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Madeira Self-Guided Walking Holiday
Explore the island's famous levada walking trails at your own pace on our Madeira self-guided walking holiday...
Explore the island’s famous levada walking trails at your own pace on our Madeira self-guided walking holiday.
Madeira is a hikers’ paradise of criss-crossing, waymarked walking trails. These paths owe their existence to the island’s famous levadas water channels: an ingenious irrigation system which the first settlers began constructing in the 15th century. The levadas transported fresh water from the high mountains down to the new settlements on the coasts, and as the population grew, so did the irrigation network. There are now over 2100km of levadas – remarkable when you consider the island is only 56km long and 21km wide.
We’ve brought together many of our favourite walks which will allow you to explore the varied landscapes across Madeira. We’ll also begin the planning process with a telephone chat, so we can get a feel for the type of walks you prefer which helps us to create your personalised day-by-day itinerary.
We’ll usually base you in one of our favourite quintas in Funchal, and we’ll include all the taxis transfers you’ll need to get to-and-from your walks. Funchal is home to many of the best restaurants and café bars on the island, but we can personalise your holiday if you’d prefer the peace of a more rural location.
Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight to Madeira. Our driver will collect you from your flight, for the twenty-minute transfer to your accommodation at Quintinha Sao Joao in Funchal.
Day 2
For your first full day on the island, you’ll be transferred to the start point for the Levada dos Tornos trail, which takes you through Choupana and Curral dos Romeiros to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
Day 3
Your second walk follows the Levada do Norte, Madeira’s oldest and longest water channel, from Estreito de Camara da Lobos to the famous miradouro at Cabo Girao.
Day 4
You’ll head north to walk the Ribeiro Bonito – Levada do Rei trail on the slopes of the Assumadouros mountains. You’ll also have the option to walk the Faja da Rocha do Navio trail in Santana.
Day 5
Our driver will take you southwest to walk the Sao Lourenco – Prainha – Pico da Piedade trail. Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a beautiful, desolate finger of desert terrain protruding out of the eastern end of the island. Next, you’ll walk the trail from Pico do Facho down into Machico, where where Joao Goncalves Zarco and Trisao Vaz Teixiera first landed when they (re)discovered the island on 1st July 1419.
Day 6
You’ll walk the island’s most popular trail: the Rabacal Levada do Risco trail to the beautiful 25 Fontes lagoon.
Day 7
Your final walk will take you across Madeira’s two highest peaks – Pico do Arieiro (1818m) and Pico Ruivo (1861m), with its stunning panoramic view across the island’s central mountains.
Day 8
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
The seas around Madeira are the ideal destination for whale watching. The island’s temperate climate makes it one of the best year-round locations for ocean wildlife. Sperm whales, common and bottlenose dolphins are resident in the waters around the island and can be spotted throughout the year – with peak season from March through to September.
North-Atlantic Spotted dolphins can also be spotted throughout the year, but sightings can be down in the winter. They also share the bottlenoses’ gregarious nature and are often seen riding on the bow-wave of boats. If you’re thinking of whale watching in the winter time, short-finned pilot whales tend to visit from November through to March.
Guided Tours
Our Guided Tours are the best way to explore Madeira and Porto Santo. Explore the volcanic coast at Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the tropical forests of the Parque Natural do Ribeiro Frio, the Curral das Freiras (Nun’s valley), and the island’s picturesque coastal towns like Camara da Lobos, Santana and Ponta do Sol.
Our guides will give you a wonderful insight into the history, geology and landscapes of the Madeira and Porto Santo. We also offer private tours and if you have any specific interests we create a personalised tour just for you. We also have a choice of vehicles: you can stick to the roads with a taxi tour or if you really want to get off-the-beaten track, you might prefer a tour by Landrover.
Self-guided Walking
Madeira’s reputation as a walkers' paradise is well-earned, and the island is a perfect destination for a self guided walking holiday. The island's criss-crossed by an ingenious system of irrigation channels known as levadas. These channels were constructed by the first settlers to transport water from the high mountains down to their farmlands on the coast – and the happy by-product for modern day hikers is an intricate network of beautiful and challenging walking trails.
