In 1855, the Englishman James Johnson fell under the ground of Madeira Island and was very happy about it. As a volcanologist, he studied the structure of the island's crust (Madeira is a frozen lava flow) and came across volcanic caves on the outskirts of Sao (San) Vicente.

The caves have been open for everyone since 1996: there is a unique museum and the Volcanic Center. Guided tours in English and Spanish start every hour. If you have free time before the start, take the stairs up the slope to the left of the museum entrance: you will come to a small wild park with stunning views, fresh air, chirping birds, and the smell of eucalyptus trees. The tour is divided into two parts and lasts for about an hour. The first part takes place in the museum building. You will learn about the origin of Madeira Island and watch a 3D film about the layers of the earth's crust. The second part takes place directly in the caves. This is an absolutely safe place. It is impossible to get lost here. The total length of the eight lava galleries is about 1 kilometer. The height of the ceilings is 5-6 meters. Each tunnel is beautifully illuminated with colored lanterns, enabling tourists to see bizarre grottoes, underground springs, and even "volcanic cakes" (when several lava flows simultaneously frozen on top of each other resemble a cutaway cake).

For experienced speleologists, there is nothing exciting in these caves. There are no stalactites and stalagmites as lava lacks the calcium necessary for their formation. But beginners and children are delighted, especially by the volcanic underground lake with clear blue water that they are allowed to touch and even drink. The lake is called "Lago dos Deseos"("Lake of desires").

Fans of solo cave walks have nothing to hope for: you can only visit the caves as part of an organized group, which will be strictly controlled. Do not forget to bring warm clothes, as the caves are 5-7 degrees Celsius colder than above ground. Please note that the caves can be cool as well as humid, some parts may be wet, so it is better to wear closed comfortable shoes.