Start the day with a visit to Luís Pato Wine Cellar, located in Anadia. Its wine bottling activity began in the 70´s and with the demarcation of the Bairrada region, the distinct character of the wines made it necessary to have the wine bottling from its own production. In the 80´s the local prizes gave encouragement to pursue the path of innovation that has been implemented since the birth of the region as a trademark. We continue our itinerary with a visit and lunch in the Quinta do Encontro. This wine cellar also located in Anadia, has a tradition of wine production dating back to 1930. The new wine cellar, surrounded by a serene landscape dominated by vineyards is inspired by objects and forms related to production and consumption of wine, which not only aims to increased ability to winemaking, but also to establish more direct contact with the consumer.

Informations

• Duration of the excursion: 10 hours (departure and return to hotel in Porto)
• Days of Operation: Monday to Saturday
• Wine Region: Bairrada
• Wine Tasting at Luís Pato Wine Cellar: 3 Table Wines (1 White and 2 Red)
• Wine Tasting at Quinta do Encontro: 3 Wines (1White, 2 Red) and 1 Sparkling

As a wine-producing country, one of Portugal’s great strengths is its diversity.

Madeira is a Portuguese island, which lies several hundred miles southwest of the Portuguese coast, far into the Atlantic Ocean. Mountainous and dramatic, Madeira is a lush, fertile outcrop with a semi-tropical climate that supports a broad array of horticulture and agriculture, from banana plantations to exotic flowers.

It also grows grape vines, for the production of Madeira. Centuries ago it used to be a stop for ships headed to America. They would take on casks of the local wine- a fortified product- as ballast. When they arrived they found that the wine, which had been “cooked” during the voyage, actually became a superior beverage.

And thus Madeira became a very popular drink in the Americas. Similar to Sherry, Madeira ranges in flavour from a very dry version to very sweet.

The wine can last decades and because its popularity has waned, aged Madeiras are wonderful bargains. The island is stunningly beautiful. Most of the resorts are centered on Funchal.

Includes

• 08 nights’ accommodation as mention in the itinerary (3 nights/HB + 1 night/BB in Lisbon + 4 nights/HB in Funchal)
• Flight LIS/FNC/LIS
• Visit of Wine museum in Madeira + wine tasting
• Lunch at Restaurant Café Apollo
• Visit + wine tasting of Quinta de São João
• Lunch at a local Restaurant at Porto Moniz
• Visit + wine tasting + traditional lunch at Quinta do Furão
• Cable car ride to Monte
• Official English speaking guide for the whole circuit
• Deluxe motor coach for the entire program + driver and all necessary expenses, taxes and tolls

Don’t Includes

• Lunches in Lisbon
• Porters at Hotels or airport
• Tips & Extras
• Entrance fees other than those mentioned in “package rates include” (please consult our table of supplements)
• Everything else not mentioned in “package rates include”

Program

Day 1 – Lisboa

Arrival at Lisbon Airport. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to a Hotel in Lisbon. Dinner and accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 2 – Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. In the morning half-day guided tour of Lisbon: starting with a panoramic of the main streets and squares of the city: Marquis de Pombal Square, Avenida da Liberdade and the Rossio square. We will continue to one of the oldest quarters of the city: Alfama (walking tour, passing to Lisbon Cathedral). Our next stop will be at Sala Ogival, for a brief presentation of Portuguese wines,
including wine tasting.

We will proceed to Belém, stopping by the Belem Tower and the Discovery Monument for photos. Still within Belém quarter we will visit the Jeronimos Monastery. Return to the Hotel. Free afternoon.

In the evening, transfer to a restaurant in Lisbon. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Accommodation at a Lisbon Hotel.

Day 3 – Lisboa / Funchal

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon. Departure transfer to Lisbon Airport. Flight LIS/FNC.

Welcome by local guide – Transfer to the hotel. Welcome with a glass of Madeira wine, while check-in.

Dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 4 – Full-day tour discovering Funchal and the surroundings

At 09 am meet with your guide at the hotel reception. Start your tour today discovering the most interesting Funchal tourist attraction. Direct from your hotel door – first visit the Municipal gardens and the Blandy wine lodges opposite side to the Municipal Gardens. If Madeira is famous for one single thing, then it has to be its wine. And, Old Blandy’s Wine Lodge is perhaps the most famous of all Madeira’s wine lodges. Used to toast the occasion by the 55 signatories of the American Declaration of Independence on 4th July 1776, it is easy to understand just why Sir Winston Churchill commented: “To drink Madeira is to sip history with every glass.”

Enjoy a guide tour across the wine museum and learn its secular story. To finish the tour, you will be presented with a Madeira wine its own production. Across shops area first call to Largo do Colégio – the city town hall, and the Jesuits church – Igreja do Colégio a Manueline art peace, that deserves to be seen. Afterwards visit – Olivieras a different but not less important of the story of the Madeira wine development.

Enjoy a wine taste with the compliments of the wine lodges. Break time for lunch at the one of most famous and oldest Madeira restaurant – Cafe Apollo. Enjoy a delicious typical meal made of the famous scabbard fish fillet – Madeira gourmet. (Alternative it’s also available for those not eating fish). The Mercado dos Lavradores (Agricultural market) and delight yourself among benches of subtropical fresh flowers, vegetables, and also the daily fish catches. Across the road visit one Patricio Gouveia an embroidery factory and get in touch with its unique Madeira Island a secular handcraft tradition. By funicular drive to Monte hamlet situated 700 meters above Funchal, famous its church, public gardens, and the also very traditional – Madeira sledges, (carro de cestos).

