When looking for places to stay on my trip to Portugal’s subtropical island of Madeira (the main island, not Porto Santo), I was pleased to see so many hotels with green certificates, which showed the island’s efforts in sustainability.
I ended up not staying at a hotel this time because we wanted the freedom to cook, so we rented a spacious one-bedroom apartment (called “Villa Machico Valley Flat 2”) in a low-tourist zone (Machico) with gorgeous views of Madeira’s hills. It’s locally owned, so it was still a sustainable choice.
But on my next trip, I will likely choose from this list of the best eco hotels in Madeira.
Casa Velha do Palheiro is a historical, renovated chateau close to Funchal, surrounded by the beautiful and renowned Palheiro gardens. Its nature estate is the best spot to relax and recover from all the hiking you might be doing in Madeira, such as the popular Pico do Areeiro hike.
The hotel has a spa, two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), on-site restaurants, a tennis court, a spa, a fitness room, a game room, and a meeting room.
With its Green Key (GK) certification, Casa Velha do Palheiro made a commitment to reduce energy consumption, minimise waste (including water waste) and recycle, use environmentally-safe cleaning products, offset their carbon footprint, ensure fair labour and workplace safety, support the local community, and promote ethical tourism.
Sé Boutique Hotel is the ideal luxury hotel if you want to be based in the historic centre of Funchal and explore easily on foot. This quaint hotel also offers amenities like massages, a small indoor pool, and a terrace bar.
Sé Boutique Hotel is Green Key certified.
Bio Quinta do Pantano is where you should stay if you’re looking for a simple nature retreat. Located in Santo António da Serra, the quinta has only 4 accommodations. They are self-catering options with kitchenettes, and two of the houses can accommodate 5 and 8 guests, respectively. There’s a common barbecue area, sun loungers, and a dining table in the garden.
It’s pet-friendly and has various amenities and activities nearby, including a market, levadas (walking trails alongside traditional irrigation systems), a golf course, horse riding, and a tennis court.
The quinta produces its own fruits and vegetables, and practices organic farming.
The Pestana Group is a Portuguese hotel chain, with its headquarters actually based in Funchal, Madeira’s capital, and they have some of the best hotels in Madeira, especially in terms of luxury and sustainability. The Pousada Hotels are also under Pestana management, so you can choose from any of the Pousada hotels as well.
Many of the Pestana Hotels in Madeira are by the ocean, but keep in mind that Madeira’s beaches are not the soft, sandy, turquoise lagoons one might expect from a subtropical island.
In fact, most people come for nature adventures rather than Madeira’s beaches, and hiking is one of the top things to do in Madeira, though you can also, of course, enjoy the beach and water activities like surfing. Just for me personally, I’m not a fan of Madeira’s beaches, but then again, I have unfairly high beach standards because I grew up in Mauritius.
A large family-friendly hotel with direct sea access, 4 swimming pools (including a heated indoor one and a children’s pool), a library, mini golf, and a diving center.
A quaint hotel overlooking the Câmara de Lobos bay, it was apparently named after Churchill because he liked the views. Just a few minutes away from Funchal, the Churchill Bay hotel has a panoramic rooftop infinity pool, a sauna, a restaurant, and a bar
A 4* hotel just a 15-minute walk from Funchal city centre, this is the place to be if you’re looking for an active and calming retreat, with activities like yoga, aqua gym, traditional music, workshops, etc.
The private gardens around this 5* hotel offer peace and tranquility, while its infinity pools, spa, gym, library, and live music offer a mix of relaxation and fun. It shares its pool with Pestana Casino Studios, which are minimalist and self-catering studios just a few minutes walk away.
This prestigious 5* hotel has direct access to the famous waterfront Lido Promenade and comes with two pools, a gym, a sauna, a massage service, a game room, a library, and regular entertainment events.
With direct access to the sea, plus an outdoor gym, a sauna, a hammam, a restaurant, a pool bar, a library, a garden, a massage service, and views of the Desertas Islands, this hotel is an exclusive experience in an old, renovated chalet.
Home to one of the largest swimming pools in Madeira, this hotel has direct access to the promenade and is a 2-minute walk from the beach. It also has a gym, 2 swimming pools, and a massage service
Right by the popular beach Praia Formosa, Pestana Royal is a family-friendly hotel with outdoor pools (including a pool area for kids), an indoor heated pool, a spa, minigolf, a massage service, a tennis court, and daily entertainment.
With giant swimming pools, a dive centre, a spa, a gym, a jacuzzi, gardens, a game room, a business centre, a hairdressing salon, and direct access to the sea, this hotel has everything for everyone, including couples, families with kids, and business travellers.
Located in the north of the island, with views of the centuries-old Laurissilva Forest and the ocean, this boutique hotel is set in nature, surrounded by the largest rose garden in Portugal. It has a pool and game rooms, and its 18 villas are perfect for families and couples.
Despite being in the historic city centre (so this could technically go under Pestana Hotels in the city section below), this hotel is surrounded by banana plantations and the sea, and deserves to be under the nature section. With its panoramic views of the city and sea from the pool, this boutique hotel has a library, a few lounge areas, and is the ideal spot to relax and enjoy nature while also being in the midst of city life.
This boutique hotel is within walking distance of Funchal and has a library, beautiful gardens, a gym, a sauna, a hammam, and swimming pools. It’s a peaceful retreat while being close to the action, and the best part is you can also access the amenities like the pools at the nearby Pestana Village and Pestana Miramar.
A modern hotel created in collaboration with Cristinato Ronaldo (one of the world’s best football players), who was born in Funchal, this hotel is located in the city centre and has a distinctive pink pool. With its outdoor gym, sauna, jacuzzi, and views of the marina, this is the best place for those who want to stay in the city.
Despite its location in the capital city, Pestana Village Garden Hotel is surrounded by greenery and nature. It’s perfect for families with small children, and has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and a hammam, a gym, and a massage service.
The Pestana group hotels have the Green Key certification, and their sustainably program is called Planet Guest. It focuses on the environment, society, and corporate ethics, and this means supporting local and vulnerable communities, being involved in various charities, and preserving local heritage, while also ensuring their staff are fairly compensated and have a safe working environment.
If you’re renting a car, the location of your accommodation does not matter because Madeira is a small island, and it takes about 1-2 hours to drive around the whole island.
However, I have personally enjoyed staying in less crowded, less touristic zones like Machico. Porto Moniz is also a great option, as well as the west coast of Madeira.
From the list above: Pestana Quinta Do Arco, Pestana Quinta Perestrello, Pestana Village, Casa Velha do Palheiro.
From the list above: Pestana Carlton Madeira, Pestana Casino Park, Pestana Grand, Pestana Royal, Pestana Fisherman Village, Pestana Casino Studios, Pestana Madeira Beach Club, and Pestana Village.
