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It's nearer than you think: Madeira is an easy three hours flying time from the UK making Madeira perfect for either whole week holidays or a long weekend retreat. Although the island is part of Portugal, you won't find it anywhere near the Portugese coast. The island is in the Atlantic Ocean 400 miles to the West of Morocco. On most maps Madeira rates no more than a dot. However, while the island is unarguably small it is green, beautiful and big enough to get lost in! Map of Madeira.

A number of airlines fly to Madeira (Funchal) from the UK including Easyjet, Thompson Fly and TAP. Easyjet fly direct to Madeira (Funchal) from Bristol, Gatwick and Stansted, for more information on the EasyJet time table (as it changes for Winter and Summer) please visit the Easyjet planner and for more information on flight prices etc. please visit www.easyjet.com.

Climate: Madeira is known for its mild winters and generally warm, sunny summers. The climate is similar to that found around the Mediterranean or in coastal California, but the ocean waters moderate the temperature so that the island never suffers extremes of heat or cold. In general the island has a sunny climate with an average of five to six hours of sunshine a day in winter and as much as seven to eight in summer - please see the below grid for monthly averages (it is worth noting that Faja da Ovelha is in the South West of the island - locally known as the sunny end of the island).

Glorious Gardens: Including the Botanical Garden (Jardim Botanico) which boasts to have examples of all plants, flowers and trees that grow on the island and the Tropical Bird Garden (Jardim do Loiros) which is home to hundreds of exotic parrots.-Back-

Toboggan rides: A distinctive method of transport! Carros de cesto, toboggans powered by gravity, transport visitors from the village of Monte down to Funchal. Take the cable car up to Monte and then slide back down in a wicker basket. Beware, this type of locomotion is exhilarating!-Back-

Tour the Cellars: A tour of Madeira Wine Museum gives visitors an insight into the wine making process before ending at the popular tasting rooms.-Back-

Take to the Seas: Perhaps take a trip on the re-creation of Columbus's flagship the Santa Maria. Highlights include the chance to spot dolphins, enjoy views of the city of Funchal and jump overboard for a cooling dip.-Back-

Game Fishing: The waters of Madeira offer excellent fishing for big Blue Marlin, Big-Eye Tuna, Blue Fin Tuna, Yellow Fin Tuna and more. Charters available for 4 - 7 hours for anglers & observers.-Back-

Walkers Paradise: The island is blessed with 2,000 km of levadas, making walking on the island a pure pleasure. They are a joy to walk along with the constant stream of water bubbling on one side and, on the other, ever changing views of deep valleys and hillsides often with the sea in the background. Madeira is more than just levadas, offering dramatic cliff top walks along zig zag paths above the sea below and more challenging treks in the central mountain ranges. Some challenging trails climb up to the volcanic peaks of the interior and to Pico Ruivo which at 1860 metres is the island’s highest peak.-Back-

Island of Sand: Porto Santo boasts a six-mile golden-sand beach - reached either by plane (15mins from Funchal) or by boat (2hr from Funchal) is an exciting day trip or "night away trip". In addition Madeira main island has a number of man-made beaches.-Back-

Festivals: If you are lucky enough to be on the island during one of the festivals make a date to include it in your itinerary. The Festival of Flowers (end of April), The Carnival festival (Saturday before Shrove Tuesday), The Feast of the Assumption (August 15), Festival of the Atlantic (June), Wine Festival (September), and of course the famous Funchal New Year Festival.-Back-

Water Sports: The clear blue sea surrounding Madeira abounds in fish and interesting vegetation: around the coasts, tiny bays and underwater caverns stir the sense of adventure. Snorkelling and scuba diving trips are available.-Back-

For the Children: The Madeira Theme Park in Santana is one of a kind in Portugal. It is a fantastic exhibition centre devoted to the history, science and traditions of the Madeira Archipelago. It occupies an area of 145,000 square metres and is a must for all visitors.-Back-

Golf: The Madeira Islands with their eternal Spring are the perfect golf destination all year round. The Madeira Islands' exceptional climate and beauty make them quite unique. Their golfing tradition goes back to 1937, when three British men, Miles, Leacock and Blandy, built the first nine-hole course. In Madeira you have two courses to choose from, Palheiro Golf with its 18 holes and Clube de Golfe do Santo da Serra with 27, both set in outstandingly beautiful scenery.-Back-