As a rough rule-of-thumb for self guided walking: the paths in the south and west tend to be more leisurely and a little easier on the legs. In the north and east, they’re more suited to experienced walkers with steep ravines and high cliffs where a good head for heights is crucial. We also offer private guided walks with our resident guides ,or you might like to join a group for one of our regular day walks.
Mountain Biking
Perhaps more than any other pursuit, it’s mountain biking that demonstrates the changing face of visitors to Madeira. The island’s seemingly endless network of mountain biking trails are attracting more and more riders each year – and not just mere mortals like you and I - you've probably seen current and ex-pro-riders like Josh Bryceland and Steve Peat citing Madeira as their winter training ground of choice.
The island has a bit of everything – XC trails that mix Madeira’s famous levada’s with spectacular coastal singletrack, or flowing, rooty descents through forests of Japanese Cedar: the perfect choice for an uplift day. Our favourite trails are the steep, technical zig-zagging footpaths that hug the cliffs on the North Coast – reminiscent of the best trails we have here in the Lakes, only dry and warm.
Whether you're thinking of a full week of mountain biking or a day tour as part of your holiday - whatever your preferred style of riding, there’s a trail for you on Madeira.
Guided Walking
Our guided walking holidays are perfect for anyone looking to get under the skin of this beautiful island. Our resident local guides will show you the landscapes, geology, plants and wildlife of their island home. Whether you'd like to walk the more popular and accessible routes, or if you'd prefer to get off-piste, exploring the hidden Madeira - your time with our guides will always feel well spent.
Madeira has an enviable network of hiking trails - from old unsurfaced roads, to the famous Levadas and the spectacular mountain paths. A great way to explore the island's most popular routes is on our Classic seven night guided walking holiday, where you'll spend a week walking a varied selection of levada trails with a group of like-minded explorers.
Canyoning
Madeira is fast becoming Europe’s go-to island for canyoning. If you’ve never been canyoning before, here’s how it works: you’ll follow a mountain stream through a narrow forest gulley as it winds its way down to the valley floor, abseiling down a series of waterfalls (normally around ten or twelve sets of falls). Safety is paramount of course; you’ll be thoroughly briefed in advance of your first descent, and our guide will be with you every step of the way. It’s a great outdoor pursuit whatever your age and level of experience.
Horse Riding
Explore the mountain landscapes of Madeira on our guided horse riding days. The Levada da Serra and Lamaceiros trails are great for beginners or if you’re a family of mixed-ability. You'll ride the quiet paths through the Laurisilva forests with breath-taking views across Santo Antonio da Serra and the Sao Lourenco peninsula. More experienced riders will enjoy the challenging Pico do Suna trail, where the steep gradients will test your control and command of the horse. Whatever your level, there’s a horse riding day to suit everyone on Madeira.
Rock Climbing
Madeira is one of the last undiscovered rock climbing destinations in Europe. Our local instructors and guides are well-placed to show you best routes the island has to offer. If you’re a climbing novice, you’ll be in good hands with our resident guides Duarte Silva and Luis Vasconcelos. They’ll introduce you to the basics of climbing in a fun half-day session, on top-roped single pitch routes suitable for beginners and families.
The cliff faces you'll practice on aren't high or exposed, and are a great place to learn about this enjoyable sport. There are a couple of venues: a lowland 15m cliff on the Sao Lorenco peninsula, and a 30m cliff on the mountain of Pico do Areeiro. If you’re a more seasoned climber then Duarte and Luis can take you on a much more mountainous route, reaching the rocky summit of Pico Cidrao at 1,801m.
Bird Watching
Our Bird Watching trips are the best way to enjoy Madeira’s endemic bird species. The island is roughly divided into four contrasting habitats: the protected laurel forests, the high serra shrublands, the dynamic river network and the wild-northern coastline. Our tours are led by our resident naturalists – they’re very relaxed and friendly days, allowing you plenty of time for detailed observations of the Trocaz pigeon, the Madeira firecrest and Bertherlot’s pipit.
