This programme lasts 2 days and offers you the opportunity of being in touch with Nature on board an excellent sail boat, and observing the rich marine avifauna of the archipelago of Madeira, the Zino/Fea's Petrel, in particular. On this tour, you will also get a close-up look at Ilhas Desertas and Porto Santo.

The departure from the Quinta do Lorde marina, next to the village of Caniçal, is at the end of the day. We will head for the Desertas, islands that shelter important colonies of seabirds, where about 1000 pairs of Madeiran storm-petrels breed. During the first hours of the voyage, you can take delight in the magnificent landscapes and the fantastic sensation of sailing on the wind, as you look for seabirds.

This crossing is ideal for observing the greater part of the seabirds found in our waters, with particular importance given to the Band-rumped Storm-petrel (Oceanodroma castro), the Little Shearwater (Puffinus assimilis baroli) and Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis).

We will spend the night in the bay at Deserta Grande, where you can go to sleep to the song of the Cory's shearwater and the Madeiran Storm-petrel, who break the silence of the night when they return to their colonies.

On the morning of the following day, before sailing to Porto Santo, the boat will sail around the Desertas on the south side, passing close to Bugio, the only European breeding site of Fea's petrel (Pterodroma feae). The voyage to Porto Santo will take place during the daytime and take about 7 hours, depending on the number and diversity of birds observed, the detours needed to draw close to them, and the meteorological conditions.

The second night will be at the Porto Santo marina and dinner will be served on the boat. Following dinner, we can take the opportunity to go for a walk and learn some of the customs of the island.

On the following morning, before the mooring lines are untied, we will walk along the beach to observe the waders and other water fowl that regularly visit Porto Santo.

We will return to Madeira after lunch, sailing around the north side of Porto Santo, giving us a greater chance of seeing different species of seabirds. The crossing to Madeira will take a little more than 5 hours, with arrival at the marina scheduled for nightfall.

Price per person: 400€

Just twice a year... book now for 2007!