Family trip to Madeira
Discussion
Off to Madeira at half term, we are staying in Funchal. We are an active family but with kids 10 and 6 who are good walkers and are regularly out in the UK.
Just interested in recommendations from other families who have been out there for walks, places to see and things to do. We've got quite a lot on the list at the moment from the guidebook so trying to narrow it down. I've got car hire sorted.
Just interested in recommendations from other families who have been out there for walks, places to see and things to do. We've got quite a lot on the list at the moment from the guidebook so trying to narrow it down. I've got car hire sorted.
Just take extreme care on the Levada walks. They are notoriously dangerous.
Do NOT go if the weather looks a bit iffy at sea level, it can be way way worse higher up and can change in an instant.
Do NOT start your walk in the aternoon.
Don't forget, these walks are not circlar so if you park your car up then you'll need a way of getting back to the car.
One nice one, and circular, is the Balcoes right in the centre of the island. Nice walk to the viewpoint into the old volcano, sort of circular route that brings you back into the village with a nice bar/restaurant ther to refresh.
Do NOT go if the weather looks a bit iffy at sea level, it can be way way worse higher up and can change in an instant.
Do NOT start your walk in the aternoon.
Don't forget, these walks are not circlar so if you park your car up then you'll need a way of getting back to the car.
One nice one, and circular, is the Balcoes right in the centre of the island. Nice walk to the viewpoint into the old volcano, sort of circular route that brings you back into the village with a nice bar/restaurant ther to refresh.
Edited by Every day a journey on Wednesday 15th May 11:23
Edited by Every day a journey on Wednesday 15th May 11:24
Thanks for the advice. We are experienced walkers and know our limitations as a group. In my previous job I've seen first hand the dangers of the outdoors and we are well prepared. I know some of the trails will be off limits with the young ones and I wouldn't want that concern of putting them through it either! We are there for a week but won't be walking daily so it'll be cherry picking some of the highlights of the area.
Every day a journey said:
Just take extreme care on the Levada walks. They are notoriously dangerous.
I'd echo the above - we took a couple of young kids on one of the walks a few years back. Went from 'wow this is beautiful' to 'oh s
t, we're all going to die' in an instant.I vaguely remember a combination of narrow and slippery walkways and sheer drops - was glad to get back down!
Swimming complex lidos, but not Barreirinha as not suitable for youngsters.
Cable car up to the Monte tropical gardens - good at this time of year.
Jeep tour.
Lava pools at Porto Muniz.
This weird fort place in funchal
Dolphin/whale boat trip from the harbour
"Pirate boat" trip on the Santa Maria from Funchal
Walk along the promenade from Funchal to Praia Formosa is quite nice but the beach itself is mostly exposed shingle other than at the western end, where not really suitable for young children
Cable car up to the Monte tropical gardens - good at this time of year.
Jeep tour.
Lava pools at Porto Muniz.
This weird fort place in funchal
Dolphin/whale boat trip from the harbour
"Pirate boat" trip on the Santa Maria from Funchal
Walk along the promenade from Funchal to Praia Formosa is quite nice but the beach itself is mostly exposed shingle other than at the western end, where not really suitable for young children
What's on the list at the moment and how far can the 6yo go?
If they're not overly squeamish go early to the fish market and buy some tuna steaks sliced in front of you, grill at home or BBQ if you have the facility. Caught that day. Mainstream Funchal is lacking in customer service these days as when you have 3m visitors a year why give a f*ck? There is demand, so don't expect the main thoroughfares to offer much worth eating or experiencing.
Funchal is also... Fecking huge so the coastal walk to Camara de Lobos could be a long way from where you're starting. Best check that.
And apart from a fairly uninspiring statue of Churchill there isn't a lot to do when you get there, and you'd then have to get back. There are some good "crashy waves" in the caves you pass through a foot tunnel between the two though, and a really pebbly beach. The pebbles smash against the rocks, kids love the sound. Just check with a local that the tunnels are open, they take a lot of maintenance.
They probably won't want afternoon tea at Reids, esp with no t-shirt or flip flops, but, a walk in that direction through and past the parque de Santa Catarina looking at the cruise ships docking and overlooking the CR7 museum and up to Petit Fours (Estrada Monumental 188A, 9000-098) and you will have the best pastel de nata (and cake in general) on the island, and that's 20 mins from the centre. Unusually, the cafe over CR7 is also very good.
I'd head north shore, the pools at Porto Moniz as suggested above have difficult parking, it is busy, the paid for pools are possibly a bit warmer than the smaller free ones (Cachalote), slightly as movement of water helps (maybe). Don't underestimate how cold they are though. And slippery. Cool to have fish swimming around your feet though. There are some more a little further to the east, Seixal, quieter as less restaurants etc, park at the top, walk a long way down. Fine until the end of the day when little ones have to get back up that hill. Daddy taxi time!
There are some black sandy beaches and I think they've dumped some imported yellow sand somewhere past Camara, worth a look.
The cable car is a must, as is the skywalk as the kids are free, adults now 2 bucks I think. https://www.cabogirao.com/madeira-skywalk.php
ETA kids will like the waterpark too. You might see it on your way from the airport.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...
