SOCIAL EVENTS
Join us for our Social Programme – a chance to chat to friends old and new over a drink, enjoy a traditional Madeiran dinner and entertainment, or applaud this year’s star performers between a gala dinner and some dancing.
For prices see the Entry Fees page.
Welcome Cocktails
Join us in the Vidamar foyer on Monday at 18.00 for a cocktail or two (or three) and a warm welcome to our tournament and our beautiful island.
Traditional dinner and folk dancing
An evening of true Madeiran fare, with folk music and dance in traditional costume (you can join in too). Wednesday after the second session of the Open Pairs (coaches leave Vidamar 20.15).
Gala dinner and Prizegiving
Join us for a relaxing drink after the hurly-burly of the Open Teams, then in the Vidamar dining room where you will enjoy a superb three-course dinner with good wines, followed by the prizegiving and a disco (dancing optional).
TOURS
Below you will find details of the optional Friday excursions we have provided as part of our Social Programme. For 2023 these are the Levada do Rei, Over the Mountains, and a catamaran trip – watch the VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS for a flavour of the scenery, the company and the refreshments on past excursions.
We can also arrange other excursions. If you can’t find what you were looking for below, please contact us.
Option A: Levada (½ day, lunch included)
The amazing Levada do Rei (King’s Levada), which runs for 5.1km and takes about 3½ hours to walk. The levada offers spectacular views of the agricultural terraces of São Jorge and Santana. The walk starts and finishes in the same location and rises from 530m to 710m along the contours of the island’s interior through mature natural forest rich in biodiversity.
The tunnels formed by the luxuriant vegetation allow sight of a wide variety of species including Madeira laurels, bay trees, Madeira mahogany and animal species such as firecrest and finch. We will take lunch at the hotel Quinta do Furão.
Return to VidaMar at approximately 15.00.
Please bring good walking shoes or boots, a warm coat (in case of low temperatures in the mountains) and a bottle of water. Grade: easy; Distance: 7 km; Duration: approx. 3¼ hours.
Option B: Over the Mountains (full day, lunch included)
First stop Monte, a small village on the hills 6km above Funchal where you can see the remains of the almost-forgotten rack-and-pinion railway which used to connect Monte to Funchal, in particular the original base station which still stands at the foot of the hill. Monte is notable for its gardens and older green spaces, some of which are open to the public, and their exotic plants and flowers.
Monte is now linked to Funchal and the Botanical Gardens by cable car. Next we will head to Ribeiro Frio, taking in a 30-minute walk along the levada to the Miradouro dos Balcões, a route lined with beautiful trees, flowers and rock formations ending in a stupendous view of some of Madeira’s highest peaks; along the way you will meet some of the island’s birds, which are used to visitors. You can take the time to enjoy the vegetation and the superb landscapes. We will take lunch at the hotel Quinta do Furão in the Santana area. We return to Funchal via the Guindaste viewpoint, where we will make a brief stop to admire the breathtaking view of the north coast.
Return to VidaMar ≅ 16.15.
Option C: Catamaran (limited availability)
The coach leaves the hotel at 09.30 to take you to the marina. A relaxing trip along the south coast of Madeira, with a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins in all their magnificence and in their natural habitat. (3 hours)
LEVADA WALK
HALF-DAY TOUR OF NORTH-WEST
CATAMARAN ADVENTURE
