Madeira is Portugal's emerald island - wild, rough and verdant green, situated roughly 850 kms southwest of Portugal in the Atlantic ocean. Together with the much smaller and drier island of Porto Santo and the saw-like crest of the Desertas islands, it forms a small archipelago that is a splendid destination for nature lovers and hikers. The misty laurel forests and sunny peaks are packed with a rare, unique flora and fauna, while whales, dolphins, sea turtles and a score of rare seabirds patrol the surrounding ocean. Hikers, birdwatchers, botanists, whalewatchers and other nature lovers - this is your naturalist guide to Madeira. The Crossbill Guide to Madeira has numerous routes and sites to discover Madeira and Porto Santo. In addition, it describes excursions out onto the ocean, the Desertas islands and the remote Selvagens archipelago to explore Madeira's sea life. The book is complemented with extensive chapters on landscape, geology, history, descriptions of the flora and fauna and tips to observe wildlife. 16 routes (car and walk) 14 site descriptions 6 wildlife excursions (including whale, turtle and seabird watching) Where to watch birds information Finding butterflies, wildflowers, reptiles, etc.

Detailed background information on landscape and ecology.