Our most popular trip takes you out to sea to observe the island’s pelagic species of Cory’s and Manx shearwaters, Bulwer’s petrels and the resident populations of Atlantic-spotted dolphins and Sperm whales. Our naturalists also offer evening excursions - accompanying members of the Freira Conservation Project (a charity for the conservation of Madeira’s Seabirds), to the protected breeding site of the Zino’s petrels - listening to their calls and learning more about the work to protect this rare and unique species.
Diving
Diving into the colourful underwater world that surrounds the island of Madeira, you'll discover a submarine-paradise of ocean wildlife, caves and reefs. We work with the island’s oldest-established diving company: Manta Diving Madeira, established by Stefan Maier in 1982. The dive centre is on the south coast of the island, with easy access to the sea for shore dives.
For beginners, the dive school welcomes all abilities and offers a range of courses for novices: from a half-day introductory Discover Scuba Diving course, to a more in-depth four-day Open Water Diving course. If you’re a PADI Advanced diver, the centre also offers boat dives (on request) to some of Madeira’s must-do dive locations, with the nature reserve at Garajau just a ten-minute boat ride away.
Bodyboarding
Whatever your ability, Bodyboarding is a fun sport for all the family to enjoy. If you’re a novice, our Bodyboarding lessons is are a great introduction to this popular sport. We’ll provide you with a soft-board and fins, and Monica and her friendly team of instructors will teach you how to ride waves like a professional. You can include a one-off lesson to learn the basics of body position, steering with your fins and reading the surf. If you’re keen to develop your skills, you might prefer to include a multi-lesson package to hone your barrel rolls and cutbacks.
Golf
Madeira is one of Europe's most beautiful sporting locations - the perfect year-round golf destination. The 18-hole 72-par Palheiro golf course sits high in the eastern hills above the island’s capital city Funchal, overlooking the sunny south-coast and deep-blue Atlantic Ocean. Whether you’re thinking of a week’s stay or a long golfing weekend, the Casa Velha do Palheiro is an ideal place to stay: the casa is the island’s oldest country-house hotel; part of the same Palheiro estate which includes the golf course and ornate gardens.
Explore the island’s famous levada walking trails at your own pace on our Madeira self-guided walking holiday.
Madeira is a hikers’ paradise of criss-crossing, waymarked walking trails. These paths owe their existence to the island’s famous levadas water channels: an ingenious irrigation system which the first settlers began constructing in the 15th century. The levadas transported fresh water from the high mountains down to the new settlements on the coasts, and as the population grew, so did the irrigation network. There are now over 2100km of levadas – remarkable when you consider the island is only 56km long and 21km wide.
We’ve brought together many of our favourite walks which will allow you to explore the varied landscapes across Madeira. We’ll also begin the planning process with a telephone chat, so we can get a feel for the type of walks you prefer which helps us to create your personalised day-by-day itinerary.
We’ll usually base you in one of our favourite quintas in Funchal, and we’ll include all the taxis transfers you’ll need to get to-and-from your walks. Funchal is home to many of the best restaurants and café bars on the island, but we can personalise your holiday if you’d prefer the peace of a more rural location.
Day 1
You’ll begin your holiday with a direct flight to Madeira. Our driver will collect you from your flight, for the twenty-minute transfer to your accommodation at Quintinha Sao Joao in Funchal.
Day 2
For your first full day on the island, you’ll be transferred to the start point for the Levada dos Tornos trail, which takes you through Choupana and Curral dos Romeiros to the Monte Palace Tropical Gardens.
Day 3
Your second walk follows the Levada do Norte, Madeira’s oldest and longest water channel, from Estreito de Camara da Lobos to the famous miradouro at Cabo Girao.
Day 4
You’ll head north to walk the Ribeiro Bonito – Levada do Rei trail on the slopes of the Assumadouros mountains. You’ll also have the option to walk the Faja da Rocha do Navio trail in Santana.
Day 5
Our driver will take you southwest to walk the Sao Lourenco – Prainha – Pico da Piedade trail. Ponta de Sao Lourenco is a beautiful, desolate finger of desert terrain protruding out of the eastern end of the island. Next, you’ll walk the trail from Pico do Facho down into Machico, where where Joao Goncalves Zarco and Trisao Vaz Teixiera first landed when they (re)discovered the island on 1st July 1419.
