Madeira looks like an absolute paradise! 🌴 The Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo hike is definitely on my bucket list now. Thanks for sharing all these awesome tips and experiences - it’s clear why Madeira is called the ‘Hawaii of Europe.’ Can’t wait to explore this hidden gem myself!
I just love your videos !! I love the contents, the way you present, Ana’s smooth voice when narrating them, Ian’s great energy (although I miss the outro), just love you guys! Keep them coming.
We really enjoyed this summary, you guys! I just wanted to say that I'm so happy that you showed some great hikes. Madeira is definitely now on our list. :)
Hi American here; I agree!!!! Madeira deserves its own recognition. Yes, it is an island but it is much different than Hawaii. It does not feel like Hawaii at all. Madeiran people are super cool and very kind! Funchal gives you old-world vibes. Food is delicious and perfected over hundreds of years. No hate to Hawaii, I love to travel there yearly, but Madeira is another level.
I don’t think they intended it as an insult to degrade Madeira. They were probably trying to make the beauty of the island relatable to their American audience who may be more familiar with Hawaii. Each is awesome in its own unique way though of course.
Hello! I read in one of your replies to another video that you have shipped back your van to US, and that you are buying (or have bought) a house in Florida. First of all, congratulations for the new house! Second, when you first started your vanlife in Europe series, you said that you were planning to drive around Europe for the next few years. May I respectfully ask what made you decide to change your mind? I am just asking because I have been dreaming of doing vanlife all over Europe, and I am just wondering what were the factors that made you change your original plan and cut your European vanlife short? Thank you.
Ahhh well thanks so much! Well we officially did Van life in Europe for more than 13 months before deciding to ship it back. The biggest reason we shipped it back is because Ana & I have been on the road on/off over the last 5 years and it was officially time to settle into a home base. 2nd reason was the bad weather throughout Europe. It was one of the rainiest years on record for parts of Europe and our luck was pretty bad. In a lot of our videos you see good weather, but that’s after days of sitting in a Van in the rain with 3 cats haha! I will say we didn’t get the cats until 8 months into our van life journey but being in bad weather with cats was not ideal. We tried to head to the best weather spots like Spain and Portugal but somehow we got unlucky there too. It seems like there is nowhere in Europe like Texas, south California, Florida, where it stays a consistent temperature year round as an escape place to head in Van life. All in all it was one of the most epic adventures we have ever been on and even if you are only doing a 6 month trip, we highly recommend shipping over the van. I think our life is a little more complicated because we are filming every day and then trying to work on top of that! I hope you have an amazing time if you decide to do it 🤗🩷
Great video❤❤ thank you for it! I just have a question, are drones allowed everywhere you took the videos like the first hike and the beach? Or should I get a special permit for it? Thank you🤩
Secret? Madeira is extremely overrun and and pretty popular in general, especially in the hiking community. In no way it can be described as a "secret". Aside from that, great video.
Yes you will def need layers! You are going high up in elevation for the Pico hike so it gets really windy and cold in the mornings. I have heard if you go midday you will get really hot on this hike but mornings will always be a little chilly
First of all, it depends on who you consider a “local” in Hawai’i. A large majority of people that can’t afford to live in Hawai’i i.e. homeless are not “local”, they’re all a bunch of transplants that us real locals wish they’d all be shipped back to where they came from. BTW, there isn’t one single person in my town that lives in a car. Know before you speak!
I’m gonna be honest, this island already has mass tourism. Cruise ships stop here everyday. I think the local government should put restrictions on cruise ships and the amount of tourists that come here on flights. TH-cam is not a viral platform like Instagram & TikTok. Most people that find this video are searching on TH-cam for it so they are already on the planning stages of trip. This island also runs on tourism so we always help locals generate more business by promoting theirs tours. Yes it’s a fragile island but all the spots we shared are highly traveled spots and not any type of hidden gems. There is so much secret on this island and we made sure to not share those spots! We love this island so much and don’t want any harm done but we didn’t make this island packed with tourists, it sadly has been for awhile
Tourism is slowly killing the island, the salary is not high enough for people in madeira to afford housing, and due to the heavy amount of tourism and outside immigrants, the prices of houses increased around 90.000€ in just 2024, there is a drug problem where addicts lurk around funchal and its getting to the other areas in the south area of the island, crime has gotten worse, and ilegal immigrants are flooding the island, forcing their ideals and religion, harassing women, and living in deplorable conditions, Sure the island lives off tourism, but there is too much, there have been tons of videos of tourists disrespecting rules and walking in trails even if its not allowed, there are also videos of polution in tourism spots, areas such as ribeiro frio, before had animals walking in the roads, now, everyday that place is filled with cars and there is no animal in sight. Madeira might be a paradise for many tourists, but for many inhabitants, its becoming horribly bad, there are already places like restaurants that refuse to speak portuguese, and it feels like the island is slowly losing its identity, the fact that its always gettong prizes for top best places for vacation promotes the island for more people, which means more tourism, and unwated attention from ilegal immigrants, both things that in big quantity are slowly killing the island.
