Holidays in Caniço de Baixo

Madeira Island is one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe. Thousands of travellers visit this place to see its magnificent scenery. Long beaches, leafy forests, picturesque villages, majestic cliffs, natural swimming pools and rugged mountains make this a perfect place to spend a fantastic holiday. 

To help you enjoy an unforgettable stay, RIU Hotels & Resorts offers the Hotel Riu Palace Madeira. In it you'll find the best all-inclusive service, a varied gastronomic offer and fun entertainment programmes.

The best of Madeira

This small island in the Atlantic Ocean hides nature parks and reserves and exotic gardens that will amaze you. Although what you'll probably want to do when you arrive in Madeira is explore its magnificent coast. There are many beaches and natural swimming pools that are worth visiting to enjoy their lovely settings, such as the Caniço do Baixo, Ponta do Sol, Jardim do Mar, and the amazing natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz and Doca do Cavacas.

The northern side of Madeira Island has marvellous places. We suggest you visit Santana, a town famous for its triangular houses and the starting point for many hiking routes, like the ones leading to Pico Ruivo (the highest point on the island), Levada do Caldeirão Verde and Balcón de Ribeiro Frio. Other towns you shouldn't miss are Câmara de Lobos and its scenic overlook on the Cabo Girao cliff, and Curral das Freiras, a town surrounded by enormous mountains. And if you want to continue seeing incredible natural spaces, you can't miss the famous Floresta Laurisilva forest, declared a World Heritage Site as a unique ecosystem in the world.

Funchal, the capital of the island, also has places worth seeing. In its Zona Velha, the oldest neighbourhood, you can see the Catedral de la Sé, discover the traditional Portuguese stone walkways that form geometric figures, and enjoy the lovely paintings on the doors of many establishments. We also recommend you visit some of the city parks, like Parque de Santa Catarina, Quinta do Boa Vista, or the tiny, picturesque and central Jardim do Sao Francisco. Although if you want something slightly more original, take the cable car that runs from the lower part of the old town to the high part of the city to see the Jardim Botánico and the Parque Municipal de Monte. And if you're brave, you can descend the Monte in a wicker cart driven by a 'carreiro' on your return trip.

Gastronomy

Madeira has numerous locales where you can sample Portuguese cuisine with a local touch. We recommend you try specialities like espetada, a meat brochette accompanied by corn and the traditional 'bolo do caco' bread; carne de vinho e alhos, made with pork, garlic and wine; caldeira de peix, a fish soup; and the tomato and onion soup.

Cabo Girao:

This cliff overlooking the sea is the highest in the archipelago and the second highest in the world. The scenic overlook will reward you with panoramic views of the southern coast, including the towns of Funchal and Ribeira Brava.

Pico Ruivo:

The highest peak in Madeira. You can reach the top by taking a lovely road to enjoy the incredible views of the entire island and of the Atlantic.

Jardim Botánico:

The most famous tourist attraction on the island, it is located in Quinta do Bom Sucesso, at the top of a hill with fantastic panoramic views of the city of Funchal. The gardens have an impressive collection of species of plants, exotic flowers and tropical birds, as well as a research and maintenance area.