Two options were available for activities, so people chose the one interested them the most. One group went to the highest point on the island that's accessible by vehicle. There they had magnificent views all around, and especially down into some of the steeply cut valleys. Later the group walked one of the levada trails, where there is some of the native laurel forest. They had a delicious lunch at a small local cafe.
The second group visited the Botanical Garden and saw some of the lovely plantings of shrubs and flowers. Then they visited a handicraft shop, and had lunch at a very nice restaurant. Back in Funchal, this group also visited one of the most famous wine lodges in Madeira.
Late in the afternoon the ship pulled away from the dock. Only 30 minutes from the dock a group of short-finned pilot whales and bottlenosed dolphins was spotted, and the Captain got the ship within a short distance of the animals. As the day finished, we cruised slowly along the western side of the amazing volcanic rock cliffs of the Desertas Islands.
