Our Portugal explorations continue with a week spent on the Island of Madeira! Madeira is considered an autonomous region of Portugal, located off the northwest coast of Africa. Our hostel is located in Funchal, the island’s capital and largest city, and we’re only a five minute walk to the ocean.

Yesterday we went on a bus tour that drove around the west coast of the island. Throughout the tour, our driver constantly pointed out the vegetation and plant life that dominates the island. He showed us how you can grow bananas, avocados, lettuce, potatoes, lemons, radishes, apples, plums and too many more to list, all in Madeira. Beautiful birds of paradise and calla lilies simply grow like weeds alongside the roads. To put in the words of Bus Driver Tony, “if you plant it on the island it will grow!”

I spent a solo afternoon at the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens, at the prompting of our hostel manager Alberto. He assured me that is was one of the best places to visit on Madeira, also known as the Island of Flowers.

The gardens are located in Monte, a suburb of Funchal easily reached with a 10 minute ride on the cable car, the Telefericos da Madeira. The cable car was first opened in the 1890’s, and is a ‘must do’ if you’re visiting the island.

The garden itself is built around the 18th century Monte Palace estate house and encompasses 70,000 square meters of exotic plants and trees, water gardens, and walkways.

For all my plant lover friends- I’m taking to you Mom!- I’ve included some of my favorite photos from the gardens below.