Discover the wild side of Madeira on an 8-day hiking tour through this unique Portuguese island! We’ll follow historic levadas through lush valleys and forests, climb rugged mountain ridges, and descend zigzagging trails to remote villages. Along the way, we’ll discover UNESCO-listed Laurisilva forests, swim in volcanic pools, and take in sweeping Atlantic views from paths carved into cliffs. Off the trail, cozy 3-star hotels, fresh island cuisine, and hassle-free transfers are all taken care of. With an expert guide leading the way, we’ll experience the very best of Madeira’s landscapes—on foot, up close, and at the perfect pace.
Arrive at Madeira Airport, where your local hiking guide will be waiting to meet you. From there, we transfer to Boaventura on the island’s north coast, where you’ll settle into your first hotel—complete with a swimming pool and jacuzzi to ease into island time. The rest of the day is free before we regroup for dinner and go over the days ahead.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Solar Boaventura or Hotel Pestana Quinta do Arco, Boaventura/Arco de São Jorge
From Boaventura, we drive to Pico Arieiro (1,810 m/5,938 ft), the starting point of one of Madeira’s most spectacular trails. The PR1 winds through tunnels and stone staircases—some of them steep—delivering sweeping views over peaks, valleys, and the ocean all the way to Pico Ruivo, the island’s highest point at 1,861 m (6,105 ft). Your guide finds a scenic spot for a picnic lunch along the way. From Achada do Teixeira, we begin a long descent through primary forest down to Pico das Pedras, where transport is waiting to take us back to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 13 km (8 mi)
Elevation: +630 m (+2,067 ft) / -1,485 m (-4,872 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Solar Boaventura or Hotel Pestana Quinta do Arco, Boaventura/Arco de São Jorge
After a short transfer, we start today’s hike with a climb that opens up wide views over the Boaventura valley, one of the wildest corners of Madeira. From there, we descend through primary forest—thick with ferns and endemic trees—down to Levada de Cima and its terraced vegetable gardens. The coastline gradually comes into view as we follow a zigzagging path down to the cliffs, then a paved trail along the ocean’s edge. Transfer back to the hotel, with time to enjoy the pool and jacuzzi before dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 15 km (9 mi)
Elevation: +600 m (+1,969 ft) / -900 m (-2,953 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel Solar Boaventura or Hotel Pestana Quinta do Arco, Boaventura/Arco de São Jorge
We return to the Paul da Serra plateau (1,500 m/4,921 ft) for the start of a long descent down Madeira’s north side. Along the way, we pass an old cable system once used to transport wood and ferns down to the Seixal valley, then continue into the Chão da Ribeira valley, dotted with basalt stone huts and cultivated terraces. We arrive in Seixal, a small farming village known for its volcanic coves and one of Madeira’s largest black sand beaches, with time for a well-earned swim. Transfer to Encumeada for two nights in the mountains.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 16 km (10 mi)
Elevation: +200 m (+656 ft) / -1,600 m (-5,249 ft)
Accommodation: Valley View Hotel, Encumeada, or Mediterraneo in São Jorge, or Sol Mar in Seixal
From our hotel on the slopes of the Paul da Serra plateau, we set off along the Levada do Norte, one of the island’s most important water channels. A winding forest path leads us down to the Levada dos Rodrigues, which takes us through tunnels and past a few pretty waterfalls on the way to the village of Ginjas. We return along a forest trail near Chão dos Louros park, home to laurissilva species like the Canary laurel.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 18 km (11 mi)
Elevation: +960 m (+3,150 ft) / -980 m (-3,215 ft)
Accommodation: Valley View Hotel, Encumeada, or Mediterraneo in São Jorge, or Sol Mar in Seixal
We climb through volcanic rock faces—home to clinging houseleeks—up to the village of Prazeres, where we stop at the Quinta Pedagógica de Prazeres for a cup of chá de limão, tea flavored with lemon peel. From there, the Levada Nova carries us north through pine and eucalyptus groves to the remote village of Fajã da Ovelha, past flowering agapanthus, amaryllis, and montbretia, banana plantations, and scattered hamlets. We finish with a spectacular descent along an old royal trail down to the fishing village of Paul do Mar, before transferring to Funchal and checking into simple, centrally located accommodations for two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 15 km (9 mi)
Elevation: +860 m (+2,822 ft) / -860 m (-2,822 ft)
Accommodation: França Mar or Quinta Penha França, or Hotel Caju, Funchal
A short taxi ride takes us to the hills above Ponta do Sol for a hike full of surprises. We follow the Levada do Moinho down into the valley, with views over the ocean and countryside, then climb to join the Levada Nova and come upon a striking waterfall—walking right behind it before ducking through a roughly 100-meter tunnel (bring your headlamp). We return to our taxi along the Levada Nova, with a few exposed, vertigo-inducing sections along the way. Back in Funchal, the rest of the day is free to explore the capital, and guide services end after dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, picnic lunch, dinner
Hiking: 8 km (5 mi)
Elevation: +870 m (+2,854 ft) / -870 m (-2,854 ft)
Accommodation: França Mar or Quinta Penha França, or Hotel Caju, Funchal
Transfer to Madeira Airport by taxi, timed 2.5 hours before your flight.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
In order to join this hiking tour, great fitness is required, along with prior multi-day hiking experience. The most you’ll hike within a day is up to 18 km (11 mi), with up to 960 m (3,150 ft) of elevation gain.
Keep in mind that some days bring long, steep descents—one drops as much as 1,600 m (5,249 ft)—so sturdy hiking boots and trekking poles are strongly recommended. Weather on the island can shift quickly at higher elevations, which can add to the difficulty. This is a physically demanding week, best suited to hikers already comfortable spending five to six hours a day on the trail for six days running.
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Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Luggage
Clothing and footwear
Essential gear
Other essentials
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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Group sizes and pricing
A hiking tour in Madeira can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Madeira hiking tour is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout.
Solo travelers are welcome to join, but securing a single occupancy room for themselves is required—you’ll be able to add it to your booking at checkout. Also, if your group has an odd number of people (e.g., 3 or 5 people), adding the single occupancy option is mandatory as well.
The starting point of your hiking tour in Madeira is Madeira Airport (FNC). Once you arrive, you’ll meet your guide at the airport for an arranged transfer to your accommodation in Boaventura.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.