The rich and exuberant scenery of Madeira is one of the main tourist attractions. It is almost impossible not to be impressed by the beauty of the vegetation.

The Laurisilva is Madeira rare indigenous forest, which is of great scientific importance, although it’s true value has not yet been fully quantified. The Madeiran Laurisilva was granted UNESCO World Heritage status on the 2nd December 1999.

The Laurisilva forest is a relic of the Tertiary Period, when it extended across vast areas of Europe. The most recent glaciations wiped out most Laurisilva forest from continental Europe. The present day distribution of Laurisilva forest is limited to the biogeographic region Macaronesia comprising Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. Madeira possesses the largest and most well conserved area of Laurisilva forest, covering approximately 22% of the islands total area.

The Laurisilva forest lies between 300 and 1300 metres altitude, principally on the North coast of the island and has an important role in preventing soil erosion and intercepting rainwater, which is vital for the islands water resources.

The laurisilva forest is extremely biodiverse, comprising mainly arboreal and perennial shrubs with dark green coloured leaves associated with a complex community of trees, bushes, ferns, mosses, lichens, mushrooms and fungi that thrive in damp conditions where water is abundant and the sub tropical climate results in high humidity levels and a relatively high average temperature.

The name “Laurisilva” derives from the fact that four Lauraceous species predominate: Barbusano (Apollonias barbujana), Til (Ocotea foetens), Loureiro (Laurus azorica) and Vinhático (Persea indica). However, other notable species are Aderno (Heberdenia excelsa), the Mocanos (Visnea mocanera and Pittosporum coriaceum), Pau Branco (Picconia excelsa) and Sanguinho (Rhamnus glandulosa). Associated with these are large bushes such as Folhado (Clethra arborea) and Perado (Ilex perado). Important herbaceous plants are Leitugas (Sonchus sp), the geraniums (Geranium maderense, G. palmatum and G. rubescens), the Estreleiras (Argyranthemum sp) and some small orchid such as the extremely rare Madeiran endemic Goodyera macrophylla.

Important bird species associated with the Laurisilva are the Buzzard (Buteo buteo harterti), o Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus canariensis), the Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs madeirensis), the Madeiran Laurel Pigen (Columba trocaz) and the Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus madeirensis).