A few amphibians and reptiles, exception made to Madeira endemic lizards, are very common in the Funchal gardens. The waters of Madeira are a haven for marine mammals. The most famous is the monk seal, also known as wolffish.
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Fauna and floraThere are no dangerous animals such as snakes, scorpions or spiders on the island so it is possible move freely without concern unless you are scared of heights. However, on Deserta Grande you could, with luck, find the highly poisonous Desertas' Tarantula (Lycosa ingens).
Madeira's fauna is extremely rich, both as regards vertebrates and invertebrates. This biological heritage, where the numerous endemic species of the archipelago stand out, is of great scientific interest, as well as of great importance from the conservation point of view.
There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira.
There are no venomous or dangerous animals on the island. In fact, there are no snakes at all on the island, and the spiders are not venomous. The only venomous spiders are on the Desertas Islands, but not on Madeira. With snakes and spiders out of our way, the only truly dangerous insect for us personally are bees.
Assessment Rationale: The Desertas Islands (Madeira, Portugal) are the sole home of one of the largest and rarest wolf spider species worldwide, Hogna ingens (Blackwall, 1857) (Araneae, Lycosidae).
Calheta Beach is one of the island of Madeira's few yellow sandy beaches. A peaceful swimming experience is guaranteed by two piers, so you can exercise in the sea all year round. Ribeira do Natal Beach enjoys properties that make it one of the best places for swimming. The transparency of its waters is remarkable.
Violent crime involving tourists is extremely rare in Madeira and so you have little to worry about with regard to personal safety. But as with any travel destination, it's important to take basic travel safety precautions such as keeping your valuables close by and/or hidden, especially at night.
Lying over 500 kilometers from the African coast, Madeira – about half the size of Hertfordshire – was simply too far over rough seas for land animals to make the crossing, even haphazardly. The total absence of land mammals allowed the Trocaz pigeon to become the royalty of Madeira.
Dolphins, Whales and Sea LionsThe coastal waters of Madeira Island, are host to at least nine species of dolphins and ten species of migrating cetaceans. These are protected in the 430,000 km2 Madeiran Marine Mammal Sanctuary. The most commun wildlife are dolphins, whales and sea lions.
Oh yes, there are spiders in Madeira and some of them can be quite large. Scary, maybe, but these, too, are completely harmless. The best known is the Hogna maderiana, the Madeira Wolf Spider, sometimes also called the Madeira Tarantula. It is completely harmless, though scary for anyone afraid of spiders.
Bugs (like mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas) can spread a number of diseases in the Madeira Islands. Many of these diseases cannot be prevented with a vaccine or medicine. You can reduce your risk by taking steps to prevent bug bites.
Just 5km (3 mi) off the coast of the island, the ocean depths can reach more than 3,000m (9,850ft) making Madeira's surrounding waters ideal for whales, dolphins, and a multitude of other marine species to swim through.
The average standard of living tends to be a bit lower than in mainland Portugal, and the local autonomous government gives generous subsidies coming from the tourist industry revenues and from the Portuguese national budget. Go where the locals go and everything will be cheap.
Funchal is usually a very safe city. However, as in any other places you go, common sense is required. Probably the unsafest place to go in Funchal is Zona Velha (near the cable car) at night, because it usually gets very crowded because of the nightlife.
ELECTRICITY AND WATERThe electric current in the archipelago is 220 volts. There is plenty of water in Madeira and it is all drinkable and of excellent quality.
Water: There is plenty of water of an excellent drinking standard. The tap water in Madeira conforms with all EU regulations and it is safe to drink. The water is treated with Chlorine and therefore may taste a little different.
On March 4th, 1930, a sector of the Cape Girão cliff, located in the southern shore of Madeira Island, collapsed into the sea and generated an 8 m tsunami wave height.
In Madeira, there are three types of fundamental rodent species, namely rats, roof rats and mice. The rat is considered an urban pest; however, it is part of the larger urban pests and peculiar habits, with more aggressive tendencies and a propensity to bite and scratch humans, which could result in infections.
Most are small to medium-sized. The largest, Hogna ingens, found only on Deserta Grande in the Madeira Islands, has a body about 2.5 cm (1 inch) long and legs about the same length. Most wolf spiders are dark brown.