6 - 17 km
50 - 700 m
13 Days & 12 Nights
1.640 EUR
Laurissilva Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage site
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Madeira Island Adventure
A full exploration of the Pearl of the Atlantic.
The Madeira Island Adventure is an incredible hiking tour through one of the most beautiful Portuguese islands, the Pearl of the Atlantic! If you are a hiking lover, this is the ideal opportunity to get to know Madeira and its unique characteristics through waking paths designed for avid hike seekers. This tour gives you a selection of the best Madeira trails, where you can discover stunning sceneries of this volcanic island on mountains, cliffs, and Levadas. The Levadas are part of an extensive network of small irrigation channels with gentle slopes, very typical of Madeira island, and a perfect path for any adventurous hiker! It's your time to explore this hiking paradise!
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Tour Information
SELF-GUIDED 2023 PRICES
Low Season1.640 EUR
Single Room+ 460 EUR
04 Jan - 28 Mar
29 Oct - 15 Dec
Medium Season1.770 EUR
Single Room+ 510 EUR
29 Mar - 02 Apr
10 Apr - 26 May
27 Sep - 28 Oct
High Season1.850 EUR
Single Room+ 540 EUR
03 Apr - 09 Apr
27 May - 26 Jul
Special Season1.950 EUR
Single Room+ 550 EUR
27 Jul - 26 Sep
Price Notes
• prices per person for a minimum of 2 people in double/twin room
• solo traveler supplement on request
Included and Optional Services
Itinerary
Transfer from Funchal to Santa Cruz
Welcome to Madeira!
Our guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel in Santa Cruz. Once there, you can spend some time at the swimming pool, take a nap, or relax with a beautiful mountainous view.
Hike Ponta de São Lourenço
You will start your day with a 20-minute transfer to the beginning of the hike.
You will then walk on a trail that will take you around the volcanic peninsula to the easternmost point of Madeira Island. Take a look around you and enjoy the amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean and the two islets that sit nearby. The Desembarcadouro Islet is classified as a natural reserve, and the peninsula is also considered a partial one. All the land and sea by the north coast, up to a depth of 50 meters, is part of the European network of important community sites - Natura 2000. What a day, and what scenery to enjoy and celebrate! The day will finish with a short transfer back to Santa Cruz (20 min).
Alternative
Boat trip from Cais do Sardinha to Marina Quinta do Lorde (not included).
Hike Levada do Furado
Today, you will have your first experience in the famous Levadas, an extensive network of small irrigation channels that make the perfect path for adventurous hikers.
After arriving in Ribeiro Frio, start your hike along this Levada, one of the first acquired by the state to irrigate the farmlands of Porto da Cruz. You will then follow the Levada of Serra do Faial at 860 meters high, all the way to the station where the waters divide. From there, you will descend to the area of Lamaceiros. The walk ends with another descent to the village of Portela, where your transfer will get you back to your accommodation in Santa Cruz.
Hike Boca do Risco
Today, you will head to Facho Peak (322 meters) and enjoy the north coastal cliffs!
Start with a short transfer in the morning and begin your walk in Machico, where you’ll get on a trail along the Caniçal Levada for about 2 kilometers. Soon, you will see the great view of the tiny terrace where islander farmers cultivate the fertile Madeira soil. The path then ascends gently to the crest, Boca do Risco, where you will find a stunning panoramic view of the north cliffs. From Boca do Risco, the trail continues, etched into the cliff face, and follows the 300-meter contour until the town of Porto da Cruz. A final 15-minute transfer will take you to your hotel in Santana for a well-deserved rest.
Hike Levada do Caldeirão Verde
Today, the path will go along Caldeirão Verde, one of the most famous Levada walks.
After a 15-minute transfer, start this "out-and-back" walk in the Queimadas Forestry Park and cross some spectacularly steep slopes - one of the finest ways of penetrating the deep valley of the São Jorge brook on foot. You will need a torch on this walk as you'll pass through several tunnels. The Levada of Caldeirão Verde is an impressive work of art that was built in the 18th century. It begins in the mainstream bed of the Caldeira Verde brook and passes through steep cliffs and mountains, carrying the water that runs off the highest mountains of Madeira. It offers the traveler a vertiginous and spectacular view of the mountainous terrain.
Hike Pico Ruivo
This morning, you will have a 20-minute transfer that will take you to Achada do Teixeira.