👇🏻 Best Madeira Tours & Experiences:
🚙 *Jeep Tour to Fanal Forest & Porto Moniz Pools:* 2ly.link/1zIby
🌄 *Pico Roundtrip Sunrise Transfer - from Funchal:* 2ly.link/1zIc2
🚗 *Achada do Teixeira One-Way Transfer Back to Car:* 2ly.link/1zIc4
🧗♂ *Canyoneering Adventure - Level 2:* 2ly.link/1zIc7
🍷 *Food & Wine Tour:* 2ly.link/1zIc8
🐬 *Dolphin & Whale Watching Cruise:* 2ly.link/1zIcA
I’m so happy for the vlog style😍 I missed these kind of videos so much💕
Absolutely loved this vlog. Omg, so perfect ❤😂
Madeira looks like an absolute paradise! 🌴 The Pico do Areeiro to Pico Ruivo hike is definitely on my bucket list now. Thanks for sharing all these awesome tips and experiences - it’s clear why Madeira is called the ‘Hawaii of Europe.’ Can’t wait to explore this hidden gem myself!
Wow… what a beautiful sunrise…..🌅
I just love your videos !! I love the contents, the way you present, Ana’s smooth voice when narrating them, Ian’s great energy (although I miss the outro), just love you guys! Keep them coming.
We really enjoyed this summary, you guys! I just wanted to say that I'm so happy that you showed some great hikes. Madeira is definitely now on our list. :)
Lucky you to be able to experience the hiking trails before everything burned down.
Wow 😲 very nice place thank you for sharing this video i like it ❤️👉❤️
Wow... what an adventure... Ian & Ana... it looks sooooo cool!! ~ Gary in Michigan.
Very cool dynamic soundtrack well suited to the content presented :)
for some reason i thought you guys have been to sao miguel, azores but couldn't find the video. if not it's a must!
❤yay! Been looking forward to this one!
Ahhh so happy we finally got it out for you!!! By far one of our favorite places on this planet 🥹😍
Madeira is Madeira, not Hawaii.... Madeira is the Pearl of Atlantic.
Listening & Understanding is important, he said the Hawaii of Europe. Take your pathetic anger elsewhere. You seem miserable & sad.
I agree. So do Madeirans. 👍
Typical Americans...
Hi American here; I agree!!!! Madeira deserves its own recognition. Yes, it is an island but it is much different than Hawaii. It does not feel like Hawaii at all. Madeiran people are super cool and very kind! Funchal gives you old-world vibes. Food is delicious and perfected over hundreds of years. No hate to Hawaii, I love to travel there yearly, but Madeira is another level.
I don’t think they intended it as an insult to degrade Madeira. They were probably trying to make the beauty of the island relatable to their American audience who may be more familiar with Hawaii. Each is awesome in its own unique way though of course.
I always though Hawaii was the Madeira of America.
Magnifique merci...
Another great video 🩵 congratulations on being an uncle and aunt 💕
Awww thanks so much!! So happy you enjoyed this one 🤗
Nächstes jahr muss ich da auch mal hin😮
Hello! I read in one of your replies to another video that you have shipped back your van to US, and that you are buying (or have bought) a house in Florida. First of all, congratulations for the new house! Second, when you first started your vanlife in Europe series, you said that you were planning to drive around Europe for the next few years. May I respectfully ask what made you decide to change your mind? I am just asking because I have been dreaming of doing vanlife all over Europe, and I am just wondering what were the factors that made you change your original plan and cut your European vanlife short? Thank you.
