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Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).
Afternoon: Hotel check-in is available at 2:00 PM. We may store our luggage at the hotel and explore the area on our own while we wait for our rooms to be available. After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before meeting the group leader and fellow participants in the lobby at 4:00 PM for an optional orientation walk. At 6:00 PM, meet fellow participants and the Group Leader for a welcome drink and introductions.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and the flight to Madeira in the morning.
Activity note: Boarding/deboarding an airplane. Please be advised that additional baggage fees for checked bags may apply and must be paid directly to the airline at check in. Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 16 miles, less than 1 hour riding time. Walking up to 2.5 miles on sidewalks, approximately 1.5 hours; elevation gain of approximately 263 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will transfer to the Lisbon airport by motorcoach for the flight to Funchal. Upon arrival in Funchal, a private motorcoach will transfer us to the hotel.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Afternoon: We will enjoy an orientation walk to the Lido area, where we will have a brief introduction to Madeira Island. The Lido area is lined with hotels and bordered by splendid gardens, offering wonderful views of the sea and magnificent sunsets. Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our knowledgeable Group Leader and local experts will conduct the educational program including hiking and walking field trips. Breakfasts will be offered at the hotel. Other included meals will feature local cuisine. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 60 miles, approximately 2 hours total riding time. Walking about 5 miles, approximately 3 hours on dirt trails (compacted soil, occasional roots or rocks, can be slippery if wet). There are areas of the trails with steep drops off the side, with the steepest area without railings reaching around 30 feet. Swimming in Porto Moniz pool.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will travel by motorcoach in the direction of Ribeira Brava, a seaside resort at the mouth of a steep valley. After crossing the island to the North coast, we will start the romantic walk through a wooded area. We will learn about the Laurissilva forest – designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999 – during a field lecture from our Group Leader.
Lunch: We will enjoy a picnic lunch while on the trail.
Afternoon: We will transfer to Porto Moniz to relax in one of the large natural swimming pools. We will then return to the hotel.
Dinner: At a local restaurant.
Evening: During dinner, we will be treated to live fado singing. Fado is a form of Portuguese music which invokes a feeling of “saudade,” which has no direct English translation but is akin to nostalgic desire for something or someone that is absent. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Activity note: Walking about 4 miles, approximately 3 hours on uneven surfaces, and cobblestones. Extent/duration of walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: Today, we will set off from the hotel on foot for a walking field trip to the city center. Along the way, we will have the chance to visit some gardens, the cathedral, the main street, and the colorful market of Funchal, where vendors selling fish, vegetables, and fruit can be found. After the market, we’ll walk along the old town area and enjoy some street art. During today’s field lectures, we’ll learn about the lifestyle of Funchal’s inhabitants, the economics of Funchal, and the history of the Funchal Cathedral.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Funchal.
Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving 40 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Walking about 5 miles, approximately 3 hours on trails. There are areas of the trails with steep drops off the side, with the steepest area without railings reaching around 30 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board a motorcoach to the start of our walk along the Levada Nova through one of the regions with the hottest climate and most spectacular landscapes of the island. We will learn from the Group Leader about the history of the agriculture of the island and how difficult it was to tame the rugged land with its big cliffs. At the conclusion of our hike, we will board the motorcoach and drive to lunch.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Next, we will explore the ethnographic museum of Madeira and learn from a local expert about how the locals lived throughout the centuries. Then, we’ll take in breathtaking views from the Cabo Girão viewpoint (1,902 feet), the second highest sea cliff in Europe. Below this point, there are small vineyards and vegetable patches that can only be reached by boat. For natives, every bit of land is precious.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach, driving 50 miles, under 3 hours riding time. Walking about 3 miles, approximately 2 hours on dirt trails (compacted soil, occasional roots or rocks, can be slippery if wet, railings along drop-offs), and through villages. There are areas of the trails with steep drops off the side, with the steepest area without railings reaching around 15 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will board a motorcoach and head to the green north coast, where we’ll enjoy a hike along the Levada do Castelejo through picturesque small orchards and stunning views over rock formations and the ocean. We will learn from the Group Leader about the geology and the production of local drinks during a field lecture. At the conclusion of our hike, we will board a motorcoach and continue to the next stop, Santana, known for its triangular thatched cottages that became an island icon.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: After lunch, we will go to Ribeiro Frio for a brief visit to the gardens surrounded by the lush vegetation of the pristine forest, followed by a stop at Pico do Areiro (5,964 feet) to experience the magnificent views of the highest peaks of Madeira Island.
Dinner: Explore local fare on your own.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 25 miles, approximately 1 hour total riding time. Walking about 4 miles, approximately 2 hours on dirt trails and paved roads through villages. There are areas of the trails with steep drops off the side, with the steepest area without railings reaching around 15 feet.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will set out by motorcoach to Camacha (2,300 feet), where we will have a walking field trip along the Levada da Serra do Faial. Upon approaching the village, we will notice bundles of long canes. This area is known as basket country, where wicker working is a traditional industry. Today’s field lectures from the Group Leader will educate us on the area’s indigenous plants and basket weaving.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: We will drive to the Botanical Gardens, created in 1960 on the grounds of the Quinta do Bom Sucesso, overlooking the town of Funchal. Most of the displayed plants are from around the world, with a section for indigenous flora. We’ll then make a short transfer to Monte, where we will visit the gardens and church. The twin towers of the church are visible from all over the town of Funchal. The afternoon will end with a fun toboggan run sitting on baskets! We’ll then return to the hotel.
Dinner: At the hotel.
Evening: At leisure.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles, approximately 2 hours riding time. Walking about 2 miles, approximately 2 hours on coastal trails with some stone and dirt stairs and loose gravel. The most dangerous sections of this trail will have railings to prevent falls.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will set out by motorcoach to Machico, the spot where humans first set foot on the island. We will continue on to Ponta de São Lourenço, where the landscape is drier and looks almost lunar. We will hear from the Group Leader about the biodiversity and geology of the region during the hike along the serrated line of cliffs tapering into jagged rocky islets.
Lunch: At a local restaurant.
Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities, which can be found in the first Information Packet. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Dinner: At a local restaurant where the unique Madeiran beef kabob is served. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and the flight to Lisbon in the morning.
Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 12 miles, approximately 1/2 hour riding time. Boarding/deboarding an airplane; flight is under 2 hours.
Breakfast: At the hotel.
Morning: We will check out of the hotel and transfer by motorcoach to the Funchal airport for our flight to Lisbon.
Lunch: Explore local fare on your own in Lisbon.
Afternoon: Free time. The remainder of the day is on your own to see and do what interests you most. Your Group Leader will be able to suggest ideas of what to do and see in Lisbon.
Dinner: On your own.
Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.
Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m. See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on another rewarding program in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!