Once you arrive, you will begin your energetic ridge walk! It starts just below Pico Ruivo, the highest summit of the island and the third-highest of Portugal, and heads west through a steep wood slope to the mountain pass at Encumeada. You'll encounter frequent climbs and descents, and the trail will be a little challenging, but it will all be worth it due to the extremely beautiful landscapes. The Central Mountainous Massif and the Laurissilva Forest are also home to an interesting and unique ecosystem.
Hike Pináculo Pico & Levada do Norte Loop
Today's hike takes you through a variety of landscapes and magnificent views.
First, you will pass by the well-known Pináculo (Pinnacle) and walk along the Levada do Norte and Levada da Serra. Lovely views of the São Vicente Valley will catch your eye, gazing at the architectural heritage of the island. Namely, the "way of the county" - a former road used for movement between the northern and southern coast. Paved with stone, the Levada and its tunnels were built to transport water. When you reach the top of the footpath at Pináculo, the two highest peaks will stand out, and the Central Mountain Range will give you an image to remember.
Hike from Paúl da Serra to Fanal
Today's trail is in the area of the Laurissilva Forest.
Classified by UNESCO as a Natural World Heritage site since 1999 and a member of the European network of sites of community importance - Natura 2000. Start in Paúl da Serra plateau and follow the trail to visit several viewpoints that reveal a set of beautiful landscapes, which highlight the valley of Ribeira da Janela and Chão da Ribeira. Pay attention to the area known as "Fio", where visitors can appreciate what is left of an ingenious apparatus of steel cables that were used to carry wood and shrubs collected in the Fanal forest. Later you will arrive at Fanal, a small volcanic crater classified as a resting reserve of the Natural Park of Madeira with the centenary forest of Ocofeafoefens trees.
Hike Levada do Moinho - Porto Moniz
Today is going to be an amazing day!
Find a dense landscape where you can hear the water falling from the rocks, creating a natural and relaxing symphony of sounds. Enjoy the fantastic scenery that arises, full of maritime pine, eucalyptus, and other dense vegetation characteristic of the native forest - Laurissilva. You will pass by Canary Willow, large Madeira Laurel, Madeira Mahogany, and the Lily-of-the-valley tree that abound along the Levada. Like looking through a window, you'll find open areas until the end of the hike, passing through small rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. Stone stairs will take you to the entrance doors of the Porto Moniz. Your hotel awaits, but if you still have energy, do not forget to visit the natural pools in town.
Hike from Jardim do Mar to Paúl do Mar
Walk through a route full of heritage.
Located on the west side of Madeira Island, this is one of the few routes available for the population to access the coastline. It is an opportunity to walk calmly and absorb the seashore landscape and the land filled with terraced farm plots held in place by stone walls. This municipal path is a genuine historical heritage, bearing witness to the isolation of past generations and the ingenious and difficult trails built by the people to overcome it. The day will end with a short transfer back, but make sure to explore Paúl do Mar, an old fishing village known for the export of tuna, which has a small and lovely parish on the seashore and stunning views of the cliffs.
Hike Rabaçal & 25 Fontes
Today there will be an amazing hidden secret awaiting!
After gently descending to Rabaçal, you will find a path that will take you to an impressive waterfall along the Levada do Risco. This path reveals many landscapes with wonderful sensations and a wide variety of endemic species. After a short while, you will arrive at the Lagoa das 25 Fontes (Lagoon of the 25 Springs). The waters that formed this place came from the top of the Mountain Marsh (Paul da Serra) and permeated through the lagoon walls. This allowed for the construction of the 25 Fontes Levada in 1835 - a diamond in our eyes.
Hike Levada do Norte - Cabo Girão
Today you will see the highest cliff skywalk in Europe.
Your last hiking day is also a day with little elevation gain. Your destination is Cabo Girão, the highest cliff skywalk in Europe. The day will end with a transfer to Funchal (20 min), so you can enjoy the biggest city on the island and its wonders. This is the most famous city of Madeira, and people love to walk the streets of its cosmopolitan center. Look for its historical sites like the cathedral or find the best ocean-view spots. The opportunities are endless.
Transfer to Funchal Airport
Your splendid trip has come to an end.
We hope the memories and experiences we have created and shared stay with you forever. Come back soon to discover some more of Portugal's Nature Trails!