Sugar cane to the rum factory

Sugar cane comes in trucks to the rum factory in Calheta. You can make a visit and try the traditional cake and rum.

Eco tourism & Madeira & Sofia's Place

Balcões in Ribeiro Frio (photo by Turismo de Portugal)

EcoTourism is sustainable tourism, conciliating innovation and tradition.

Sofia's Place owners embrace the principles of sustainable tourism, contributing to the conservation and interpretation of the natural heritage of Madeira's Archipelago. We advise our guests to take outdoor activities as we believe the knowledge of the species and their habitats helps protecting them. The island's unique landscape and natural patrimony deserve all our attention.

Sustainable tourism is tourism attempting to make a low impact on the environment and local culture, while helping to generate future employment for local people. It means ensuring that development brings a positive experience for local people, tourism companies and the tourists themselves.

The goal is to avoid tourism causing a great stress on remaining biologically diverse habitats such as the Laurissilva Forest of Madeira which are often used to support mass tourism.

Tourists who promote sustainable tourism are sensitive to these dangers and seek to protect tourist destinations, and to protect tourism as an industry. Sustainable tourists can reduce the impact of tourism in many ways, including:

- informing themselves of the culture, politics and economy of the communities visited;
- anticipating and respecting local cultures, expectations and assumptions;
- contributing to intercultural understanding and tolerance;
- supporting the integrity of local cultures by favoring businesses which conserve cultural heritage and traditional values;
- supporting local economies by purchasing local goods and participating with small, local businesses;
- conserving resources by seeking out businesses that are environmentally conscious, and by using the least possible amount of non - renewable energies.

UNESCO World Heritage
The world’s largest LAURISSILVA forest is located on the island of Madeira. In 1999 the 15,000 hectare indigenous ‘living relic’ was awarded the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site. It plays an important role in the ecological balance of Madeira thus sustaining the endemic flora and fauna.
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Related info:
NATURE & ADVENTURE in Madeira Islands
MADEIRA NATURE

text adapted from here

Free Internet access

Free USB Wireless broadband Internet access availabe for our guests in Sofia's Place.

Carnival in Madeira 2012

Photo by Teresa Gonçalves (´www.dnoticias.pt)

The picture shows the Carnival parade last Saturday in the streets of Funchal, Madeira islands. (Carnival Program 2012: FRENCH, ENGLISH and GERMAN)

«Traditionally there are two Carnival parades in Madeira. The most important one, the allegoric parade, which takes place always on the Saturday of the Carnival weekend, is the more sophisticated one and needs a great deal of commitment and organisation from all the groups and the people involved. Numerous Samba groups with thousands of participants in magnificent and colourful costumes dance to electrifying Samba music through the streets of Funchal, spreading an ambiance evoking the Carnival of Rio.

The second parade, called ‘trapalhão’, traditionally floods the streets of the city centre with thrilling joy on ‘Mardi gras’ (Tuesday ending the Carnival period). In this parade everybody can take part and the – sometimes quite daring – costumes and depicted caricatures are left to the participants’ own imagination.

Both parades have a defined itinerary in the city centre and end at the Municipal Square where more entertainment with live music and costume competitions is provided.»
http://www.madeira-web.com/

Guest message 21

January 2012

Key words and ideas:

"Fantastic family holiday"; "beautiful island"; "well-equipped house"

January 2012

Key words and ideas:

"We had a beautiful vacation in your home so lovingly decorated"; "We were able to relax, enjoy and spend time in the house"; "We felt good and did lovely walkings"; "Unfortunately time was short"; "We say goodbye until next time"; "Thank you very much for your friendship".

Please, click on the pictures for better reading

Guest message 20

December 2011

Key words & ideas:

"Perfect for resting"; "Sun and hot"; "Surf".

Please, click on for better reading

Guest message 19

October 2011

Key words & ideas:

"Great week of discoveries and pleasures"; "The Island is a little paradise"; "Your home a place of peace and rest".

Please, click on for better reading

Guest message 18

October 2011

Key words & ideas:

"Delicious holiday"; "Generous nature"; "Madeira is a magnificent island"; "Superb villa".

Please, click on for better reading