Day 6
You’ll walk the island’s most popular trail: the Rabacal Levada do Risco trail to the beautiful 25 Fontes lagoon.
Day 7
Your final walk will take you across Madeira’s two highest peaks – Pico do Arieiro (1818m) and Pico Ruivo (1861m), with its stunning panoramic view across the island’s central mountains.
Day 8
You’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight home.
Whale and Dolphin Watching
The seas around Madeira are the ideal destination for whale watching. The island’s temperate climate makes it one of the best year-round locations for ocean wildlife. Sperm whales, common and bottlenose dolphins are resident in the waters around the island and can be spotted throughout the year – with peak season from March through to September.
North-Atlantic Spotted dolphins can also be spotted throughout the year, but sightings can be down in the winter. They also share the bottlenoses’ gregarious nature and are often seen riding on the bow-wave of boats. If you’re thinking of whale watching in the winter time, short-finned pilot whales tend to visit from November through to March.
Guided Tours
Our Guided Tours are the best way to explore Madeira and Porto Santo. Explore the volcanic coast at Ponta de Sao Lourenco, the tropical forests of the Parque Natural do Ribeiro Frio, the Curral das Freiras (Nun’s valley), and the island’s picturesque coastal towns like Camara da Lobos, Santana and Ponta do Sol.
Our guides will give you a wonderful insight into the history, geology and landscapes of the Madeira and Porto Santo. We also offer private tours and if you have any specific interests we create a personalised tour just for you. We also have a choice of vehicles: you can stick to the roads with a taxi tour or if you really want to get off-the-beaten track, you might prefer a tour by Landrover.
Self-guided Walking
Madeira’s reputation as a walkers' paradise is well-earned, and the island is a perfect destination for a self guided walking holiday. The island's criss-crossed by an ingenious system of irrigation channels known as levadas. These channels were constructed by the first settlers to transport water from the high mountains down to their farmlands on the coast – and the happy by-product for modern day hikers is an intricate network of beautiful and challenging walking trails.
As a rough rule-of-thumb for self guided walking: the paths in the south and west tend to be more leisurely and a little easier on the legs. In the north and east, they’re more suited to experienced walkers with steep ravines and high cliffs where a good head for heights is crucial. We also offer private guided walks with our resident guides ,or you might like to join a group for one of our regular day walks.
Mountain Biking
Perhaps more than any other pursuit, it’s mountain biking that demonstrates the changing face of visitors to Madeira. The island’s seemingly endless network of mountain biking trails are attracting more and more riders each year – and not just mere mortals like you and I - you've probably seen current and ex-pro-riders like Josh Bryceland and Steve Peat citing Madeira as their winter training ground of choice.
The island has a bit of everything – XC trails that mix Madeira’s famous levada’s with spectacular coastal singletrack, or flowing, rooty descents through forests of Japanese Cedar: the perfect choice for an uplift day. Our favourite trails are the steep, technical zig-zagging footpaths that hug the cliffs on the North Coast – reminiscent of the best trails we have here in the Lakes, only dry and warm.
Whether you're thinking of a full week of mountain biking or a day tour as part of your holiday - whatever your preferred style of riding, there’s a trail for you on Madeira.
Guided Walking
Our guided walking holidays are perfect for anyone looking to get under the skin of this beautiful island. Our resident local guides will show you the landscapes, geology, plants and wildlife of their island home. Whether you'd like to walk the more popular and accessible routes, or if you'd prefer to get off-piste, exploring the hidden Madeira - your time with our guides will always feel well spent.
Madeira has an enviable network of hiking trails - from old unsurfaced roads, to the famous Levadas and the spectacular mountain paths. A great way to explore the island's most popular routes is on our Classic seven night guided walking holiday, where you'll spend a week walking a varied selection of levada trails with a group of like-minded explorers.
