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Luxury Madeira Food and Wine Tour
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Culinary Tour of Funchal, Madeira
Madeira–group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean that is part of Portugal– is a sub-tropical paradise that lies about 600 miles off Portugal’s coast. It is called the “floating garden” or the “pearl of the Atlantic,” as it boasts dramatic and breathtaking scenery . It also has a remarkably mild climate; average temperatures are 77°F in the summer and 62°F in the winter, making it the ideal island for a relaxing or active break at any time of the year.
Madeira’s lush vegetation hides the fascinating indigenous Laurel Forest, a UNESCO Nature World Heritage Site since 1999. Diving, surfing, canyoning, hiking, and seaside excursions are especially popular activities on this island paradise.
During your stay in Madeira, you will enjoy a feast for the senses and a gentle contentedness – whether you are swimming in the ocean or natural rock pools, strolling through colourful gardens, tasting the well known Madeira fortified wine, or cooking traditional local dishes.
Enjoy a warm welcome to Madeira’s capital city of Funchal, where the architecture and nature seamlessly intertwine. Discover the narrow, traffic-free streets paved in black and white mosaics and lined with jacaranda trees.
Madeira’s rich volcanic soil means that it is home to a great plethora of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. These excellent growing conditions and traditional production processes are what give Madeira’s wine its signature unique flavors. Once chosen to celebrate the independence of the United States on July 4th, 1776, and praised by Shakespeare in his plays, Madeira wine is certainly a treasure. This ‘nectar of gods’ is one of Madeira’s finest achievements.
The wine is a testament to the Madeirans’ constructive spirit over the centuries, which is especially visible in the hand-tilled vineyards on small plots of land called ‘poios’ (terraces). There are more than 30 Madeira Wine grape varieties, and wine connoisseurs can even come to Madeira in September to see and participate in the Madeira grape harvest and its festival.
Madeira’s gastronomy is in some ways typically Portuguese, with a strong mix of fabulous seafood and rustic meat dishes. But its temperate island climate makes exotic fruits and a plethora of vegetables equally defining traits of its island cuisine.
Food and Wine Tour of Madeira
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Day One - Arrival in Funchal and Welcome Dinner at the Manor
- Arrive in Funchal and transfer to your 5* accommodations.
- Relax and settle in until your welcome dinner tonight.
- Positioned at the lower level of the property in front of the boutique hotel, lies the elegant and luxurious Manor House which has been converted into a restaurant. Known for its distinctive dining room, the restaurant offers an al fresco dining terrace, serving a la carte and table d’hôte meals. Your meal will feature six culinary “moments” meant to stimulate the senses. Drinks are not included but can be purchased on site.
- Your welcome dinner will consist of the finest regional gastronomy, with inventive and contemporary cuisine.
- Overnight.
Day Two - Gastronomic Walking Tour and Wine Tasting
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Meet your guide for a walking tour of Funchal, during which you will discover the main monuments, museums, churches,
theatre, public buildings, and gardens. Taste Madeira’s delicacies along the way, a perfect harmony between history, people, and delectable food and wine. - You will also visit Madeira’s wonderful outdoor vendors during your tour. Experience the hustle and bustle of the Farmers’ Market, admire the Flower Sellers dressed in the traditional Madeiran costume, and the stands of local fruit, vegetables, and the fish market.
- Continue through town to try the local biscuits at the old delicacies’ shop, the chocolate shop, and finally the Old Madeira Wine Lodge.
- Visit the Madeira Wine Cellar, learn about this extraordinary fortified wine, and toast with a Glass of Madeira! The private visit is guided by their own Wine Expert, and includes a visit to the old family cooperage, the aging warehouse, Blandy’s Family Museum, and finishes with a tasting of 5 Madeira wines (10 and 20 years old) paired with dried fruits, cheese, chocolate, and traditional sugar cane syrup cake.
- Dinner at a 1* Michelin restaurant tonight (beverages paid locally).
- Overnight.
Day Three - Fajã dos Padres, Fruit Tasting, and Cable Car Ride
- Breakfast at your hotel.
- Start the day by taking the cable car down to the Fajã dos Padres property, on the pebble beach. The microclimate of Fajã dos Padres favours the growth of subtropical species, some of which would not adjust to the rest of Madeira. We invite you to walk around this unique property, get to know its history, its hidden corners, the fruits, its banana plantation, other exotic plants and the malmsey vineyards (Malvasia Candida – the 1st to be planted in Madeira in the XV century). Enjoy a tasting of seasonal fruits and an ‘Espada’, black scabbard fish lunch, at this exceptional retreat by the sea.
- Weather permitting you can venture for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean (changing rooms and showers available).
- Dinner with drinks included at Funchal Harbor, with views of the city lights.
- Transfer back to the hotel and overnight.
Day Four - Porto Moniz and Vineyard Lunch
- Breakfast at the hotel and then meet your guide.
- Today you will explore the western side of this island, the most dramatic and breathtaking scenery. Visit the viewpoint (Skywalk) at Cabo Girão, the highest sea cliff in Europe and the second highest in the world (580m).
- Travel inland across the mysterious plateau of Paúl da Serra to Porto Moniz with its natural volcanic rock pools. Your journey continues to São Vicente, a pretty mountain village, along the northwestern coastal road where waterfalls cascade down the rockface into the deep blue ocean.
