As the days get wetter, many people will be looking for a winter break to enjoy some sunshine away from England’s poor weather.
Whether you are looking for a gorgeous getaway or action-packed adventure in the sun, it looks like one destination has it all. Madeira – a small island in the middle of the Atlantic – has all-year sunshine and only takes a few hours to reach from the UK.
Filled with volcanic beaches, sugar canes and banana trees, it would be easy to mistake the palm-fringed island for parts of Asia or South America. However, instead of having to endure a ten-hour flight with sky-high prices, this location is a mere three hours from the UK.
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Both EasyJet and Jet2 have direct flights to Madeira from Bristol and, according to SkyScanner, the cheapest month to fly to the Portuguese island is December. On average, there are four flights per week to the destination, says SkyScanner.
Temperatures rarely dip below 19C in winter and thanks to its Atlantic location there is often a pleasant sea breeze or mist to stop visitors becoming too hot. It also means the island escaped the worst of this summer’s European heatwaves and wildfires.
What can you do there?
Madeira is a small island, which means you can spend the morning trekking in the mountains and within a short drive find yourself at a stunning sliver of beach facing incredible ocean views.
For adrenaline junkies, the island is packed with fun days trip. From mountain biking to canyoning, abseiling and even hair-raising off-roading jeep tours, tourists can easily fill their trip with a new sport each day.
Walkers are also spoilt for choice as the destination is filled with intricate levada trails that take hikers into the heart of the island’s tropical foliage.
There are also plenty of boat trips promising visitors the chance to see dolphins playing in the waves and, if you’re lucky, hammerhead sharks and whales make the odd appearance.
Madeira’s capital, Funchal, is filled with cultural offerings for city break fans. Lively restaurants and cafes line the city’s harbour and there are plenty of museums and palaces to explore.
Another top attraction is the location’s stunning natural swimming pools. Based on volcanic rocks, the bubbling lava pools are constantly renewed by the tides and make for a truly memorable day.