Laurisilva of MadeiraLaurisilva of Madeira at a Glance
About Laurisilva of Madeira
The Laurisilva of Madeira is a natural forested landscape on the island of Madeira characterised by laurel-dominated (laurisilva) woodlands. It represents a surviving fragment of the widespread laurel forests that covered much of southern Europe in the Tertiary.
Hikers and nature visitors use a network of trails and levadas to visit dense, evergreen laurel forest with high humidity, mosses and a rich understorey of endemic species. The forest is valued for biodiversity, endemic flora and as a refuge for species of conservation interest.
The laurisilva is a relict ecological formation that persisted on Madeira through climatic changes that removed similar forests elsewhere in Europe; its survival preserved a high level of endemism. Conservation measures protect large tracts of the forest and its ecological processes.
The laurel forest areas are situated on the island of Madeira in the North Atlantic, occupying mountainous and mid-elevation slopes where humidity and mild temperatures support evergreen forest cover.
- Relict laurel forest: The laurisilva is a relict type of subtropical humid forest that survived from the Tertiary and supports many endemic plants and invertebrates on Madeira.
Nearby Attractions to Laurisilva of Madeira
Best Time to Visit Laurisilva of Madeira
Year‑round mild climate makes spring and autumn the most comfortable times to visit the Laurisilva, avoiding winter rain and peak summer crowds.
Weather & Climate near Laurisilva of Madeira
Laurisilva of Madeira's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Mediterranean - Warm-Summer Mediterranean climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and cool winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from 8°C to 20°C. Moderate rainfall (808 mm/year) with a pronounced dry season.
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Acceptable | 8° - 12° | 10° | 109 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 6.5 m/s | 0.6 moderate | 10.1h |
| February | Acceptable | 8° - 12° | 10° | 87 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 6.6 m/s | 0.8 moderate | 10.9h |
| March | Good | 8° - 13° | 10° | 86 mm | partly cloudy | 79% | 6.3 m/s | 1.3 high | 11.9h |
| April | Good | 9° - 13° | 11° | 60 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 6.2 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.9h |
| May | Good | 10° - 14° | 12° | 42 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 5.0 m/s | 2.1 extreme | 13.7h |
| June | Excellent | 12° - 17° | 14° | 20 mm | some cloud | 82% | 4.7 m/s | 2.3 extreme | 14.1h |
| July | Excellent | 14° - 19° | 16° | 11 mm | mostly sunny | 82% | 5.3 m/s | 2.4 extreme | 13.9h |
| August | Excellent | 15° - 20° | 17° | 15 mm | mostly sunny | 81% | 5.3 m/s | 2.2 extreme | 13.2h |
| September | Very Good | 14° - 19° | 17° | 60 mm | some cloud | 78% | 4.3 m/s | 1.7 very high | 12.2h |
| October | Very Good | 13° - 17° | 15° | 96 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 4.9 m/s | 1.1 high | 11.2h |
| November | Acceptable | 11° - 15° | 13° | 105 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 6.0 m/s | 0.7 moderate | 10.4h |
| December | Acceptable | 9° - 13° | 11° | 117 mm | partly cloudy | 77% | 6.5 m/s | 0.5 low | 9.9h |
How to Get to Laurisilva of Madeira
The Laurisilva of Madeira covers mountainous forested parts of Madeira island and is most conveniently reached from Funchal, the island’s main town and transport hub. By car it’s a 20-50 km drive from Funchal to key access points (for example Ribeiro Frio or Santana) via the VR1 and the north‑coast roads; driving times vary with the chosen trailhead. Public transport: CTM interurban buses run from Funchal to towns such as Santana and to some trailheads - check CTM timetables for specific services; from bus stops access to laurisilva trails typically involves a short walk of up to a few kilometres depending on the route.
Tips for Visiting Laurisilva of Madeira
- Start popular levada walks (e.g., at Queimadas or Rabaçal) early in the morning to beat both guided groups and the brief periods of thicker cloud that can roll into the laurisilva.
- Use official trailheads such as Ribeiro Frio and Queimadas for reliable signage and links to marked PR routes; these sites also have local information and are good jumping-off points for quieter paths.
- If you want quieter forest experience, choose less-frequented levadas like Caldeirão Verde/Caldeirão do Inferno rather than the busiest 25 Fontes trail, and check recent trail conditions-storms can cause temporary closures.