Canico de Baixo Holidays

Mile-long Canico de Baixo makes its home on Madeira’s south coast. The lower section of the town stretches out over a short shelf of volcanic cliff, just above the shoreline. It’s dotted with fancy villas and luxe hotels that are geared up for package holidays. Trundle up the steep hill, and you’ll find yourself in the old town of Canico. This cobbled cluster of streets centres around a pocket-sized square and an 18th-century church. Meander inland a little more to get to a few of the island’s famous levada walking trails.

When it comes to beaches, this place majors in pretty pebble-strewn numbers. The best of the beachy bunch is Praia dos Reis Magos. This Blue Flag-waving spot features a bar, restaurant, and sunbeds. Plus, you can get involved with watersports if you fancy it. There’s also a large lido for swimmers and plenty of wide, weather-smoothed rocks for sunbathing. If you’re after sand, take a daytrip to Porto Santo Island, Madeira's little sister. The journey here takes less than three hours, and you’ll be greeted by lashings of caramel-coloured sand.

Hop in a car and head east, and you’ll be in Madeira’s capital within a quarter-hour. Funchal plays host to the famous Madeira Botanical Garden. Sprawling over an impressive 35,000 square metres, this place is a sight to see. As well as the flowers and plants that it’s stuffed with, you’ve got sea and mountain views on either side. To complete that Insta-ready montage, take the cable car up to Monte and snap some bird’s-eye pics. Then, round off your day at the marina – it offers plenty of places to munch on fresh seafood.