We recommend you the toboggan ride a fun drive on board of a sledge for a maximum of 2 pax per sledge, from Monte till Livramento, 2.5 km downhill of pure adrenaline. Transfer back to the hotel. 3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 5 – Full-day tour to west and north – Madeira

After the breakfast at hotel, depart towards Câmara de Lobos, for a brief stop in the center of this beautiful fishing village. Uphill across the Estreito de Camara de Lobos, you will learn the most important Madeiras grapes homeland producers. Get in touch wine a private wine producer of Estreito the Camara de Lobos, visit a secular Quinta – called Quinta de Sao João, and delight yourself visiting a typical Madeira Quinta, and learn its variety of agricultural production, such as wine, bananas and flowers. Visit the wine cellar and taste its own wines. Wind up to Cape Girão, (cabo girão) 584 meters above sea with stunning costal and ocean views. Ribeira Brava on the southwest Madeiras it’s a popular village, known in Madeira as the “southwest capital”.

After a short stop, wind up to Encumeada, the mountain that separates the northern coast of the south coast in the direction of St. Vincent, you will cross the famous Laurissilva (laurel forest, classified by UNESCO as world heritage site), stop at Mirador Bride’s Veil, where you can admire a majestic waterfall, and watch the old road carved into the rock. Continuation of your trip to Porto Moniz, basically a rural Madeira village situated the very north part of the island, famous of its wine production, and as well, fishing village and for its natural pools too.

Break for lunch here where lunch will be served at a local restaurant with drinks included (Roast meat of pork). The return to Funchal will be made through the island’s highest plateau Paul da Serra, 1500 m altitude, passing by Bica da Cana, where they recorded the lowest temperatures of the island. Descending to the west coast, visit Calheta, Madelena do Mar the best Madeira banana homeland, Ponta do Sol, homeland of the Portuguese / American writer João dos Passos, visit its museum, (closed of Saturdays & Sundays) before returning to your hotel.

3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 6 – Full day tour to east – Madeira

After the breakfast at hotel drive to the Island tour. In this full excursion day, you will visit first Camacha, a place known by the industry of rattan and its folklore. Then you will climb to peak Arieiro, the third highest peak of the island (1.818m asl) where you can enjoy the lush countryside of the mountain. Down to the Ribeiro Frio, visit a trout pond, followed by a stimulating walk for 45 minutes along a flow, ending at Belvedere Branch – optional. The watercourses, irrigation channels of capital importance for the island’s economy, provide a unique communion with nature. Continuation to Santana, known for thatched roofs homes, traditional images of the island. Quinta do Furão an agricultural Madeira Quinta – also a wine producers with its private cellar, it’s also a rural hotel situated above a cliff with a stunning ocean view.

First visit the wine vineyards and taste its own wine at the cellar. Afterward on the same propriety, join for a delicious lunch made of tuna steak including beverages. The tour continues towards Porto da Cruz, stopping at the Portela viewpoint (670m altitude), where you will admire the views over to Penha de Aguia Mountain and the Porto da Cruz and Faial rural villages. Drive to Pico do Facho with a fantastic view point over to the Far East side Ponta de Sao Lourenço and the bay of Machico. Machico where the Island discovers first landed, it’s also an interesting tourist attraction that deserves to be visited. Visit the centre of Machico, the statue of the first captain donatory – Tirstão vaz Teixeira, as well the parish church. Return to hotel. 3 courses menu dinner without beverages will be served at the hotel.

Day 7 – Funchal / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Funchal. Transfer to Funchal Airport.

Flight FNC/LIS. Transfer from Lisbon Airport to Hotel in Lisbon. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 8 – Lisboa / Sintra / Lisboa

Breakfast at the hotel in Lisbon.

Full-day visit of Sintra – we will depart for an unforgettable day, discovering Sintra and its Mountains with its luxuriant vegetation framing our tour. We visit the charming Village Palace (entrance fee not included in the price, please check the supplements) in Moorish style with its conic chimneys and manueline style windows as well as its tile panels, reinforcing the interest for its interior.

After the visit free time for lunch and to enjoy the village centre with its souvenirs little shops. We will proceed to Cabo da Roca, the most western point of Europe to admire the beautiful landscape. The return will be made by the coastal road, passing through Cascais and Estoril. Dinner and accommodation at a hotel in Lisbon.

Day 9 – Funchal / Lisboa

Free morning. Transfer to Lisbon Airport.

Entrance fees at monuments

• Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon) € 7,00 p/ pax
• National Palace of Sintra € 7,00 p/ pax

NOTE: these rates are subject to confirmation (valid until 31.12.2011; they can suffer changes without any prior notice and we cannot guarantee them for now)

Other suggestions

• Fado Dinner at restaurant in Lisbon (3 course set menu with drinks) – Min. 10 pax € 65,00 p/ pax

Applying conditions to the above mentioned rates

• Above rates are net, per person in DBL room – based on Hotel  5* in Lisbon, HB + Hotel in Funchal 4*, HB – accordingly with the chosen package);
• The mentioned hotels are subject to availability;
• Above rates include all taxes accordingly with Portuguese law;
• Flights LIS/FNC/LIS are including all taxes to this date – please note that the Fuel Tax may change until the day that we issue the tickets;
• These prices are valid for the following periods: September, October, November and February , March and April.
• Additional dates available. Please ask for availability.