If they're not overly squeamish go early to the fish market and buy some tuna steaks sliced in front of you, grill at home or BBQ if you have the facility. Caught that day. Mainstream Funchal is lacking in customer service these days as when you have 3m visitors a year why give a f*ck? There is demand, so don't expect the main thoroughfares to offer much worth eating or experiencing.
Funchal is also... Fecking huge so the coastal walk to Camara de Lobos could be a long way from where you're starting. Best check that.
And apart from a fairly uninspiring statue of Churchill there isn't a lot to do when you get there, and you'd then have to get back. There are some good "crashy waves" in the caves you pass through a foot tunnel between the two though, and a really pebbly beach. The pebbles smash against the rocks, kids love the sound. Just check with a local that the tunnels are open, they take a lot of maintenance.
They probably won't want afternoon tea at Reids, esp with no t-shirt or flip flops, but, a walk in that direction through and past the parque de Santa Catarina looking at the cruise ships docking and overlooking the CR7 museum and up to Petit Fours (Estrada Monumental 188A, 9000-098) and you will have the best pastel de nata (and cake in general) on the island, and that's 20 mins from the centre. Unusually, the cafe over CR7 is also very good.
I'd head north shore, the pools at Porto Moniz as suggested above have difficult parking, it is busy, the paid for pools are possibly a bit warmer than the smaller free ones (Cachalote), slightly as movement of water helps (maybe). Don't underestimate how cold they are though. And slippery. Cool to have fish swimming around your feet though. There are some more a little further to the east, Seixal, quieter as less restaurants etc, park at the top, walk a long way down. Fine until the end of the day when little ones have to get back up that hill. Daddy taxi time!
There are some black sandy beaches and I think they've dumped some imported yellow sand somewhere past Camara, worth a look.
The cable car is a must, as is the skywalk as the kids are free, adults now 2 bucks I think. https://www.cabogirao.com/madeira-skywalk.php
ETA kids will like the waterpark too. You might see it on your way from the airport.
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g1...
Edited by macron on Wednesday 15th May 23:02
s2kjock said:
Swimming complex lidos, but not Barreirinha as not suitable for youngsters.
Cable car up to the Monte tropical gardens - good at this time of year.
Jeep tour.
Lava pools at Porto Muniz.
This weird fort place in funchal
Dolphin/whale boat trip from the harbour
"Pirate boat" trip on the Santa Maria from Funchal
Walk along the promenade from Funchal to Praia Formosa is quite nice but the beach itself is mostly exposed shingle other than at the western end, where not really suitable for young children
That 'weird fort place' used to be a nightclub. Now some sort of gallery or somethingCable car up to the Monte tropical gardens - good at this time of year.
Jeep tour.
Lava pools at Porto Muniz.
This weird fort place in funchal
Dolphin/whale boat trip from the harbour
"Pirate boat" trip on the Santa Maria from Funchal
Walk along the promenade from Funchal to Praia Formosa is quite nice but the beach itself is mostly exposed shingle other than at the western end, where not really suitable for young children
Thanks for all the replies. The 6 year old can quite easily knock out 6-7 miles, the 10 year old seems to have no limit. Generally rolling hill stuff rather than mountainous although they have done a couple of fells in the lakes. We go at a steady pace but allows me to take it in as I have a tendency to push on. I know quite a few of the routes are end to end so will have to factor that in.
The other activities sound good. We plan to visit the gardens, Lidos, enjoy some pool time, hopefully get several walks in and get around the island. We are B&B so will be looking for places to eat during day/evening.
The other activities sound good. We plan to visit the gardens, Lidos, enjoy some pool time, hopefully get several walks in and get around the island. We are B&B so will be looking for places to eat during day/evening.
Just wanted to report back that we are half way through our trip at the moment and have taken a lot of the advice on board and we are having an amazing holiday. If someone had said 12 months ago, go to Madeira I'd have said it was for old people. We've done cable cars, both gardens and the park above the CR7 museum. We've seen quite a bit of Funchal but plan to see a bit more over the weekend with the Atlantic festival. We've done a hike around the Fanal forest, a hike over some of Levada Nova and we've been over to Port Moniz and spent time in the paid pools and a swim over in Calheta and Seixal. Food has been great and there are plenty restaurants nearby. We have plenty more planned for the rest of the weekend but won't get to see everything. I'm not prepared to put the youngest through excessive risk with some of the exposed edges so have a few walks planned which have things to see but not quite as risky.
Chicken Chaser said:
Just wanted to report back that we are half way through our trip at the moment and have taken a lot of the advice on board and we are having an amazing holiday. If someone had said 12 months ago, go to Madeira I'd have said it was for old people. We've done cable cars, both gardens and the park above the CR7 museum. We've seen quite a bit of Funchal but plan to see a bit more over the weekend with the Atlantic festival. We've done a hike around the Fanal forest, a hike over some of Levada Nova and we've been over to Port Moniz and spent time in the paid pools and a swim over in Calheta and Seixal. Food has been great and there are plenty restaurants nearby. We have plenty more planned for the rest of the weekend but won't get to see everything. I'm not prepared to put the youngest through excessive risk with some of the exposed edges so have a few walks planned which have things to see but not quite as risky.
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