Portugal · Madeira · 2028 future departure
Madeira Garden Tour 2028
A spring garden journey on the Atlantic island of Madeira — historic quintas, the Madeira Botanic Garden, Palheiro and Monte Palace, laurel forest and the island’s extraordinary subtropical planting.
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The gardens of Madeira
Madeira is one of the great garden islands of the Atlantic. Its mild climate all year round allows plants from South Africa, Australasia, the Americas and Asia to flourish alongside the island’s own native flora, and generations of English and Madeiran families have made gardens of remarkable richness around their quintas above Funchal.
This future GardenTours.com departure returns to an island we know well. It brings together the celebrated gardens — the Madeira Botanic Garden, Palheiro and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden — with historic quinta gardens in and around Funchal, and journeys into the island’s mountains and laurel forest, where Madeira’s native plants grow in their natural setting.
Spring is an outstanding season to visit, when the jacarandas, proteas, camellias and the tall spires of Pride of Madeira are at their best. The tour is expected to be based in one comfortable hotel near Funchal, with day excursions by private coach, so there is no need to change rooms during the week.
Dates, prices and the full itinerary will be sent to the priority list first, before the departure is announced more widely.
The gardens we expect to visit
Madeira Botanic Garden
The island’s botanic garden above Funchal, famous for its carpet bedding and for collections arranged to show Madeira’s native and exotic flora, with wide views over the bay.
Palheiro (Blandy’s Garden)
One of Madeira’s most celebrated gardens, with a history of more than two centuries, great specimen trees, camellias and South African and Australasian planting.
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
A theatrical garden in the hills above Funchal, reached by cable car, with lakes, tiles, sculpture and extensive collections of cycads and native plants.
Historic quintas of Funchal
Gardens around the island’s historic houses, from the Funchal public garden and Quinta Vigia to quinta gardens with old dragon trees, jacarandas and palms.
Laurel forest and mountains
Madeira’s ancient laurel forest and high mountain landscapes, home to native plants such as the Madeira foxglove and Pride of Madeira.
Island landscapes
Excursions to the north and west of the island, its levadas, coastal villages and terraced banana plantations.
The provisional shape of the tour
- Arrival in Funchal and welcome gathering
- Funchal’s public garden, Quinta Vigia and the Madeira Botanic Garden
- The east of the island, laurel forest at Ribeiro Frio and the north coast
- Palheiro and other quinta gardens around Funchal
- The west of the island, coastal villages, a banana plantation and a levada walk
- Quinta gardens of Funchal and the Monte Palace Tropical Garden
- A day at leisure, with optional garden visits or a dolphin-watching trip
- Departure from Funchal
A garden-focused specialist
- Small groups of 15–20 guests, led with garden-focused commentary throughout
- An itinerary built on GardenTours.com’s earlier Madeira departures
- One hotel for the whole stay, with day excursions by private coach
- Gardens chosen for their planting and history, not generic sightseeing
- Priority access to dates, pricing and the full itinerary before public release
A sense of the gardens
Garden guides for this destination
What a tour of this kind would normally include
The full list of inclusions will be published with the confirmed itinerary. A GardenTours.com departure of this kind would normally include hotel accommodation, private coach travel, garden admissions, selected meals, tour leadership and garden-focused notes.
Included
- Comfortable hotel accommodation near Funchal, or similar
- Breakfast daily
- Selected lunches and a welcome gathering
- Private coach transportation during the tour
- Garden entrance fees listed in the final itinerary
- Services of a tour leader / local guide
Not included
- International flights
- Airport transfers unless specifically arranged
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed as included
- Drinks with meals unless specified
- Optional excursions
- Personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
Is this tour right for you?
- Suitable for travellers interested in subtropical gardens, plant collections and historic quinta gardens.
- Rated Easy, though Madeira is a mountainous island and some gardens have steps and sloping paths.
Register your interest for this future tour
Join the priority list and be among the first to receive dates, pricing and the full itinerary.
Register your interest