One of the few government bonded and licensed travel agents operating tours in Madeira, Lido Tours have an excellent track record for safe and responsible touring on the Portuguese island of Madeira.  With a team of government-approved guides and drivers staffing the company, visitors can be sure of their aptitude for leading excursions and their commitment to delivering a high standard of service and quality.  Most tours are conducted from one of the company’s fleet of luxurious minibuses and coaches, which are modern, fresh and fully air-conditioned for the comfort of guests.
 
Exploring Funchal
 
Many of Lido Tours’ excursions are based in and around its base in Madeira’s capital city of Funchal, which is also the island’s largest settlement and cultural centre.  The Funchal Sightseeing Tour is a perfect excursion for those new to the island, allowing them to immerse themselves into its unique culture at their own pace.  Conducted from an open-topped tour bus that follows two different itineraries throughout this urban area of the island, passengers are free to alight from the bus at any point to explore the various points of interest throughout the city.  City attractions include the Jardim de São Francisco (Garden of Saint Francis) with its spectacular surrounding park and the Chapel of Santa Catarina, a small piece of colonial history dating back to the 15^th Century.
 
The company’s Madeira by Night tour is a fantastic way for visitors to get a vibrant sample of the island’s nightlife, which is steeped in Portuguese style and tradition.  Beginning in the early evening, travellers can enjoy authentic local food, drink and entertainment courtesy of Lido Tours.  Bailinho da Madeira is the local form of entertainment, with artists dressed in cultural attire and combining singing, dancing and music with ecstatic fervour.  Following this, the touring party enjoy the delicious local cuisine and are entertained by fado music, a dramatic, expressive and beautiful genre of Portuguese-language music dating back to the early 19^th Century.  The tour concludes with a trip to a hill that overlooks Funchal, giving visitors a breath-taking panoramic view of the city lights and ocean vista below.
 
Boat Tours
 
In addition to their tours exploring the urban areas of Madeira, Lido Tours also offer excursions that take visitors much further afield.  Along with the main island of Madeira, this Portuguese territory includes the island of Porto Santo, a smaller body of land located to the north-east.  Lido Tours work in association with the Porto Santo Line cruise ship to offer short cruises to Madeira’s beautiful sister island, which boasts remarkable beaches and a secluded, unspoiled atmosphere.  The island also has an intriguing history, with its capital city Vila Baleira once having been home to the great explorer Christopher Columbus.  The cruise liner itself is also an excellent place for travellers to relax and enjoy themselves, with an extensive range of facilities on board including a cinema, games room and a number of restaurants and bars.
 
Sunset cruises around the two islands are also very popular boat tour options, giving a new perspective on this bountiful volcanic region of the Atlantic Ocean.  The island of Madeira is famed for its fireworks displays, particularly those organised for the Atlantic Festival held each year in the month of June, and for those at the New Year’s celebration, which is officially accredited by Guinness World Records as the largest fireworks display in the world.  For travellers who are visiting Madeira on one of these festive occasions, boat excursions are an unparalleled way to enjoy a panoramic view of this magical spectacle.  A few miles out to shore, there’s nothing to block the view of the intense starlight and vibrant cascades of sparks.
 
Website:             www.lido-tours.com
Email:                 geral@lido-tours.com
Telephone:          +351 291 635 505

Share this article: