Respect the Island, Love the Island, A Little Note from Madeira (and Me)

Fanal

Let’s talk about something important, and no, it’s not where to find the best poncha (though I’ve got opinions on that too, next post!). It’s about how to experience Madeira, respectfully, responsibly, and with a little heart.

Because here’s the truth: Madeira isn’t just another pretty backdrop for your next Instagram post. It’s alive. It’s wild. It’s full of places like Fanal, a misty, otherworldly forest straight out of a fairytale, and guess what? That magic only stays magical if we take care of it.

So here’s the deal, traveller to traveller, island lover to island lover: if you’re lucky enough to explore Madeira, treat it like the treasure it is.

Don’t Be That Tourist

You know the one, hiking off the path “just for a photo,” picking wildflowers, or, my personal favourite, flying drones over peaceful cows in Fanal like it’s a Netflix special. Don’t do that. Stay on the trails, leave no trace, and if you find yourself thinking, “I probably shouldn’t…” you’re right. You shouldn’t.

Madeira’s beauty isn’t built for crowds trampling moss or used toilet paper blowing through levadas and trails. It’s built for quiet awe, for deep breaths, for feeling small in the best possible way.

Support Local, Always

Here’s the good news: being a responsible tourist here isn’t boring, it’s delicious. Eat at the family-run places, buy fruits from the little market ladies, and stay in locally owned properties, the kind I love to support and help share with the world. Every euro you spend thoughtfully helps preserve what makes Madeira so special, its people, its traditions, and that warm, genuine hospitality you won’t find anywhere else.

The Secret Ingredient: Respect

You see, Madeirans love this island fiercely, it’s in their blood. My husband is Madeiran, and let me tell you, no one takes it personally quite like a Madeiran when someone leaves rubbish on a trail. It’s not just the land, it’s home, heritage, and pride.

And honestly, that’s what I love most about this place. The people care, really care, and that’s why we all get to enjoy the magic. So when you visit, care too. Slow down. Look up. Listen. Take the photo, but also take a moment.

Let’s Keep Madeira, Madeira

Fanal doesn’t need filters. The levadas don’t need shortcuts. And the island doesn’t need thousands of careless footprints to know it’s beautiful. What it needs is conscious travellers, the kind who know that luxury isn’t excess, it’s appreciation.

So come. Explore. Fall in love with Madeira’s cliffs, its forests, its food, and its people. But leave it as wild, as wonderful, and as full of soul as you found it.

Because once you’ve seen this island properly, you’ll want to keep it just the way it is.

Kellie xoxo