Gardens and Nature of Madeira Island

Madeira’s volcanic terrain supports a diverse range of botanical environments, from the high-altitude Monte Palace Tropical Garden to the arid, rocky landscape of the Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula. The island's network of levadas leads to dramatic waterfalls like the 100-meter Risco and the multi-streamed 25 Fontes. Urban green spaces in Funchal, such as Santa Catarina Park and the Municipal Garden, showcase endemic flora alongside exotic species introduced during Madeira's history as a maritime crossroads.

Gardens and Nature of Madeira Island — Map

Richard Bartz / CC BY-SA 3.0

A

Ponta de Sao Lourenco

Volcanic peninsula and protected nature reserve with hiking trails, unique flora and fauna, and panoramic coastal views.

Allie_Caulfield / CC BY 2.0

B

Monte Palace Tropical Garden

One of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world. Surrounding the Monte Palace, a former hotel, it contains an abundant collection…

Andrei Dimofte / CC BY 2.0

C

Botanical Gardens Madeira

One of the most visited parks in Funchal provides a great view of the city.

Unukorno / CC BY 3.0

D

Véu da Noiva

Coastal waterfall on the northern shore that plunges from a high cliff directly into the Atlantic Ocean.

Unukorno / CC BY 3.0

E

25 Fontes Falls

The 25 Fontes is a group of waterfalls located in Rabaçal, Paul da Serra on Madeira Island.

Renato Monteiro / CC-BY-SA

F

Santa Catarina Park

Public park in Funchal overlooking the harbor, containing a large lake, exotic flora, and the 15th-century Santa Catarina Chapel.

Daniel Dias / CC-BY-SA

G

Parque das Queimadas

Forest park in Santana characterized by Laurissilva vegetation and traditional thatched-roof cottages. It serves as the trailhead for the Levada do Caldeirão Verde.

Helena Fonseca / CC-BY-SA

H

Waterfall

Waterfall located on the old ER101 road near Ponta do Sol, known for cascading directly onto the pavement where vehicles can pass through the spray.

I

Garganta Funda

One of Madeira's highest waterfalls, dropping 140 meters into a deep canyon near the cliffs of Ponta do Pargo at the western tip of the island.

Coeli / Public domain

J

Quinta Vigia Gardens

The official residence of the President of the Autonomous Region of Madeira. A part of the gardens are open to the public.

GanMed64 / CC BY 2.0

K

Risco

A 100-meter high vertical waterfall in the Rabaçal valley, accessible via a dedicated levada walking trail starting from the Paul da Serra plateau.

Unknown authorUnknown author / Public domain

L

Emperor's Gardens

Charles I or Karl I was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, King of Croatia, King of Bohemia, and the last of the monarchs belonging to…

Micha Zurel / CC-BY-SA

M

Jardim Municipal do Funchal

Central Funchal park featuring a diverse collection of international flora, a swan pond, and an amphitheater on the site of the former Convent of São Francisco.

Johan Spaedtke / CC0

N

Pregetter's Orchid Garden

This family-run orchid garden with a long tradition used to exhibit more than 50,000 plants that constituted a jungle.

Sebastien / CC-BY-SA

O

Agua D'alto

High waterfall near Faial that descends a sheer rock face, reachable through a short trail that follows a local levada.