A UNESCO laurel forest, the bird-of-paradise flower, a lizard found nowhere else, and whales offshore.
The laurisilva is a kind of forest that once covered southern Europe and survives today mainly on the Atlantic islands. Madeira has the largest area of it left, and it is what keeps the levadas running: the trees comb water out of the fog.
The strelitzia, or bird of paradise, came from South Africa and took to the island so well that it became its emblem. You will also see dragon trees, and the blue spikes of pride of Madeira along the roads in spring.
The small lizard on every sunny wall is the Madeiran wall lizard, native to these islands. Offshore, dolphins and whales are seen all year round, and loggerhead turtles drift past in summer.
A tipStrelitzia, lizard and turtle are three of the designs visitors take home most often. Bring your own photograph and we draw from it.
- LaurisilvaUNESCO World Heritage since 1999
- Island flowerstrelitzia, the bird of paradise
- Snakesnone
At the end of the route, in Funchal, four artists draw whatever you bring back from the island: a place, a flower, a word, a set of coordinates.
Strelitzia, in colour
The flower of the island, with its name underneath.
Turtle and hibiscus
Seen from the boat, kept for good.