Madeira used to be an attraction for super-fit sixtysomethings who favored skin-tight jeans, but the island has seen a rise in social media-savvy holidaymakers in the last year.
TikTok videos of the Portuguese island off the coast of Morocco have gone popular, and I had to check it for myself after seeing so many photographs of “the Hawaii of Europe” on my account.
Madeira has seen an influx of social media-loving holiday-makers in the past year
The Portuguese island, known as “the Hawaii of Europe,” is located off the coast of Morocco. Fortunately, the spectacular views, brilliant colors, and exciting possibilities did not disappoint.I learned from internet superstars who inspired my eight-day holiday that witnessing the sunrise from Pico do Arieiro was a must-see activity. So I set my alarm for 5.15 a.m. and dragged myself up the mountain in the dark in a rental car, despite the fact that it’s only 30 minutes from Funchal, the capital, to commence on the arduous but highly gratifying “Pico to Pico” climb.
This hike leads from 5,975-foot Pico do Arieiro to 6,106-foot Pico do Ruivo, the island’s highest peak, for those who dare. When I arrived at the starting point, I found a position to witness what turned out to be the most amazing sunrise I had ever seen. I booked the trip with GetYourGuide (£52.22pp; getyourguide.com), which also included breakfast sandwiches with ham and cheese. Everyone was anticipating the big moment with bated breath, and the atmosphere was intense. The true magic occurred at 7.30 a.m., when the sun rose so gloriously that crowds cheered. Already, the orange glow above the clouds was beautiful.
Even if you don’t, you’ll have to walk for more than five hours to accomplish the remaining must-do activities on Madeira. If you’re prepared for the task, Pico to Pico offers 7.5 miles of stunning vistas of the neighboring valleys, via mountain tunnels, and along canyons. The path is tough for the faint of heart; it is supposed to include 4,000 stairs (I didn’t count). However, I witnessed people of various ages trying their luck.
Finish with the island’s native bread, bolo do caco, which is generally served with a big dollop of garlic butter. You really must sample it before departing. After that, when you return home, you may make your fans jealous by posting all of your wonderful images to Instagram.
