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Hiking in Madeira
Hike, swim and explore the beautiful scenery of the Madeira coastline
Set off on a seven-day hiking adventure through Madeira’s dramatic coastlines, volcanic landscapes and lush forests. Hike renowned trails such as Vereda do Fanal, Pico do Ruivo, Levada do Norte and the scenic loop from Jardim do Mar through Vereda do Jardim and Levada da Calheta. Along the way, visit nearby villages like Santana (famous for its traditional thatched houses), as well as Prazeres and Seixal. Take a dip in volcanic rock pools, sip Madeira’s signature Ponch and visit a local rum distillery. With its mild year-round climate and diverse terrain, Madeira offers the perfect active winter escape.
4.8
10 reviewsStart: Funchal, Portugal
End: Machico, Portugal
- Duration
- 7 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorize trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Walking & trekking
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Explore Madeira’s green mountains and diverse flora and enjoy a mild climate while you travel through the ever-changing landscapes.
- Traverse Pico do Ruivo (Madeira’s highest peak) and the coastal trail from Porto da Cruz to Machico on guided hikes, led by a local expert.
- Follow the Levada do Norte trail from Estreito de Camara de Lobos to Cabo Girao. Take in the lush valleys, small villages and panoramic views of Europe’s highest sea cliffs as you hike.
- Hike the scenic loop from Jardim do Mar through Vereda do Jardim and Levada da Calheta. Wander quiet paths, soak in cliffside views and breathe the fresh mountain air.
- Hike the dramatic Ponta de São Lourenço peninsula, where rugged cliffs meet the sparkling Atlantic, volcanic rock formations shape the landscape, and panoramic views stretch from sheer cliffs to hidden coves along this windswept eastern tip of the island.
Itinerary
Ola! Welcome to Funchal – the capital of Portugal’s Madeira archipelago, renowned for its scenic harbour, lush gardens and historic wine cellars. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit the Gothic-Romanesque Cathedral, walk around the Sao Tiago Fortress, explore the local markets or enjoy some fresh seafood by the waterfront. After your welcome meeting, head out to optional dinner and get to know your group before hitting the trails tomorrow.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
Today, enjoy a free morning in Funchal or explore the city at your own pace. After early lunch, travel by private transport from Funchal to Estreito de Camara de Lobos. From here, embark on the Levada do Norte hike, taking in the ocean views as you walk towards Cabo Girao – one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe. When you arrive in Cabo Girao, perhaps relax with a picnic lunch. This afternoon, you’ll travel to Jardim do Mar for a leader-led orientation walk. Explore this peaceful town known for its traditional Madeiran lifestyle and lovely gardens. To end the day, enjoy a refreshing glass of Poncha (a local drink made from sugarcane rum, honey and lemon).
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Hike Levada do Norte - Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girao
- Jardim do Mar leader led orientation walk
- Poncha drink
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 3 hours or 7 km and total driving time up to 2 hours.
This morning, you’ll start in Paul do Mar with a steep climb along the historic PR19 Caminho Real. The stone staircase winds sharply uphill, quickly rewarding you with sweeping views over the Atlantic, rugged cliffs, and the village far below. At the top, continue into Prazeres and follow quiet roads before joining the Levada Nova path toward Estreito da Calheta. Here, the terrain levels out, and you’ll enjoy an easy walk through green farmland and terraces, with occasional coastal vistas along the way. After reaching Calheta, begin your descent toward Jardim do Mar on paved roads, taking in wide ocean views as you return to the coast. Once there, you might spend some time exploring this quiet seaside village, known for its dramatic setting and relaxed atmosphere.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Hike from Paul do Mar to Jardim do Mar including Caminho Real and Estreito da Calheta
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 5.5 hours or 14.5 km.
Travel to the Fanal forest, where you’ll start today’s hike. Follow the Vereda do Fanal trail through ancient laurel trees and woodlands. Afterwards, travel to the Ribeira da Janela viewpoint, where you can admire spectacular views of the rugged coastline and dramatic valley. Continue to Seixal for a leader-led orientation walk through the village’s charming streets, followed by some time to cool off with a swim in Seixal’s natural volcanic swimming pools. Later today, travel to Machico, where you’ll spend the night.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Verada do Fanal guided hike
- Seixal - leader led orientation walk
- Seixal - natural swimming pools
- Ribeira da Janela viewpoint
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 4 hours or 10 km and total driving time up to 3 hours.
This morning, private transport will take you to Porto da Cruz, where you’ll begin today’s hike towards Machico. This marvellous coastal hike takes around six hours and covers approximately 15km, combining spectacular coastal scenery with beautiful sections through Madeira’s lush Laurisilva forest. Along the way, enjoy fantastic views over the rugged coastline and surrounding landscapes, with a beautiful spot to maybe stop for a picnic lunch and take in the scenery. Your efforts are rewarded as you reach Machico, Madeira’s historic first capital, where you’ll finish the hike on the beach. Take some well-deserved time to relax by the sea before returning to your accommodation.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Porto da Cruz to Machico guided hike
Optional activities
- Local Rum distillery visit - Free
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 6 hours or 15 km and total driving time up to 30 min.
