Madeira in Autumn

Summary

This tour to Madeira, designed for the all-round naturalist, is timed to showcase the island's varied and unique wildlife and landscapes in the warm seasonal sunshine. Situated in the North Atlantic about 560 kilometres off the north-west coast of Africa, the Madeiran archipelago is very much the Galápagos of Europe, being of volcanic origin and isolated from colonisation from the continent by the predominantly westerly winds.

The Madeiran archipelago comprises five main islands. The largest, Madeira itself, is only about the size of the Isle of Wight but rises to over 1,830 metres. The landscape is rugged and spectacular, with deep ravines, gorges and swathes of lush and pristine Laurissilva forest, home to the rare and endemic Trocaz Pigeon (also known as Madeira Laurel Pigeon). The vast system of levadas – man-made watercourses – which run at a steady gradient along the sides of the mountains and hills throughout the island provides an ideal means of exploring its little-known corners at a gentle pace. An incredible 1,163 plant species have been recorded on the islands, of which 113 are endemic! The island boasts an all-year-round flowering season due to its subtropical climate, and although the spring and earlier summer have more flowering species, we can still expect to see plants in vibrant bloom, unlike other parts of Europe at this time of year. In particular, in and around Funchal, Kapok trees bloom in October, with their large pink and creamy-white flowers brightening up the city, as does the island’s 'national' plant, Bird of Paradise, so named because its brilliant orange sepals and deep blue petals resemble the head of a tropical bird.

The island's stable weather and calm seas offer very good opportunities for cetacean-watching, with a resident population of Short-finned Pilot Whales and, as well as Bottlenose, Striped, Risso's and Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, there are still Bryde's and Sperm Whales in the waters.

Across the week, we have three days of walking the levadas at Ribeiro Frio, Encumeada and Pico Ruivo, the tallest peak, at a relaxed pace. These are interspersed with a couple of mornings searching for the island’s birds, in particular the endemic races of Blackbird, Blackcap, Chaffinch and Robin in addition to the true endemics of Trocaz Pigeon and Madeira Firecrest (Zino’s Petrel is only a possibility). We will also have three cetacean-watching excursions. To make the most of our time on the water, there is also an evening sailboat cruise where we can enjoy Madeira's sunset. The colours of Madeira, the stunning and varied scenery, and the opportunity to observe some of the extremely localised natural history surely make Madeira a perfect autumnal getaway.

• Volcanic Madeira has a unique and fascinating natural history – perfect for the all-round naturalist
• Search for 113 endemic plants amongst the island's 1,163 species
• Look for 3 endemic birds – Zino's Petrel, Trocaz Pigeon & Madeira Firecrest
• Three cetacean-watching boat trips 
• Explore the evergreen Laurissilva forest – a type of forest found only in Macaronesia