- In São Vicente, you will visit “Quinta do Barbusano”, where you will enjoy a tasting of white, red and rosé wines. Enjoy a traditional lunch of ‘Espetada’, a regional dish made in an open kitchen. The delicious grilled chunks of beef marinated in garlic, bay leaves and salt is served on a 3 ft skewer, served with boiled potatoes and salad and accompanied by the house red or white wines. This unique experience is complemented by remarkable views of the valley and surrounding mountains.
- Leisure time before returning to Funchal.
- Tonight, enjoy a special 5-course fish dinner in the center of Funchal (beverages not included, paid locally).
- Back to the hotel and overnight.
Day Five - Rum Tasting and Traditional Gastronomy Workshop
- Breakfast at the hotel then meet your driver and head for Calheta.
- On the way to Calheta pass by various villages on the southwest coast of Madeira. Your first visit will be to the delightful Quinta das Vinhas estate. Quinta das Vinhas is a family business born out of a dream to preserve and share their heritage, and to give others the chance to experience a true Madeira farmhouse.
- When you arrive at Quinta das Vinhas property, you will start with a visit to the vineyard and learn about the history of this Quinta, Madeira Wine and Grape varieties. In partnership with the University of Madeira, all agricultural production was converted into organic production based on the principles of Biodynamics since 2018. This aligns with the traditional practices of the eco-resort, following lunar cycles and weather conditions in the ancestral method.
- After touring the vineyard, head to the Wine Bar for a tasting of 3 types of Madeira Wine paired with various light snacks made up of local products.
- The wine tasting will be followed by a rum tasting, featuring three kinds of rum produced at the family’s new Rum distillery, Engenho Novo da Madeira. Their family history of sugar cane production dates back to 1845, when William Hinton opened the 1st distillery in Funchal. The original distillery closed in 1986, but in 2006, William Hinton’s heirs relaunched production in the new distillery. In the first half of the twentieth century, Madeira island was known as the island of rum. The geographical location, the climate, the landscape, and its historical significance all contribute to making the Rum of Madeira island a unique product.
- Afterward, you will finish the drive to Calheta for your cooking class.
- This tour and cooking workshop is a unique program that offers visitors a different approach to the local gastronomy and traditions. This multifaceted experience combines the best aspects of rural tourism, farming, and regional cuisine. During your class, you will rediscover and reinvent the typical Madeiran dishes with the Chef’s signature recipes.
- Dine together and enjoy the chef’s wine pairing.
- On the way to Calheta or on the return, you can also choose to stop at the Banana Center and Museum. Apart from visiting the Banana Plantation, you can taste various products such as Banana Beer, banana chips, dehydrated bananas, banana rum, and banana cake or tart.
- Farewell dinner at a 2* Michelin Restaurant (beverages paid locally).
- Return to the hotel and overnight.
Day Six - Departure
- Breakfast and transfer to the airport.
Premier Food Tours in Madeira Trip Details
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Included in the 5-Night Culinary Tour of Madeira
Accommodations5 Nights Accommodation at a 5* Hotel in Funchal.
Food & Beverages- Daily Breakfast
- 3 Lunches
- 5 Dinners
Classes & InstructorsYour Madeira cooking class will take place in the municipality of Calheta, known for its sandy beaches and fresh seafood. It takes place at a newly constructed Nature Hotel on a terraced farm land, where visitors can relax and reconnect with their environment. Between the flowers, the fruit trees, caves, and stunning sea views, this is one destination visitors won’t soon forget. Your culinary experience will include farming and tasting experiences supervised by a team of experienced chefs. Your class will focus on enhancing the classic flavours of Madeiran gastronomy and learning the secrets of the local cuisine. You will rediscover and reinvent the typical Madeiran dishes that you have been introduced to this week, cooked in the chef’s signature style using locally sourced seasonal products.
Excursions- Gastronomic Walking Tour of Funchal
- Visit to The Madeira Wine Cellar
- Cable Car Trip to Fajã dos Padres
- Excursion to Western Madeira, including Cabo Girão, Paúl da Serra, and Porto Moniz
- São Vicente Winery Visit
- Visit to Quinta das Vinhas; Includes winery visit and tasting and rum tasting and distillery tour
- Visit with tasting at the Banana Center and Museum
Transfer Details- Transfers are included to and from the Funchal Airport.
Accommodation Information
The Quinta Casa Branca 5* is a boutique hotel surrounded by a botanical garden, located on a historic property once home to a banana farm. The building was inspired by the designs of Frank Lloyd Wright and is meant to integrate smoothly with the vegetation and carefully maintained gardens. This modern and elegant accommodation was founded in 1998 and has been a member of the prestigious “Small Luxury Hotels of the World" group since 2003. Each suite includes a balcony or terrace overlooking the bountiful gardens, equipped with lounge chairs, air-conditioning, and coffee machines.
Outside your 5* hotel in Madeira
Hotel gardens
Your room at the hotel
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Sample Pricing and Dates for Madeira Food and Wine Tours
Find pricing and dates for our culinary vacation in Madeira below, and contact us to book your trip.
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2026 Luxury Madeira Food and Wine Tour Pricing
See moreUS$6330 per person based on double occupancy
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 60 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!Single occupancy supplement: please inquire
Madeira Food and Wine Tour Dates
See more2026 Tour Dates in Madeira
The Madeira Food and Wine Tour is available year-round for groups of two or more. Please inquire for available dates!
We can help plan your dream vacation in the Madeira!
Whether you need help planning additional nights in Portugal, transfers, or excursions, we are available to help you plan the very best cooking holiday in the Madeira.
