Monica van Zanten
- The Madeira Travelista

I may not have been born here, but my heart was.

When I landed in Madeira on a one-way ticket back in 2018, I had no idea how deeply this island would change me. I was 26, chasing a dream with no backup plan. And not long after arriving, everything around me started to fall apart.

The easy thing would’ve been to leave. But the idea of saying goodbye to the island felt like a full-body NO — this was not an option.

So I stayed.

I stayed without a home lined up, without knowing what was next, just trusting that somehow it would work out. And it did. Within days I found a little place to live in Ponta do Sol (a village that’s seen me at my best and my messiest), and my contract at the big touroperator I worked for at that time got extended. From there, life started flowing — on the outside and, more importantly, on the inside.

Over the years, I got to know Madeira not just as a travel guide, but as someone who gets to live where most vacation; through hikes, storms, slow days, friendships, solitude, sunsets, and yes… even lockdowns.

Now, with a background in International Tourism Management and over a decade of experience in the industry, I choose to share real, unfiltered travel advice for curious travelers, like you, who want more than just the usual highlights.

People who want to really experience Madeira, not just tick off some boxes.

This island has shaped me in ways I can’t fully explain and The Madeira Travelista is my way of giving back.

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