Optional Rum Distillery Visit: If you’d like to visit a local rum distillery, this can be arranged after completing the hike. Please note that transportation is not included, and you will need to take a taxi from Machico to Porto da Cruz and back again following your visit. Your tour leader will be happy to provide guidance and assist with arranging transport if needed.
This morning, you’ll travel to Achada do Teixeira – the gateway to Pico do Ruivo, the highest peak on Madeira. Hike along the Vereda do Pico do Ruivo and take in the impressive mountain views and dramatic rock formations, which are sometimes shrouded in clouds. After the hike, travel to Santana, where you’ll have time for a non-included lunch and a chance to explore the village and see its traditional triangular houses, known as palheiros. This afternoon, continue to the coast for the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenço hike, famous for its dramatic cliffs and striking coastal scenery. This trail showcases Madeira’s unique volcanic landscape and offers panoramic ocean views. Later today, head back to Machico for your last night and perhaps enjoy a farewell dinner with your group to celebrate an epic trip.
Accommodation
- Hotel (1 night)
Meals
- Breakfast
Included activities
- Verada da Ponta de Sao Lourenco guided hike
- Verada do Pico do Ruivo guided hike
- Santana village visit
Special information
Your hiking time today will be approximately 6 hours or 12 km and total driving time up to 2 hours 30 minutes.
There are no activities planned for today and you can depart at any time. If you’d like to extend your stay and explore Madeira further, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Meals
- Breakfast
What's included
Accommodation
- Hotel (6 nights)
Activities
12
- Hike Levada do Norte - Estreito de Câmara de Lobos to Cabo Girao
- Jardim do Mar leader led orientation walk
- Poncha drink
- Hike from Paul do Mar to Jardim do Mar including Caminho Real and Estreito da Calheta
- Verada do Fanal guided hike
- Seixal - leader led orientation walk
- Seixal - natural swimming pools
- Ribeira da Janela viewpoint
- Porto da Cruz to Machico guided hike
- Verada da Ponta de Sao Lourenco guided hike
- Verada do Pico do Ruivo guided hike
- Santana village visit
Meals
6
- 6 breakfasts
Transport
- On foot
- Private vehicle
Destinations
- Portugal
- Funchal
- Machico
- Jardim do Mar
- Prazeres
- Santo Antonio da Serra
- Seixal
Activities
1
- Local Rum distillery visit - Free
Flights to and from trip
Flights to and from the trip need to be booked separately from your trip, but if you'd like, we can help arrange them for you.
Contact us to talk through available options.
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Before you book you should know
- This trip involves plenty of walking over varied terrain and is best suited to travellers with a good level of mobility and fitness. Comfortable and sturdy walking shoes are a must, as well as hiking poles.
- Some hikes include sections with light exposure and steep drop-offs nearby. While these trails are well-maintained, they may not be suitable for travellers who experience strong vertigo or are uncomfortable with heights.
- Madeira offers year-round hiking, but weather conditions can vary depending on the time of year. Be sure to check the forecast before your trip and pack accordingly.
- The walks in the day-by-day itinerary are the area’s best pick, but your leaders may need to change them, depending on the track and weather conditions.
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. Please see the Joining Point hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information.
2. This trip ends on Day 7 after breakfast and you are free to leave at any time.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. Picnic lunches will be available to buy before every hike.
Visa information is provided by Sherpa, a third-party. The "Add connection" feature shows transit visa requirements only and does not include full entry visa needs. Please note, additional service fees apply if you choose to purchase a visa through Sherpa.
Travel and visa requirements
Hotel (6 nights)
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
TWIN SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin basis. We pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (if available), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
FACILITIES
Your accommodation may not always have private en suite facilities or air-conditioning. European hotels generally don't provide kettles or fridges.
Zarco B&B
Rua da Alfândega, 113
Funchal
9000-059
PORTUGAL
Description
Hotel Zarco B&B is a cozy 3-star guesthouse right in the heart of Funchal’s historic centre, perfect for travelers who want to explore the city on foot. Just a short stroll from the cathedral, colorful market, marina, and plenty of cafés and restaurants, it’s an ideal base to soak up Madeira’s charm. The rooms are simple but comfortable, with private bathrooms, air conditioning, free WiFi, and TVs, and each morning you can start your day with a continental breakfast.
Instructions
Rua da Alfândega, 113, 9000-059, Funchal, Madeira, Portugal
From Madeira International Airport to Hotel Zarco B&B, you can take the Aerobus (SAM bus), which runs every 1–2 hours and takes about 30–40 minutes to reach Funchal city centre; get off at the stop near Avenida do Mar, just a 5-minute walk from the hotel. Buses run from around 07:00 to 23:00, with tickets available on board. Alternatively, you can take a taxi (approx. 20 minutes) or book a private transfer with our agent for a faster and more comfortable ride.
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Reviews
4.8 . 10 reviews
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Anastasia
Traveled October 2026
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