Breakfast:
At the hotel, the buffet features a variety of choices including hot and cold items, plus milk, juice, coffee, tea, water.
Morning:
We’ll start the morning in our hotel meeting room with an introductory lecture on Madeira by a local expert. Later, we’ll drive north of Madeira with our local expert and stop at Porto da Cruz, known in the past for its production of sugar cane and wine. Today, it is a popular center for surf and water sports. We will stop to explore the town as our expert leads us and offers insightful commentary before we continue along the mountain roads towards Santana to see the typical, colorful thatched roof cottages of the region, dating from the 16th century.
Lunch:
At a local quinta, or country villa, located in its own vineyards.
Afternoon:
In the afternoon, we’ll continue by motorcoach to the eastern parts of the island: Ponta de São Lourenço and Machico – the sites where the discoverers of Madeira first landed. Here, we will learn from our local expert about the history of the early settlements and the island's sea-faring traditions. We’ll also visit a nearby museum dedicated to the island’s whaling traditions before returning to our hotel.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Evening:
At leisure.