Most of Coloane Island is protected as a country park, which means the trees, wildlife and beaches are carefully looked after. The woodland is thick with subtropical plants — ferns, bamboo groves and flowering trees — and the air smells different from the city, fresh and slightly salty at the same time.
The village at the heart of Coloane is tiny and lovely. Narrow lanes are lined with old houses, a small square with a chapel and a bronze statue of a navigator mark the centre. A few restaurants have been there for decades, serving fish dishes and the famous pork-chop bun sandwiches that Macau is known for. Children often spot little geckos on the warm walls.
Coloane's coastline has several beaches tucked between rocky headlands. At low tide, the sand stretches wide and shallow pools form between the rocks — perfect for exploring. Herons and egrets sometimes stand very still in the shallows, watching for small fish. At the right time of year, butterflies from the woodland drift down to the beach.
The island is connected to the rest of Macau by a causeway, so it is easy to reach by bus. Many schools in Macau bring students to Coloane for outdoor learning days — to study rock pools, draw plants or simply to experience that a busy city and a peaceful island can exist right next to each other.