Madeira's Breathtaking Beauty

Climbing up towards the central mountain range, your tour takes the road that leads to Monte, a village notable for its many fine properties and gardens. At Monte you'll have the opportunity to take a trip back to the past when you join the toboggan ride back to Livramento. The ride down the hill on the wicker sledges is an exciting one, providing you with a taste of the Madeira of the past decades, when this was the established form of transport. Then, proceed to Pico do Arieiro, the third highest peak on the island with an altitude of almost 6,000 feet (1,818 meters). Views are spectacular up here and on a clear day, it is even possible to see Porto Santo, the neighboring island, which is situated 30 nautical miles to the north. Continue to Camacha, a beautiful small village on the hills east of Funchal. It is famous for its 'Apple Festival' and its very active folklore dance groups. Camacha is also called 'the village of basket makers' which is actually not doing it any justice as it is much more than that; it represents the center of Madeira's willow craft industry. Nowadays they make furniture, hats, ornaments, kitchen utensils, wine holders and of course, baskets of all sizes and shapes. All in all, over 1,000 different articles are on exhibition, which is an absolute 'must see' for every visitor. Note: A jacket is recommended as Madeira has a microclimate. Tour involves walking on cobblestones and uneven surfaces with some approximately 10 steps at Monte, 10 to 15 steps at Pico do Arieiro and 5 to 12 steps at Camacha. Tour may be operated in reverse order. Toboggan ride will be closed in observance of Good Friday, so it will not be available for guests on the Norwegian Jade sailing of April 3, 2012.