Ahhh well thanks so much! Well we officially did Van life in Europe for more than 13 months before deciding to ship it back. The biggest reason we shipped it back is because Ana & I have been on the road on/off over the last 5 years and it was officially time to settle into a home base. 2nd reason was the bad weather throughout Europe. It was one of the rainiest years on record for parts of Europe and our luck was pretty bad. In a lot of our videos you see good weather, but that’s after days of sitting in a Van in the rain with 3 cats haha! I will say we didn’t get the cats until 8 months into our van life journey but being in bad weather with cats was not ideal. We tried to head to the best weather spots like Spain and Portugal but somehow we got unlucky there too. It seems like there is nowhere in Europe like Texas, south California, Florida, where it stays a consistent temperature year round as an escape place to head in Van life. All in all it was one of the most epic adventures we have ever been on and even if you are only doing a 6 month trip, we highly recommend shipping over the van. I think our life is a little more complicated because we are filming every day and then trying to work on top of that! I hope you have an amazing time if you decide to do it 🤗🩷
Loved the video! Sorry if I missed it, what time of the year did you go in? How many days do you recommend?
Great video❤❤ thank you for it!
I just have a question, are drones allowed everywhere you took the videos like the first hike and the beach? Or should I get a special permit for it? Thank you🤩
Thanks!
WOW thanks so much for the tip!! We love making these videos for you ❤️
Ana reminds me of meadow from the sopranos
Omg she gets that all the time haha!
Secret? Madeira is extremely overrun and and pretty popular in general, especially in the hiking community. In no way it can be described as a "secret". Aside from that, great video.
Most Americans have only heard of Madeira from the Cheesecake Factory menu. In that regard, it’s very much still a secret.
You are mistaken,,, The Hawai of Europe is NOT Madeira...It is AZORES the portuguese islands in the middle of the atlantic...
Did you need this many layers in August? Planning on going in October
Yes you will def need layers! You are going high up in elevation for the Pico hike so it gets really windy and cold in the mornings. I have heard if you go midday you will get really hot on this hike but mornings will always be a little chilly
Have so much fun!!
❤❤❤❤
22:42 you wouldn't recommend waterproof clothing then lol?
❤
It´s burning atm 😔
In Hawaii a lot of the locals now live in their cars, they can not afford to buy a house and Madeira locals are going the same way.
First of all, it depends on who you consider a “local” in Hawai’i. A large majority of people that can’t afford to live in Hawai’i i.e. homeless are not “local”, they’re all a bunch of transplants that us real locals wish they’d all be shipped back to where they came from. BTW, there isn’t one single person in my town that lives in a car. Know before you speak!
Anna shoulda wore different pants from Switzerland
Hawaii is very un welcoming place to tourist anyways.
Like Number 42 🌹
14-08-2024
It’s not secret anymore
You shouldn’t promote everywhere. Do research. Fragile place. You’re aware places are already changed a lot. This place is last haven. Don’t promote
I’m gonna be honest, this island already has mass tourism. Cruise ships stop here everyday. I think the local government should put restrictions on cruise ships and the amount of tourists that come here on flights. TH-cam is not a viral platform like Instagram & TikTok. Most people that find this video are searching on TH-cam for it so they are already on the planning stages of trip. This island also runs on tourism so we always help locals generate more business by promoting theirs tours. Yes it’s a fragile island but all the spots we shared are highly traveled spots and not any type of hidden gems. There is so much secret on this island and we made sure to not share those spots! We love this island so much and don’t want any harm done but we didn’t make this island packed with tourists, it sadly has been for awhile
Visit azores
Tourism is slowly killing the island, the salary is not high enough for people in madeira to afford housing, and due to the heavy amount of tourism and outside immigrants, the prices of houses increased around 90.000€ in just 2024, there is a drug problem where addicts lurk around funchal and its getting to the other areas in the south area of the island, crime has gotten worse, and ilegal immigrants are flooding the island, forcing their ideals and religion, harassing women, and living in deplorable conditions, Sure the island lives off tourism, but there is too much, there have been tons of videos of tourists disrespecting rules and walking in trails even if its not allowed, there are also videos of polution in tourism spots, areas such as ribeiro frio, before had animals walking in the roads, now, everyday that place is filled with cars and there is no animal in sight.
Madeira might be a paradise for many tourists, but for many inhabitants, its becoming horribly bad, there are already places like restaurants that refuse to speak portuguese, and it feels like the island is slowly losing its identity, the fact that its always gettong prizes for top best places for vacation promotes the island for more people, which means more tourism, and unwated attention from ilegal immigrants, both things that in big quantity are slowly killing the island.