What is the best month to visit Madeira?
What genuinely changes month to month on an island with no off season, and how to plan around the peaks rather than the forecast.
Guides
Madeira, answered by someone who lives here
The questions people ask me before they come, answered properly. I am Ana-Maria, I moved here from Bucharest in 2022 and I guide private tours across the island. Everything here is what I would tell you in the car.
What is bolo do caco?
What bolo do caco actually is, where the name comes from, why it is not the same as garlic bread, and the three ways it turns up on a table.
Do you need a car in Madeira?
When renting makes sense, when it does not, and what the roads are actually like to drive.
How many days do you need in Madeira?
What fits into three, four, five and seven days, drawn from the itineraries I have actually written for guests.
Is Madeira expensive?
What genuinely costs money on a Madeira trip, what does not, and the one price I can quote you exactly.
Which levada walk should I do in Madeira?
How to pick a levada by what you can actually manage, and the two things that catch people out.
Which is better, Madeira or the Azores?
An honest answer from someone who only knows one of the two, and what that one is genuinely good at.
Is the sunrise at Pico do Arieiro worth it?
The cold, the crowds, the cloud, and how to give yourself the best chance of the view you came for.
What is poncha, and how do you know if it is a good one?
What goes into poncha, why every bar tastes different, and the one thing that separates a good glass from a forgettable one.
Where is the best area to stay in Madeira?
The areas, judged on what they cost you in driving time and evening options rather than on hotel star ratings.
Cannot find your question here? Ask me directly. I answer every message myself, usually within 24 hours.