Walkers sharing their experiences

Madeira – Fortified Spirit

MW Editor English June 1st, 2010

Fortified spirit, by Stuart Forster May 31, 2010

The walking festival was held in Madeira and neighboring Porto Santo in January, just before the floods. Gerry Sluiter runs a travel company called Nature Meetings, which employs 23 guides across the 57 km long and 22 km wide island. His guides, who lead walks along coastal tracks, deep within the thick woodland of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Laurisilva forest and up mountains such as Pico Areeiro and Pico Ruivo, played an important role in informing the authorities as to where repairs were needed. The co-operation has been highly effective. “Ninety nine per cent of Madeira’s tourism facilities are back to normal. All the hotels and excursion trips are back to normal,” said Sluiter.

Read the whole article here

Tips against heat exhaustion

MW Editor English May 27th, 2010

It is easy to assume that exposure to excessive heat is a common problem here on Madeira. Cases of severe sunburn and/or heat exhaustion are not uncommon. Here are some tips you should consider to avoid the problems.

Food and Water

Maintaining your energy levels and avoiding dehydration or electrolyte depletion are crucial.

Walking

In high temperatures, do the minimum of walk that is necessary. Try to keep out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. Take regular breaks.

Protection

Use high protection skin creams on all exposed areas not forgetting under your chin, your lips and the tops of your ears. Do not forget to include sunglasses that block out both UVA and UVB and insect repellent to ward of those pesky midges.

Clothing

Developments in fabric technology mean that there is clothing readily available that is breathable and will wick away moisture so that sweat evaporates more quickly.

Wear loose, lightweight, light colored clothing. Consider tops with long sleeves that can be rolled up and down.

Hats are also really important in the sun. Try to wear a hat made of a breathable fabric or one that has mesh vents. It is also worthwhile considering a hat that provides additional cover for the back of your neck and/or a visor.

Adjust your clothing as conditions change throughout the day – do not struggle uphill wearing waterproof clothing when that shower has stopped.

Backpacks or Rucksacks

It may seem obvious but carefully check the amount of gear that you are taking – take the minimum without compromising your safety.

Groups on Madeira

Gerry Sluiter English May 13th, 2010

We can look back to a successful last year 2009. Not only did we experienced an increase of the total participants for our daily Nature / Levada walks here on Madeira, but we have also seen an increase of groups from various countries such as: England, Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

For our daily walks we receive participants from all over Europe, and together with our (bilingual) guides are we pleased to share the passion for the nature with them. Thanks to the participant’s enthusiasm and motivation we experience great fun each time we walk the Levada´s of Madeira with them.

Walking with groups is sharing the joy of nature.

When a group or organization contacts us (regardless the nationality) we start designing a special program according to the needs of the group. We first discuss with the group leader and all the participants the following items:

  • Type of accommodation plus wishes;
  • Location;
  • Dates and Times;
  • A program to ensure that all the wishes from the group are met.

During this process we are in continuous contact with each other to build together the best program.

Each time when we welcome groups to Madeira Island, it becomes a new challenge for us. Each group has its own designed / tailor-made program. Groups can stay in various kind of accommodations, from local Residences to 5-star hotels. Nature Meetings will prepare a program, before the group confirms their visit to Madeira, of which we are confident it will guarantee an enjoyable time.

Groups are not only from various countries, but also from organizations, such as: walking groups, Sport organization, Associations (Bridge, Dancing, Yoga etc), local/private business, national institutions, schools, media, family/friends, etc.

Whatever the background and needs are, it is always a great pleasure for us to design, arrange and carry out groups programs on Madeira.

Together with all our partner Agencies, Tour Operators and the local authorities on Madeira, are we looking forward to another successful year 2010 in which we (again) will share our passion with all the visitors to this beautiful Island of Madeira.

Nature Meetings
Site: www.naturemeetings.com and www.walkingmadeira.com
E-mail: info@naturemeetings.com
Phone: 00351 291 524 482 or 00351 964 513 856
Fax: 00351 291 524 484

Rabaçal

MW Editor English April 27th, 2010

Rabaçal is a 360º of pure nature and amazing scenery where one can only may admire Mother Nature handwork.

