Madeira – A Mediterranean Honeymoon Paradise

Consider The Madeira Islands For An Unforgettable Honeymoon

Imagine honeymooning in a Mediterranean paradise, surrounded by flowers, amazing views, the friendliest people and constantly perfect weather.  Well, why imagine it when you can do it in the beautiful and serene Madeira Islands.

The Islands of Madeira are located near Portugal, 301 miles from the coast of Africa and 620 miles from Europe.  This means it’s only a 90 minute flight from Lisbon, so it’s a great place to spend a couple of days if you’re honeymooning throughout Spain and Europe.

Of course, if you want to spend your entire honeymoon on the gorgeous Madeira Archipelago, no one could ever blame you.   First discovered by the Portuguese in 1418, the Madeira Islands are actually made up of four islands: Madeira, Porto Santo and two uninhabited islands called Selvagens and Desertas.

Having the Best Honeymoon in the Madeira Islands

During your honeymoon, there are certainly some things that are going to make your stay memorable. Capitalizing on these factors will help you have the best trip possible, creating memories that will last as long as your eternal love.

1. The Food in the Madeira Islands is a special treat.  Be sure to indulge yourself in the local cuisine when honeymooning in the islands.  From the fresh seafood to the organic meat, all surrounded and enhanced with tropical fruits and local wine, you’ll enjoy yourself at every meal.  The staple pre-meal of bolo do caco on the island is simply wheat flour bread with garlic butter and parsley, but it’s so delicious, you’ll crave it every time you think of your honeymoon.
   

For those who love grilled meat, you’ll be in heaven with the beef kebabs served on bay leaf sticks.  Be sure to try Picado, a dish made up of pan-fried beef and garlic.  Chicken is another main course on Madeira so there are many other options aside from seafood.  Of course, the islands are known for their fresh fish dishes, most popular among them being black scabbard fish with fried banana, tuna and squid. Cod is the main specialty of the region and you’ll find no shortage of ways to prepare and cook it on the island.

For dessert, be sure to sample all of the different types of puddings including mango, passion fruit and velvet puddings.

2. Ideal Weather in the Madeira Islands .  One of the best things about spending your honeymoon in paradise is that the weather is pretty much consistently great.  The temperatures are not too hot or too cold, but instead, just right.  On average, the mild winters and summers are comparable to cities like San Diego in the United States.  In the winter, don’t expect to get below 60ºF (17ºC) and in the summer, don’t expect to go much higher than 78ºF (22ºC) very often.  Similarly, the Gulf current and mild weather keeps the ocean water perfect for swimming year round, staying around 78ºF (22ºC) in the summer and 65ºF (18ºC) in the winter. Essentially, it’s an eternal spring / early summer feel, year-round.
3. The Landscape in the Madeira Islands.  Of course, taking in the beautiful weather wouldn’t be all that spectacular if it weren’t for the amazing landscape and scenic views on the islands. From the turquoise water to the golden, sandy beaches, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise because you really are. Porto Santo is perhaps one of the most beautiful beach islands in the world, enchanting all who visit it upon first glance.

Take a walk outside or rent some bikes and ride it along the tropical trails with your new spouse.  This helps create memories that cannot be beat.  The luxurious greenery of the island is speckled with tropical colors that leave you feeling like you’re experiencing nature the way it was meant to be experienced—untouched by man.  Exotic flowers and fruits can be picked right off of the trails before you take a dip in the crystal clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

4. The Flower Festival.  Finally, be sure to partake in the large amount of floral beauty that makes up the islands.  In fact, the perfect time to honeymoon in the Madeira Islands is in May, during the Flower Festival.  The Flower Festival takes place in Funchal, one of the largest cities on the island.  Funchal is not only known for its extravagant five star hotels and restaurants, but also its unique cultural festivities.
   

Come for the Flower Festival and enjoy the floor to wall carpeting of the entire city as it celebrates spring with lush parades.  You’ll be amazed at just how the flora and fauna of the island seems to overrun the city, turning the island into a beautiful spectacle of nature that won’t soon be forgotten.

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About The Author– Catherine Clarkson, the author of this article writes occasionally on behalf of Carrentalportugal.org, a travel portal specializing in price comparison for car rentals in Portugal. If you wish to know how to get some amazing deals on car rental in Porto, do visit carrentalportugal.org today.
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