The Southwest Tour + Caves starts off from the reception area of your hotel. We will drive directly to Sao Vincente to visit the Volcanism Center. Here you will get a guided tour with a 3D film on the history of how this volcanic island came into existence. After a very scenic drive along some rocky cliffs we will stop at the natural rock pools of Porto Moniz.
Our next stop, is the small town of Ponta do Pargo, which is simple, charming and interesting place to see the well-preserved customs and traditions of the island. Ponta do Pargo is famous for the lighthouse which stands at the most westerly point, the best-known on the island, and at 312m, one of the highest in the world. We also stop for lunch over here.
After lunch we make our way back along the southwest coast with our first stop at the fishing village of Paul doMar, which until the late 1960’s, the only access to this village was by sea. This unspoiled beauty of the west also offers excellent surfing conditions, with waves able to stir even the stout-hearted. The next fishing village is Jardim do Marwhich sits on a plateau bending down to the ocean against a backdrop of mountainous cliffs. The parish of Jardim do Mar, also challenge surfers to ride their spectacular waves, considered among the best in Europe.
We then continue our lovely coastal drive, to visit one of Madeiras oldest parishes Arco de Calheta. This attractive location, surrounded by rocks that caress the ocean, Calheta – which actually means ‘small beach’ in Portuguese, now bosts as having the only white sand beach on the island. We will also visit the sugar cane factory where they make sugar can honey and rum. Our last stop before we head back to Funchal is at the most picturesque village of them all, Ponta do Sol. This delightfully unspoilt village was blessed with glorious ocean views and more hours of sunshine than anywhere else on island which gives the village it’s name.
