Desertas Islands are a group of 3 small islands on the southeast of Madeira. This small archipelago is the habitat of the endemic and rare Monk seal, several seabirds and some indigenous flora species. For these reasons it is a protected area and is a European Biogenetic Reserve.

A sea trip to these untouched islands is for those who love to sail and are curious about desert islands with its endemic species. On the way you will get the chance to admire mountainous landscape of Madeira as well as try to spot some dolphins, whales, turtles or seabirds. Arriving at the largest island, the yacht will anchor and you can go ashore on a small floatable boat. Once on land, follow a path around the Natural Park to the warden's house along which you may observe some flora and avifauna of the island.

After the visit to the island and a relaxing swim in Desertas crystal waters, lunch is served onboard. Usually lunch is a Madeira traditional fish dish, black scabbard fish, with salad and potatoes. Following lunch it is time to pick the anchor up and depart towards Funchal enjoying a nap, sunbathe or spotting sea mammals and seabirds along the way.

The last stop will be at Camara de Lobos a typical fishing village, with its colorful boats, is one of the sights which Winston Churchill had painted from his terrace when he dedicated himself to painting back in the 1950's. While visiting this charming fishing port, enjoy visiting a private wine cellar to tasting of various Madeira wines.

Your tour includes a visit to Ponta da Erva, a vast farmland north of river Sorraia (a tributary to the Tagus estuary), covered with natural pastures (where bulls feed before bullfights) alongside different cultivations. Purple Herons fly continuously over the fields coming back and forward between farmlands and a big colony nearby.

You may also see Collared Pratincoles, whose colonies are annually settled in ploughed parcels of land. Fields are patrolled by Marsh Harriers and it is possible to find a day roosting Barn Owl in an old rural building. In this area, you will visit saltpans and saltmarshes where Black-winged Stilts breed and Red-crested Pochards are frequent. In winter, the landscape may change dramatically, as parts of the area become flooded. Likewise, bird species are also different, and include over a thousand Greylag Geese, variety of waders and waterfowl, and some considerable flocks of Little Bustard. Raptors are amazingly abundant, and include Hen Harriers, Peregrines and Merlins.

The next part of the tour crosses the extensive montados of Pancas, where colorful species, like Hoopoes and Bee-eaters, are common during spring. From a high spot, appreciate the whole estuary and watch hunting Black-shouldered Kites, Booted and Short-toed-Eagles and Black Kites. Spotted Eagles have been regularly overwintering in the same area. You will visit another salpans (Vale de Frades and Belavista), used by Kentish Plovers to breed before you head to Hortas, near Alcochete. Here, during the low tide, you may observe wader and waterfowl species, plus Flamingos, Spoonbills, Herons and Egrets. In some periods, it seems the birds cover all parts of mud uncovered by the tide!

Your tour ends at Barroca d'Alva, a ricefield area, surrounded by montados. At this site, it is common to see large numbers of White Storks, Egrets and Glossy Ibis flying very high. Many well adapted introduced exotic species help to make up the scenery.