Overview
Walking in Madeira for eight days, and based in the same hotel in Funchal, is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the main island’s natural highlights. With transfers to and from the trailheads. Although the main island in the archipelago is only 55km long, it’s mostly the coast that has been developed, leaving an inland idyll of wilderness areas. These include the high altitude Madeira Peaks, UNESCO Laurisilva forests and the island’s unique levada trails, man-made irrigation channels dating back to the 16th century, volcanic and arid terrain of Ponta de São Lourenço, as well as hiking to Pico Ruivo, the island’s highest peak (1,861m).
- Levada do Caldeirão Verde
- Pico Ruivo
- Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço
- UNESCO Laurisilva of Madeira
- Funchal
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival on Madeira Island
Arrive in Funchal, depending on your arrival time, relax by the hotel pool or take time to visit this colourful city, perched between the Atlantic and the mountains, and home to historic streets, fresh seafood, and of course the famous Madeira wine. As well as the unmissable Mercado dos Lavradores.
- Accommodation: The Editory Garden Carmo or similar in Funchal
- Upgraded accommodation: The Editory Ocean Way or similar in Funchal
Day 2: Caminho Real do Monte | 8km
Start the day with a cable car journey from Funchal to Monte (included), located high above Funchal. After visiting the church, Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte, start out on the walking trail, crossing through areas of sub-tropical island vegetation, before arriving back in the capital. A visit to the botanical gardens is highly recommended, which boast many species of the island’s flora.
- Walking for the day: 8km, 3h, ↑100m ↓550m
Day 3: Vereda da Lagoa do Vento e Alecrim | 8.8km
This morning, a transfer takes you to the starting point in Rabaçal Valley, where you walk past giant heathers towards Lagoa do Vento, a turquoise lagoon at the base of a tall waterfall. After a steady ascent from the lagoon, the route joins the Levada do Alecrim. This flat section of the levada provides viewpoints of the ravines and surrounding highlands. At the end of the walk, you are met and transferred back to your hotel.
- Walking for the day: 3h, 8.8km, ↑560m ↓850m
Day 4: Levada dos Cedros | 9km
Begin the morning with a short transfer to Fanal Plateau, the starting point of Levada dos Cedros. This trail winds through ancient, moss-covered groves and natural tunnels of vegetation that lead you into the heart of the UNESCO-protected Laurisilva forest. Follow the levada to encounter several waterfalls and views over Ribeira da Janela Valley. The walk ends at Fanal, where you can visit the Lagoon, before being transferred back to your hotel.
- Walking for the day: 3.5h, 9km, ↑361m ↓86m
Day 5: Levada do Caldeirão Verde | 19.7km
The walk starts at Queimadas Forest Park after a short transfer from the hotel. Follow the levada channels through the ancient Laurisilva forest and tunnels to Caldeirão Verde, the famous 80m-high waterfall. Take the same path back to Queimadas, where we recommend stopping at the cafe where you can taste regional queijadas, before being transferred back to your hotel in Funchal.
- Walking for the day: 4-5h, 19.7km, ↑366m ↓364m
Day 6: Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço | 7km
You have a short transfer to São Lourenço peninsula, located at the eastern end of the island, known for its arid landscape, volcanic rock formations and steep cliffs. We recommend taking time to swim at Cais da Sardinha or book a kayak trip (payable locally), before walking back to the starting point, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.
- Walking for the day: 3h, 7km,↑350m ↓350m
Day 7: Vereda da Ilha and Pico Ruivo | 10km
You are transferred to the village of Ilha, the starting point for an ascent towards the island’s highest peak, Pico Ruivo (1,861m). As you walk up, the vegetation thins out to reveal sweeping views of the northern coastline and deep valleys below. When you get to the summit, you get to take in panoramic mountain scenery before heading to Achada do Teixeira, where you are met and transferred back to your hotel.
- Walking for the day: 5-6h, 10km,↑1,376m ↓490m
Day 8: Departure
Depart after breakfast, or extend your stay in Funchal.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this tour is located in Funchal. These hotels have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria, including location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have private bathrooms. The Editory Garden Carmo is a 3-star hotel located in Funchal, just a few minutes’ walk from the historic old town, featuring one rooftop pool, one restaurant and a snack bar. The upgraded option, The Editory Ocean Way, is a 5-star hotel located in Funchal. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Lido and Praia Formosa. The hotel offers one restaurant and a rooftop bar, as well as two pools and a spa. Please note that twin rooms cannot always be guaranteed. In such cases, the room will feature a double bed with individual bedding.
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of a particular hotel being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with a hotel of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. When no restaurant location is available en route, lunches and snacks can either be bought from local shops or packed lunches can be pre-ordered from your hotel the night before. Dinner is available either at the accommodation or from restaurants in the local area.
Difficulty and terrain
This holiday is appropriate for seasoned walkers and requires a reasonable level of fitness, with daily walking distances between 8-17km and an average walking time of 4-5h per day. The routes follow well-built and very diverse paths, which can sometimes be quite narrow and exposed. Many of the paths run along the coastal cliff edges and also along the levadas (irrigation canals). Therefore, sure-footedness is essential in some sections, and the tour may not be suitable for those with a fear of heights (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. We will provide you with detailed route notes and maps and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your holiday information pack.
When to go
This trip is available all year round. The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates and you can start your trip on any date during the season.
Due to its mountainous topography, Madeira has diverse microclimates. The difference in altitude makes it possible to find snow on the top of the mountains in winter, for example, yet sunny weather with temperatures of up to 23C at sea level, or below what’s known as the banana line. Funchal Bay, protected by the highest peaks on the island, gets the most sunshine. Further down the south-west coast, in Ribeira Brava, Ponta do Sol, Madalena do Mar, Calheta, Jardim do Mar and Paul do Mar, backed by the lower hills of Paul da Serra, the sun shines brighter during the summer months, and it is sunny and mild throughout the winter.
For more information, see our blog on the Best time to go to Portugal.
Getting there
Click to view travel options
By plane
Our recommended airport for this tour is Madeira Airport (FNC).
Inclusions
Included
- 7 nights accommodation
- 7 breakfasts
- All transfers on walking days as listed in the itinerary
- Cable car journey from Funchal to Monte
- Digital tour materials including GPS tracks and route descriptions
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare
- Lunches, dinners, drinks and snacks
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Personal expenses such as phone calls, extra transfers and tips
- Local tourist tax and entry fees (payable locally)
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you’re travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Arrival and departure transfers to/from Funchal airport
- Trail hiking tax
- Extra nights in Funchal
