My first trip to Madeira's Laurisilva Forest

GI was really excited to return to Casa da Capelinha and the lovely Ponta Delgada in February 2016, especially as the flights and car hire were over 50% cheaper than in July last year. I had watched a documentary about the unique nature of the Laurisilva Forest by the BBC in January and so was determined to experience it for myself this time.

I was surprised it was so close when I Googled the directions, only a 19 minute drive along the coast and up the Sao Vicente valley, so I got my boots on and jumped into the car. As I drove, the surf pounding the coast was amazing and of course there was hardly any traffic so it was a very easy drive with no delays and the only sign of life was a few farmers tending their vines.

I had decided to do the Vereda do Chao do Louros as it seemed a nice circular route. I was soon lost in the rare remnant of Europe's primeval forest from before the last ice age and as I was now out of the wind, breathed in the fresh and fragrant air.

There were many birds flitting between the branches and as the sun came out, I could hear them chirping to each other softly. They moved so fast and were really small but I managed to get a picture of one of them. Unfortunately, I am not a bird watcher so am unable to tell you what kind they were, although they were very cute.

There were many sights of trees, bushes and even fungi that I had never seen before and it was a bit like walking through a tunnel with light dappling through the leaves onto the ground. As I was walking downhill, it was a very pleasant experience and within 30 minutes I reached the main road and the main car park






​Eventually I made it to the Empty picnic area, and found the bridge and the right fork to go in the right direction. I left the path to photograph some interesting stones and nearly lost the way again. All I could hear was the sound of the birds, the wind and bubbling streams.

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