Palheiro Gardens (Jardines Palheiro) 2023

Having visited Jardim Botanico da Madeira (Madeira Botanical Garden) and Jardim Tropical da Quinta do Monte Palace (Monte Palace Gardens) on our previous visits, we opted to visit Palheiro Gardens this time. 

Although there’s a bus service to get to Palheiro Gardens from Funchal, it’s a convoluted way for us to get to and from our hotel.

We opted not to join a half-day guided tour, either. It was not just the cost of €82 per person but I would prefer to wander around taking photos at my leisure than to follow a guide, listening to the names of plants and flowers and then being moved on. 

Thanks goodness we discovered Bolt Taxi!

I was not surprised that the taxi was at our hotel in 3 minutes. What surprised me was that it arrived to pick us up at the Gatehouse in just 5 minutes, bearing in mind that the Palheiro Gardens are situated about 500 metres above sea level, accessed by narrow steep country roads! As it turned out the cost of taxi and entrance fees for both of us was nearly half of that of a guided tour for 1 person!

Palheiro Gardens

Palheiro Gardens do not have a formal display like Madeira Botanical Garden or the spectacular settings of Monte Palace Gardens, but its charm lies in the natural beauty of its setting in the hills. 

We must have been the first visitors when arrived shortly after the gardens were open at 9.00 as we had the place to ourselves! It was such a joy to wander around the serene surroundings, being delighted in the splendour of nature unfolding itself in front of our eyes

The lush velvety lawns lined with graceful trees …

The labyrinths of paths flanks by trees and shrubs

The Chapel at the edge of the lawns

Archways and steps leading to a more formal garden

The Tea-room

Exotic plants

Palheiro is truly a dream venue for horticulturist and garden lovers with all the exotic plants and trees from all over the world. As a mere admirer of their colours and displays, I was contented to take photos of the plants that interested me and identify them on my phone. I came up with some rather fantastic names! I mean, roast beef plant?!

Hotel Casa Velha do Palheiro

The original house built by the the first count of Carvalhal, founder of the estate in the early 1800’s was converted into a country house hotel, opened in 1997.

Views of the golf course next to the hotel

Ribeiro di Inferno (Brook of Hell)

After our refreshment we headed back towards the entrance via Ribeiro di Inferno. I can’t find out why it is so called but it leads to a fantastic bird’s-eye-view of Funchal …..

…. open fields covered with yellow Bermuda buttercups

Mementos of my Palheiro Gardens visit