Ribeira Brava is a small town lying west of Funchal on the south coast of Madeira. As with all Madeira resorts Ribeira Brava is surrounded by verdant terraced hills with the sparkling waters of the Atlantic at its feet. Madeira has enormous beauty but it has a paucity of beaches. Ribeira Brava did not have a beach to attract holidaymakers so it made one. It is dark grey but nevertheless it is a beach. The water is protected from surging waves by a manmade breakwater providing safe bathing. Accommodation is mainly in small family run hotels and guest houses or in private villas and apartments. A Ribeira Brava holiday offers a relaxing break by the sea warmed not only by the sun but by the friendly welcome of its people.
Ribeira Brava offers year round sunshine with no extremes of temperature in beautiful surroundings. It is one of the few places on the island with a beach. It is a pleasant resort offering a range of leisure pursuits.
A Ribeira Brava holiday appeals to families with young children as well as couples of all ages. Water sports enthusiasts have a range of activities from which to choose and there is a course in the area for golfers.
Ribeira Brava is a year round holiday destination with no extremes of temperature. The summers are pleasantly hot with temperatures lying in the mid-twenties and in the winter they are only slightly lower.
Ribeira Brava lies on the south west coast of Madeira, forty-five kilometres from the airport. Madeira is a beautiful island with many charming towns and villages and Ribeira Brava is no exception. It is a relaxing seaside resort where there has been a large amount of tourist investment. Much has been spent on creating a manmade beach with a breakwater to protect it from the Atlantic waves. There is also a children’s swimming pool and a promenade with small restaurants offering daylong refreshments. The summer sun in Madeira appeals to parent,s as it is kinder to the sensitive skins of children than the fiercer rays of southern Europe. Ribeira Brava is a relaxed and friendly resort where most accommodation is small and independently owned offering good personal service. Its restaurants provide a diverse cuisine and cater for most tastes. Ribeira has a good range of shops, possibly the best after the capital. Many of them are on a quaint, small scale and need to be discovered in narrow streets and alleyways.
Ribeira Brava offers a range of water sports including deep sea fishing and sailing. The waters are ideal for scuba diving and snorkelling. On land there is a golf course in the vicinity as well as tennis courts and the opportunity for horse riding. The levadas provide excellent walking trails with a selection that covers most fitness levels. The views from the hills are truly stunning.
A Ribeira Brava holiday offers peaceful relaxation with a guarantee of warm sunshine, nature at its most beautiful and a range of leisure pursuits.
Nightlife in Madeira is fairly low key and Ribeira Brava is no exception. Although there are bars and restaurants where visitors can spend a very pleasant evening, there are no all-night party venues.
Ribeira Brava has a very good selection of small shops where you can certainly find essential provisions as well as gifts and souvenirs. It greater variety is desired, Funchal is only a short ride to the east. Here you will find an amazing number of high quality shops and boutiques. The San Quiteria centre has over eighty retailers as well as entertainment for the family and a large number of restaurants. Popular gifts include beautifully embroidered linens, as well as leather goods, jewellery, ceramics and wooden carvings.
As you would expect of an island in the Atlantic, Madeira cuisine relies heavily on fish and there is a large variety from which to choose. Ribeira Brava has a number of good restaurants catering for most tastes. Eating out is fairly inexpensive and local wines are good value. Have a ‘nikita’ while you are in Madeira. It is a combination of beer, ice-cream and pineapple which, though it may not immediately appeal, is really rather tasty. Children are always made welcome in restaurants and their tastes and portion sizes are usually accommodated.
