Ribeira Brava holidays

Holidays to Ribeira Brava give you a taste of Madeira’s countryside, with rolling green hills and exotic fruit trees.

Tropical trees and seaside

Ribeira Brava’s made up of tiered green hillsides – they’re dotted with banana trees, sugar cane plants and vineyards, thanks to the super fertile soil. This place was once all about the agriculture, but it’s now becoming increasingly popular with sunseekers, due to its long sunshine hours. This seaside town is plotted on the south-west coast of Madeira, just a 20-minute drive from the centre of the capital, Funchal. When it comes to beach time, head down the hills and you’ll find a pebbly shoreline.

Seaside pools

Talking of beaches, the town’s main one has a mixture of the island’s trademark black sand and pebbles, with a handful of straw parasols and wooden decks for sunbathing. If you don’t fancy getting sandy feet, there’s a pool on a paved terrace right behind the waterfront. There’s also a splash spot for little ones. Faja dos Padres is a 15-minute drive down the road – it’s backed by tropical fruit trees and framed by towering cliffs.

Flit to Funchal

Just a 20-minute drive will gey you to Madeira’s capital, Funchal. You can start the day with a trip on the cable car – you’ll get a bird’s eye view of the town, so have your camera at the ready. Then, stroll over to the Monte Palace Garden – the whole place is full of exotic plants, sculptures and ponds teeming with koi fish. For a pit stop between sightseeing stops, head to Santa Maria Street for restaurants and bakeries where you can tuck in to seafood and top it all off with a sweet pastel de nata – or as we know it, a Portuguese custard tart.