Madeira, Rabaçal, Nature MeetingsThe access to this beautiful place starts at the west part of Paul da Serra where you can park your car and follow a narrow road (that is restricted for cars) to the Rabaçal forestry guard’s house. The road goes all the way down and is approximately 2 km. You can go by foot or take a paid ride using a van that is provided by the council of Calheta.

Near the forestry guard’s house you can go straight ahead towards Risco (walking time approx. 10 to 15 minutes) which leads you to a fantastic waterfall surrounded by majestic green mountains.

After this scenery you can go back through the same path, which is parallel to the old Rabaçal levada, that will bring you to the sign indicating 25 fontes. Follow this path down until you find another levada. It will take you the opposite direction of the running water.

3D Rabaçal RouteThe levada path is on a flat terrain, though in some parts it can be narrow. Therefore it is not advisable for persons who are afraid of heights.

Click on the image (left) for a 3D plot of the Rabaçal walking paths.

After approx. one hour walking you will find a small lagoon, surrounded by vegetation and small water falls from different springs. These are the 25 fountains. You are then a guest at a family gathering of Laurel trees, springs, birds, unspoiled pure air, and other nature’s relatives … all peacefully together at the ecological table as one big happy family.

Please, when visiting remind yourself that you are a guest and respect the natural environment.

Afterward you will head back towards Rabaçal. You will need to go up the tarmac road … in the burning sun! So be prepared and protect yourself against the sun.

Walking Madeira – The Search Story

MW Editor English April 24th, 2010

A short search story about walking, Levadas and Madeira …

Festa da Flor Funchal 2010

MW Editor Portuguese - Português April 20th, 2010

Para os que não puderam estar presentes no festival da flor desta ano … aqui estão algumas imagens bonitas do desfile capturado por Zyberchema

Fanal with Til Trees discovered by Deb

MW Editor English April 19th, 2010

Beautiful images of Fanal taken by Deb Collins

We found til tree heaven. Hundreds of ancient indigenous Til trees (Ocotea Foetens) in a high grassy meadow. They were so wonderful I came over all weak and got a headache – think it must have been Madeira Til Syndrome (as in ‘Florence Syndrome’). (or maybe not having had a drink and being chased by a very frisky Madeiran cow didn’t help)

Del Pico Ruivo al Pico Arieiro

MW Editor Spanish - Español April 14th, 2010

Fotografías lindas de Zyberchema.

Fotos de la Ruta entre los dos picos mas altos de la Isla de Madeira, Pico Ruivo y Pico Arieiro.
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Natures Flower Festival

MW Editor English April 13th, 2010

Preparations are taking place in Funchal (Madeira) for the Flower Festival, that will take place from 15th to 18th of April. This year the event will be more greater and impressive than the last one … as this festival will be celebrated by its locals with a special feeling as this is considered to be a decisive turning point for Madeiras rebirth since the storm of February 20th.

The street parade on the 18th will be exhibiting and perfuming the air of Funchal with a multiplicity of floral species of the island. Gathering thousands of children on the Praça do Município where they will build the “Wall of Hope” with flowers.

But the island itself already has started with its own preparations for this event. Mother Nature has its own agenda and (luckily) she does not wait for the human beings. Flowers are having their own debut in the Laurisilva and other regions on the island.

Walkers, when hiking through the veins of the island, have captured a few of these flora-princesses on photo. We have made a selection of these pictures for those who cannot wait for the festival or could not book a trip to Madeira on time …. then sit back and enjoy the following flower parade

Paseo “Energetico”

MW Editor Spanish - Español March 16th, 2010

Fotografías lindas de Zyberchema.

Esta es una serie de imágenes, en total 181 mas 1 mapa, tomadas durante una caminada por la Isla de Madeira. En total casi 12 horas de marcha, pero merecieron la pena. Tienen su historia, si empezáis desde la 000 que es el mapa del recorrido y terminan en la 181 donde terminamos “cerrando” el bar de ponchas de Serra de Agua…
Si tenéis tiempo merece la pena verlas, aunque lo mejor es hacer el recorrido, que eso si que da ENERGIA
Es un homenaje a Andreia y a los que fuimos en aquel memorable Paseo…

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