Madeira Under the Stars: An Astrophotography Journey on the Island of Eternal Spring
Chasing Dark Skies Where Volcanic Peaks Meet the Endless Atlantic.
Astro VLOG 01 | Madeira – How We Captured the Island’s Incredible Night Skies
Don’t miss my video 'Astro VLOG 01 | Madeira – How We Captured the Island’s Incredible Night Skies' my very first vlog, where I share all the behind-the-scenes footage of our trip.
Madeira, known as the Island of Eternal Spring, is a haven for hikers, explorers, and night-sky enthusiasts. With its lush mountains, towering cliffs, and volcanic plateaus rising above the clouds, the island creates the perfect backdrop for unforgettable astrophotography. Thanks to low light pollution in many remote areas and wide-open views over the Atlantic, Madeira invites you to escape the everyday and dive into the quiet magic of the cosmos. It’s a place where warm winds, rugged landscapes, and shimmering stars come together in a truly unique way.
Madeira, a Portuguese island in the North Atlantic, covers around 801 km² and lies roughly 1,000 km southwest of mainland Portugal. The island is part of a small archipelago that also includes Porto Santo and several uninhabited islets. Its steep mountains, dramatic ridges, and vast ocean views create the perfect blend of accessibility and wilderness — an ideal setting for both daytime exploring and night-time sky chasing.
My girlfriend Laura and I spent about 10 days on this amazing island in summer 2025 as part of our Portugal trip. We rented a car, explored the cities, and did plenty of hikes during the day — and quickly fell in love with Madeira’s charm. Especially the small towns and villages stole our hearts, including the one where we stayed in a cozy Airbnb for the entire trip. So just like on La Palma, we skipped the capital and enjoyed the quieter side of the island. The roads were steep again, but this time we came prepared with a powerful enough car — no getting stuck like last time!
Madeira has earned its place on the astrophotography map, with dark skies, dramatic viewpoints, and mild weather throughout the year. Naturally, during our summer 2025 visit, I wanted to follow in the footsteps of the many photographers inspired by this island — and try to capture its breathtaking night skies myself.
Pico Ruivo
Our first goal for night-sky photography was Pico Ruivo, the highest peak on Madeira at 1,862 meters. The area is known for its rugged volcanic formations, sweeping views above the clouds, and unique wind-shaped trees that create striking foreground elements, especially when combined with the Milky Way or a star-filled sky. Many astrophotographers, including Stefan Liebermann, have created breathtaking images from this region. Unfortunately, one of the most iconic twisted trees, often featured in those famous shots, had recently fallen. We had to look for alternative foregrounds and new perspectives instead.
On one of our first days, we headed to the parking lot to start an hour-long hike to the highest mountain of Madeira. The weather at the beginning was very cloudy, which is quite common in this area. The hike itself was beautiful and brought us to the summit just in time for sunset. After enjoying the sunset, we began looking for a good foreground, something best done during daylight because it is very difficult in the dark. Luckily, we found a striking tree and managed to capture some beautiful foreground shots before night fully fell. After that, we hiked back to the car and returned to our Airbnb for a well-deserved sleep.
From Ancient Roots to Distant Stars - Madeiras Trees under the Night Sky
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A very nice result for our first photo here on Madeira came together beautifully, with the wind-shaped tree in the foreground and the star-filled sky rising above the rugged mountain peaks.
Pico do Arieiro
Our second stop, already the next day, took us to Pico do Arieiro, which sits at 1818 m and is the third highest peak on Madeira. This mountain is also the highest point on the island that you can drive to by car thanks to a well‑built road. It also serves as the starting point for the famous hiking trail that links to Pico Ruivo. We had planned to hike the trail in full, only to find that some sections were closed and we could not continue all the way. Yet we discovered some already very beautiful spots, including the viewpoint in front of the Stairs to Heaven, a famous section of the trail. We watched the sunset somewhere along the trail. This time the sky was more cloudy than the days before, but the clouds added a dramatic layer to the rough cliffs and made the scenery even more impressive.
After sunset, the wind became extremely strong, making our planned panorama quite challenging to create. It was very difficult to keep the camera steady as the gusts nearly knocked it over. In the end, we took several extra photos to ensure we had enough options. All in all, I am very happy with the result, and this shot has become one of my favorites from the trio of locations.
Sunset Majesty over Madeira's Peaks - Pedra Rija Viewpoint
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Stairway to the Stars – Pedra Rija under the Milky Way
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Quite some time later, around 11:00 p.m., we made our way back to the car. The return was quite challenging because the wind was extremely strong and the trail was sometimes quite exposed and difficult to navigate in the darkness. Yet in the end, we made it safely to the car and drove back to our Airbnb.
Mountain street / Alternative for the Fanal Forest
A few days later we visited the famous Fanal Forest during the day. The forest is part of the ancient laurel woods of Madeira and features majestic trees of the species Ocotea foetens that are centuries old, moss covered and twisted into dramatic shapes. It is located at an elevation of around 1150 meters and is often shrouded in low lying clouds or fog, as humid air is frequently pushed inland and trapped among the trees. The forest is absolutely beautiful and full of atmosphere during the day. A misty otherworldly mood fills the clearing and the forest floor looks like something from a fairy tale. For night sky photography this location is less ideal because the near constant cloud and fog cover makes it very difficult to capture the stars.
So we needed an alternative and found one while searching on Google Maps. We discovered a mountain road with a steep curve where the Milky Way would rise perfectly behind it. The idea was to add some light trails to the photo using a car driving along the road.
Unfortunately, when we arrived, we discovered that the road was closed due to a rockfall, so the plan with the light trails had to be abandoned. Nevertheless, we photographed the Milky Way above the street and managed to capture a beautiful panorama of the mountains on the island with a small mountain village in the foreground.
Galactic Arch Over a Mountain Village on Madeira
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As I really wanted some light within my photo, I decided to put on my headlamp and mimic the car myself. I ran along the street about three times, back and forth, until I got the perfect shot. In the end, I managed to include some light trails in the photo after all.
Starlit Road at Lombo do Mouro
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Fanal Forest
After photographing the panorama and the street, Laura and I were motivated to go to Fanal Forest to see if the skies were clear. Luckily for me, the sky had cleared, and of course I had to take this opportunity. It was already completely dark, which made it extremely difficult to find a proper tree. On top of that, I had to be careful because cows were present and sleeping on the property, and I did not want to disturb them. I also had to watch my steps to avoid stepping in cow droppings. In the end, it took quite some time, but I finally found a nice tree for the shot.
Fanal Forest: The Tree That Touches the Stars
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It was quite a long night, as we took more than three astrophotos in total, and eventually it was time to go back to sleep. The rest of our stay we spent more like normal people, enjoying daytime activities and game nights in the evening with a regular bedtime.
Final words
These were a few impressions from our goal to photograph the night sky on Madeira. It is an amazing island for astrophotography and equally stunning during the day. I can highly recommend visiting the island and experiencing its unique landscapes and skies for yourself.
