The holiday island named the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ – with amazing waterfalls, year-round summers and no UK time difference
IT was once a magnet for super-fit sixtysomethings with a penchant for skin-tight trousers, but Madeira has seen an influx of social media-loving holiday- makers in the past year.
Videos of the Portuguese island off the coast of Morocco have exploded on TikTok, and after being flooded with snaps of “the Hawaii of Europe” on my own TikTok account, I just had to check it out for myself.
Thankfully, the dramatic landscapes, stunning colours and opportunities for adventure did not disappoint.
From the internet stars that inspired my eight-day getaway, I learned that watching the sun rise from the Pico do Arieiro was the thing to do.
So I set my alarm for 5.15am and dragged myself up the mountain by hire car in the dark (thankfully it’s only 30 minutes from the capital, Funchal) to take on the gruelling but equally rewarding “Pico to Pico” hike.
This trek sends those brave enough to take it on from Pico do Arieiro, which stands at 5,975ft, to Pico do Ruivo — the island’s highest peak at 6,106ft.
On arrival at the starting point, I found a spot to take in what turned out to be the most epic sunrise I’ve ever seen.
I’d booked the trek through GetYourGuide (£52.22pp, see getyourguide.com), which included a breakfast of ham and cheese sandwiches.
The atmosphere was electric, with everyone eagerly awaiting the big moment.
The orange glow above the clouds was already breathtaking, but the real magic came at 7.30am when the sun rose, so much so that crowds broke into applause.
It is simply a must-do in Madeira, even if you don’t then walk for five hours-plus to finish the rest of it.
If you’re up for the challenge, Pico to Pico takes you 7.5 miles through mountain tunnels and along gorges and offers stunning views of the surrounding valleys.
It’s not for the faint-hearted — I didn’t count, but there are reportedly 4,000 stairs on the route.
However, I saw people of all ages having a go.
As long as your knees are sturdy enough, anyone can do it, providing you take it slowly.
But if hours of steep stairs and huge steps doesn’t sound like your bag, thankfully there are hundreds of other less demanding hikes dotted across the island.
The most common is the levada walk, with a series of routes which follow man-made water channels with a gentle slope.
I completed several, but my personal favourite was Caldeirao Verde, an 11-mile trail which features a 328ft waterfall and five rocky tunnels.
There are also volcanic walks such as the Ponta de Sao Lourenco on the eastern tip of the island, which goes along the peninsula of the same name.
Here, I was treated to some of the bluest blues I’ve ever seen in the sparkling Atlantic.
And those ocean views were made only more impressive by the glorious sun on the lapping waves.
That’s another major draw for Madeira — its year-round balmy climate.
The island boasts a 365-day summer, with temperatures between the high teens and mid-20s from January to December.
There is also no time difference from the UK, despite it being four hours away by plane — a mega-win for shorter breaks.
And it is so compact (around 14 miles across, with 90 miles of coastline) that you can drive around the whole island in just a few hours.
But you need more than those few hours to fit in everything there is to do.
Once I got my hiking fix, I rewarded myself with a glass of the island’s traditional alcoholic drink, poncha, made from fermented sugar cane juice, honey, sugar, lemon rind and whatever fruit takes your fancy.
The lemon, lime and passionfruit flavours were all delicious — but due to its 25 per cent alcohol content, I couldn’t tell you what the orange, mango or cherry versions that followed were like.
Madeira wine is also a must.
Similar to sherry or port, it has a uniquely sweet taste that comes from repeatedly heating the barrels in the attics of warehouses.
But before you down too many local tipples, do take a dip in at least one of Madeira’s natural swimming pools.
Of the three I tried, I’d recommend the free-to-enter one at Porto Moniz.
It’s formed by volcanic lava and you can easily spend an afternoon enjoying the refreshing water that’s filled with fish.
There isn’t much in the way of sandy beaches here, but what Madeira lacks in golden coastlines it certainly makes up for in flora and fauna.
One of the best places to take in the green paradise is Fanal Forest.
This enchanting Unesco World Heritage Site is home to 500-year-old laurel trees and offers stunning sea views.
The colours were eye-popping in the light of the sun, but it is said to be just as magical on a misty morning when the entire forest is engulfed in fog.
For those in need of some culture, a quick visit to the traditional houses in Santana should suffice.
The charming triangular homes, built from local materials, represent part of Madeira’s heritage and show how residents lived hundreds of years ago.
The ground floor was where families spent most of their time, with the upstairs used for storing and drying agricultural products.
And finally, if a quick history lesson, climbing mountains and wild swimming weren’t enough, Madeira offers adrenalin activities galore.
No matter where you’re staying, there will be opportunities for coasteering, surfing, kayaking, jet skiing, biking, boating — and even tobogganing down a road in a wicker basket steered by two men in hats.
Top it all off with the island’s traditional bread, as you really can’t leave without tasting bolo do caco, most often served with lashings of garlic butter.
Then, once you’re home, with a phone full of epic snaps, you can whack them all on Instagram to make your own followers jealous.
GO: Madeira
GETTING THERE: EasyJet flies from Gatwick to Madeira from £25.99 each way.
See easyjet.com.
STAYING THERE: One night’s B&B in Sao Paulo Studios in Funchal is from £118, based on two sharing.
See aspamadeira.com.