left accounting for agriculture, Bruno now dedicates his life to helping his neighborhood through sustainable farming, a lowered environmental footprint, and community outreach. Follow Bruno through flowering groves as you explore the grounds. You'll learn about the many uses for their freshly grown herbs and visit their strawberry plantation. Observe the fields and poios—what Madeirans call the terraced areas where they grow their crops—as you learn about the farm's produce and animal husbandry. The farm is home to various animals including chickens, goats, sheep, and more. There's even a small market Bruno created, to help other local vendors reach their greater community, inspired by the ‘buy local' mantra. You'll also experience a host of seasonal activities, offered exclusively to National Geographic travelers. Harvest ripe fruits and learn the proper techniques for sowing seeds in a planting workshop. This hands-on learning environment brings Bruno's sustainability and bio-friendly philosophy to life. Afterwards, you'll relax and enjoy refreshing tea brewed from the farm's own herbs, as well as homemade cakes, toast, and jams preserved from local fruits.

Machico Medieval Festival in Madeira

If you're looking for an evening out that takes you beyond the usual tourist trails and taps into a town's heritage, then the Machico Medieval Festival is just the ticket. This annual event started in the east of the island back in 2006, as a social project by local schools to learn about the 15th-century discovery of Madeira and its Portuguese cultural identity. Your trip begins with a bus ride to the market, where the traditional crafts and shops will help set the scene for a journey over 500 years into Machico's past. The festival has a celebratory atmosphere, as processions and parades show off the traditional costumes of Maderia's earliest settlers after Joao Goncalves Zarco and Tristao Vaz Teixeira first discovered the island.It's the historical re-enactments that will really draw you in, though. Visitors are encouraged to join in with events like the first landing of the Portuguese explorers. Alongside the performances, music and dancing, they're a great way to immerse yourself in the island's culture and history over this special weekend.

Full-day 4x4 tour of Madeira’s south-west coast

Madeira's south-west coastline steals the spotlight on this full-day guided tour. Start your adventure at Ribiera Brava viewpoint, where mountains meet the ocean. Zoom through Paul da Serra's eucalyptus forest on an off-road path used by locals and pause for coffee, before continuing to the cliffs of Ponta do Pargo. Swing by Faja da Ovelha, perfect for filling up your camera roll, and visit the fishing village of Paul do Mar. Stretch out on Calheta beach before wrapping up the day in Ponta do Sol.

Funchal self-guided GPS-enabled audio tour

Explore Funchal at your pace with a GPS-enabled audio guide designed for cruise passengers.

Value Package

A duo of City Sightseeing routes in Madeira are covered by this two-day city value package. You'll be able to hop on and hop off at your leisure and explore the attractions along Blue Essentials and Red Iconic lines. The Blue covers Monte, the Old Town and Funchal Market, among other sights, while the Red takes you up to Pico dos Barcelos and down to the picturesque fishing village of Camara de Lobos. You can also take a stroll through the city's gardens on a guided walk to learn more about the art and architecture, included in your package.

Red and Blue Essentials

It's easy to get lost in Funchal's jigsaw-like jumble of cobbled streets – so a great way to explore is with a city sightseeing hop-on hop-off bus ticket. The Blue Line circuit ticks off top sights like the exotic gardens of Monte Palace, as well as the ‘Painted Doors' art project in Funchal's old town and the produce-packed farmer's market.

Red Line City Sightseeing Iconic

When it comes to exploring Madeira's capital, this hop-on hop-off bus tour puts the fun in Funchal. With your 24-hour ticket and 21 stops to jump on and off at, you can visit must-sees like the ‘Painted Doors' art project in the old town, the upmarket marina on Avenida do Mar, or stop to shop in one of the city's best malls.

Wine tasting, mountains and coastal villages 4x4 tour in Madeira

Experience the beauty of Madeira on a 4x4 tour. Visit Ribeira Brava, Cabo Girao, and Camara do Lobos. End with wine tasting at a local winery.