Canyoning
Madeira is fast becoming Europe’s go-to island for canyoning. If you’ve never been canyoning before, here’s how it works: you’ll follow a mountain stream through a narrow forest gulley as it winds its way down to the valley floor, abseiling down a series of waterfalls (normally around ten or twelve sets of falls). Safety is paramount of course; you’ll be thoroughly briefed in advance of your first descent, and our guide will be with you every step of the way. It’s a great outdoor pursuit whatever your age and level of experience.
Horse Riding
Explore the mountain landscapes of Madeira on our guided horse riding days. The Levada da Serra and Lamaceiros trails are great for beginners or if you’re a family of mixed-ability. You'll ride the quiet paths through the Laurisilva forests with breath-taking views across Santo Antonio da Serra and the Sao Lourenco peninsula. More experienced riders will enjoy the challenging Pico do Suna trail, where the steep gradients will test your control and command of the horse. Whatever your level, there’s a horse riding day to suit everyone on Madeira.
Rock Climbing
Madeira is one of the last undiscovered rock climbing destinations in Europe. Our local instructors and guides are well-placed to show you best routes the island has to offer. If you’re a climbing novice, you’ll be in good hands with our resident guides Duarte Silva and Luis Vasconcelos. They’ll introduce you to the basics of climbing in a fun half-day session, on top-roped single pitch routes suitable for beginners and families.
The cliff faces you'll practice on aren't high or exposed, and are a great place to learn about this enjoyable sport. There are a couple of venues: a lowland 15m cliff on the Sao Lorenco peninsula, and a 30m cliff on the mountain of Pico do Areeiro. If you’re a more seasoned climber then Duarte and Luis can take you on a much more mountainous route, reaching the rocky summit of Pico Cidrao at 1,801m.
Bird Watching
Our Bird Watching trips are the best way to enjoy Madeira’s endemic bird species. The island is roughly divided into four contrasting habitats: the protected laurel forests, the high serra shrublands, the dynamic river network and the wild-northern coastline. Our tours are led by our resident naturalists – they’re very relaxed and friendly days, allowing you plenty of time for detailed observations of the Trocaz pigeon, the Madeira firecrest and Bertherlot’s pipit.
Our most popular trip takes you out to sea to observe the island’s pelagic species of Cory’s and Manx shearwaters, Bulwer’s petrels and the resident populations of Atlantic-spotted dolphins and Sperm whales. Our naturalists also offer evening excursions - accompanying members of the Freira Conservation Project (a charity for the conservation of Madeira’s Seabirds), to the protected breeding site of the Zino’s petrels - listening to their calls and learning more about the work to protect this rare and unique species.
Diving
Diving into the colourful underwater world that surrounds the island of Madeira, you'll discover a submarine-paradise of ocean wildlife, caves and reefs. We work with the island’s oldest-established diving company: Manta Diving Madeira, established by Stefan Maier in 1982. The dive centre is on the south coast of the island, with easy access to the sea for shore dives.
For beginners, the dive school welcomes all abilities and offers a range of courses for novices: from a half-day introductory Discover Scuba Diving course, to a more in-depth four-day Open Water Diving course. If you’re a PADI Advanced diver, the centre also offers boat dives (on request) to some of Madeira’s must-do dive locations, with the nature reserve at Garajau just a ten-minute boat ride away.
Bodyboarding
Whatever your ability, Bodyboarding is a fun sport for all the family to enjoy. If you’re a novice, our Bodyboarding lessons is are a great introduction to this popular sport. We’ll provide you with a soft-board and fins, and Monica and her friendly team of instructors will teach you how to ride waves like a professional. You can include a one-off lesson to learn the basics of body position, steering with your fins and reading the surf. If you’re keen to develop your skills, you might prefer to include a multi-lesson package to hone your barrel rolls and cutbacks.
Golf
Madeira is one of Europe's most beautiful sporting locations - the perfect year-round golf destination. The 18-hole 72-par Palheiro golf course sits high in the eastern hills above the island’s capital city Funchal, overlooking the sunny south-coast and deep-blue Atlantic Ocean. Whether you’re thinking of a week’s stay or a long golfing weekend, the Casa Velha do Palheiro is an ideal place to stay: the casa is the island’s oldest country-house hotel; part of the same Palheiro estate which includes the golf course and ornate gardens.
