Astro Photo Tour in Madeira

Since I was a child, I have looked up at the night sky, wondering what kind of unknown worlds lay out there. I asked myself a lot of questions at that time: why are we separated by such a big empty space from other worlds, why is the universe so big, will we meet other species in space one day? My curiosity about space turned into capturing it with my digital equipment. Astrophotography has been my true passion for almost two decades. I have been living in Madeira since 2015 and have found many interesting places in terms of astrophotography. I invite you to join me on my astro photo tour in Madeira.

Preparation for the astro photo tour in Madeira

Nowadays, it is much easier to take into account all the preparation details than it was 10-15 years ago. I started my astrophotography journey by searching for good spots on a paper map of my region, looking for curvy rivers and hills nearby or a clearing in the middle of the forest. Then, I checked the weather forecast for the upcoming night.

Today, I open an app on my phone with a detailed 3d map projection, literally travelling to new spots sitting on a couch. In a second, I can check stars and Milky Way position already aligned on the given spot. Regarding a weather forecast, it is still a mess, but a few observations and some experience may help you a lot with planning a great night astro photo session in Madeira.

So, what do you need? First, you need a clear/partly clear night at one side of Madeira Island or at least at high mountaineous regions. Second, you need a great spot with a background and foreground, ideally. Third, you need to align the weather, your foreground, and your background with your celestial objects. It is not hard when you live permanently on Madeira. What to do if you come just for a couple of nights or a week to Madeira?

Best Time for Astro Photo Tour in Madeira

I take many night photos throughout the year. However, there are more chances to have a clear sky above during the June – November period. Nights in the high mountains in winter can be very cold and windy. That’s why summer/early autumn is the best time. Another reason is the Milky Way core visibility. The brightest part of the Milky Way is visible from early February till mid-October. Of course, you can come in December or January, but you’ll need more luck to have clear skies and good weather than in the summer.

Ideal Places for Astro Photo Tour in Madeira

In terms of jaw-dropping locations, Madeira can give a head start. Let me name a few: Arieiro Peak and the surrounding mountainous area, ancient laurel forest in Fanal, Bica da Cana and Chao das Feiteiras with a view of the highest mountains of Madeira, São Lourenço cliffs and the surroundings. All these places are, without a doubt, the best Madeira can offer for amateurs and experienced astrophotographers.

Arieiro Peak, Ruivo Peak, and Surroundings

The highest peaks of Madeira are usually the best in terms of clear sky and low light pollution. Safety first – please search for your astro photo spot only during the daytime. I don’t suggest stepping off the paved path at night, regardless of your experience and risk tolerance.

Arieiro Peak is more photogenic and easier to access than Ruivo Peak. However, the latter has an interesting spot with a dead tree in the foreground and the Milky Way (during summer). It is closer to Ruivo Peak’s Casa de Abrigo than to the parking.

One more great place, especially for star trail lovers – Chao das Feiteiras. Probably, you’ll need a telephoto lens there to scale the Military Radar and star trails.

Bica da Cana is situated on the opposite side of the highest mountains of Madeira from the previous spot. The weather conditions there can be checked very precisely here

Ancient Laurel Forest in Fanal

Fanal has always been my number one choice for astro photo in Madeira. I spent many sleepless nights there looking for the best angles and precise compositions. Even though night Fanal became very busy recently, I can still find a relatively dark place for my Milky Way shots. Special weather-predicting skills are also necessary to get decent night photos.

Again, about the safety. If you are not familiar with the place, check it during the day, find a few compositions with interesting trees, PIN them on your map, and come back at night. One more issue. When the fog rolls in, you need to know how to get out of the forest.

The place is situated not high enough to be above clouds, only 1000 meters above sea level. It is a windy place all year round. The weather changes very fast. Be ready for every kind of weather: rain, strong wind, and fog.

São Lourenço Cliffs

One of the very different places from all the above is Sao Lourenso – the easternmost part of Madeira. If you point your camera to the east, you will see a black night sky full of stars. It’s a very interesting spot starting from March-April. Rising above the Atlantic Milky Way core is something special to capture, especially if you align it with standing-still rocky hills or cliffs.

Useful Links For Planning Your Astro Photo Tour In Madeira

1. Weather App – Meteo@IPMA and Link to the most accurate weather forecast

2. Webcams around Madeira. There is a direct webcam to Arieiro Peak. To check the weather and how things are in the east of Madeira, you need to look for Machico or Caniçal webcams. It is tricky to check Fanal weather via webcams because there are no webcams there. However, you can check Seixal cam and Ponta Delgada one to more or less understand how clean or cloudy sky is at the northwest of Madeira.

3. Great summary of the best places for stargazing in Madeira

4. Photo apps: PhotoPills, Star Walk, PlanItPro, etc