Day 1: Funchal
If you have arranged a Uniworld arrival transfer, you will be greeted at the airport by a Uniworld representative and transferred to the Hotel Savoy Palace.
Day 2: Funchal
FEATURED EXCURSION: Flavored Funchal Walking Tour
After breakfast, follow your guide through the city center of Funchal to learn the fascinating history of the city. Stroll through the market area and take in the multicultural influences of Madeira and admire the eclectic painted doors of Rua de Santa Maria, a project started in 2010 to bring art and tourists back to Madeira Island. You’ll stop for special treats along the way to discover the authentic flavors of the island. Depending on what is freshest, your guide might find you a bite of honey cake, garlic meat, swordfish, local beers, or some of the rare South American or Asian fruits that flourish in Madeira’s tropical environment.
FEATURED EXCURSION: Private Museum Visit with Wine Tasting
This afternoon, you’ll have a private visit to a local museum, and at the conclusion of your tour enjoy a wine tasting on the roof top overlooking the city.
FEATURED EXCURSION: Private Dinner at a Local Restaurant
Dive into the world of Madeiran gastronomy during a private dinner out in town. Your chef for the evening fuses tradition and innovation, turning authentic island flavors into a masterful fine dining experience. As each of the 6 courses are served, the chef will personally share the stories and techniques behind each dish. The result: not just a delicious meal, but a memory you will treasure for a lifetime.
Day 3: Funchal
FEATURED EXCURSION: Madeira Island Discovery Tour
Grab your hiking boots and set out on a hike in Madeira’s beautiful Laurisilva—a type of laurel forest that flourishes here but has all but gone extinct elsewhere in the world. This UNESCO World Heritage site has a palaeobotanical record that dates back to at least 1.8 million years ago. Here you will experience the flora and fauna of the island. Along the way you will also see the levadas, a waterway system dating back to the 15th century used to carry fresh water from the higher points of the mountain to the lower populated areas. The levadas are still used for agricultural purposes today. Later, enjoy an authentic Madeiran picnic lunch where you will savor local flavors while surrounded by nature’s beauty.
Day 4: Funchal
Today after breakfast you will transfer from the Hotel Savoy Palace to the airport for your flight to Porto to begin your cruise.