Machico holidays
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On holidays to Machico, you’ll be hiking through tree-topped mountains one day, and lazing on sandy bays the next.
A pretty island city
Machico’s a seaside city nestled among rolling green mountains in the south-east of Madeira. It’s said to be the place where the Portuguese island was discovered in the 1400s, and there’s plenty of history here. For example, the triangular Forte de Nossa Senhora do Amparo – built in 1706 – is a yellow fort that started out as a piece of military architecture, and it sits right by Praia Cabeço da Ponta. Speaking of the beach, Machico’s got a manmade sweep of sand wedged in a pretty bay, with a pier jutting out into gin-clear waters and a marina filled with bobbing boats. When you’re not soaking up history or catching rays on a sunbed, there are bucketloads of bars, restaurants and shops to make your way around, too.
Postcard-perfect hiking scenes
Pack your walking boots, because going for a hike’s a must on a holiday to Machico – you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to scenic trails. Some routes have steep climbs and high peaks, making them great for avid ramblers, and there are a few gentler options more suited to newbie hikers, too. Whichever you choose, you’ll pass plenty of vistas more than worthy of a spot in your photo album. Levada dos Maroços – AKA Mimosa Valley – is one of Machico's most popular areas for walking. It’s got top-notch views, with colourful flowers and agricultural terraces cascading down hillsides, and you’ll sometimes find local people selling fresh fruit on your journey – a welcome treat under the Portuguese sun.
Madeiran feasts
On the subject of food, there’s mounds of it to try in Machico. You’ll find dozens of restaurants plating up local favourites down by the coast. Madeira’s national dish is a good place to start – it's called espada, and it’s made up of black scabbard fish that’s served with banana and passionfruit. If you prefer meat to fish, espetada’s a top pick, too – skewered beef’s cooked on hot coals and often dished up with fried corn. Whatever you fancy, it can be washed down nicely with a glass of Madeiran wine. The island’s known for its vino, and it comes in both dry and sweet varieties.
Daytrips at your fingertips
If you’re a bit of an explorer, there are some great spots to visit within easy reach of Machico. For example, you could visit Santana, a seriously photo-worthy village famous for its colourful houses with thatched roofs, known as the Casas Típicas de Santana. It’s about half an hour’s drive from Machico, and there are some gardens to roam around in the village, too. If you’d prefer to visit somewhere a little bigger, Funchal’s also about 30 minutes’ cab ride away. This city’s the island’s capital, and there’s lots to see and do – you could take a cable car for sprawling views out to sea, head to a Madeiran wine cellar for some sampling, or marvel at huge Gothic cathedrals.
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