"To talk of Madeira is to talk of Nature. God’s Botanical Garden, Pearl of the Atlantic, or Garden of Eden, as many have called it, are some of the terms that define this island, abundant with exotica flora, lush with species brought from every corner of the world by navigators, botanists and visitors.
Delight at the wonders Madeira has to offer, and explore firsthand one of Portugal’s greatest treasures, classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Natural Site.
Considered a relic of the subtropical forest, that existed in the Tertiary Period in southern Europe and the Mediterranean basin, the Madeira Laurissilva Forest is currently the largest and most well conserved area of Laurissilva in the world.
Spreading over approximately 15,000 hectares, mostly on the island’s north coast, it is made up of flat leaf shrubs and trees, ferns, mosses, lichens, liverwarts and other small plants, with endeless endemisms. Go for a walk along the mountain trails and admire the levadas (water canals), a unique engineering feat almost 600 years old, that spread 2,150km across the island. Or follow one of the walks along the mountain trails that will take you from the sea to the island’s highest peaks, and soak up breathtaking views of unique natural beauty".

Source: http://issuu.com/apmadeirapt