Madeira Island - Mountains, Levadas and Coast

Welcome to Madeira! Upon arrival into Funchal Airport (Cristiano Ronaldo International Airport) you will be met and transferred to your accommodation in Funchal.

Spend your first day unwinding in Madeira’s relaxed and charming capital. Funchal offers cobbled laneways of shops and cafes, vibrant markets and a sweeping seafront promenade backed by rugged mountains. The city sits perched in an amphitheatre of hills and it reaches from the high peaks down to the Atlantic below.

Explore the Mercado dos Lavradores with its colourful stalls of tropical fruit and flowers, stroll the winding cobbled streets of the old town, Zona Velha, where cafes and shops abound painted with vivid door art. Take the cable car up to Monte Botanic gardens, a vast exotic garden with Asian and African influences and sweeping bay views. In the 19th century wealthy English wine families built ‘quintas’ (country estates) with surrounding gardens. Thanks to its mild subtropical climate and fertile volcanic soils, Madeira can grow an astonishing variety of plants from all over the world, so it’s a garden lover’s paradise. 

If you’re feeling adventurous then try the Monte Basket ride which starts on the hills of Funchal. You’ll sit in a traditional wicker basket sled (carro de cesto) mounted on wooden runners, steered by two men (carreiros) wearing straw hats and rubber-soled boots. The tradition began in the mid-19th century as a practical downhill transport for locals of Monte. Over time, it became a visitor attraction, famously ridden by celebrities and even royalty. If that all sounds too daring then perhaps relax at Blandy’s Wine Lodge,  a historic 19th-century lodge where Madeira wine is aged and guided tours and tastings explain the unique fortified wine process. A glass of Madeira wine in the evening sets the tone for the week of enjoyable walking ahead.

Overnight: Funchal

This morning you will transfer to the central part of the Island westwards from Funchal with a private transfer (1 hour). Today’s walk combines three highlights in the Rabaçal valley: the tranquil Levada do Alecrim, the dramatic Lagoa do Vento waterfall and the nearby Lagoa Dona Beja. It is an excellent medium-length day hike that balances flat levada sections with steeper (optional) diversions to waterfalls. With sweeping views over the Rabaçal valley, this route feels remote yet accessible – the perfect levada walk to settle into Madeira’s landscapes. 

The Levada do Alecrim (PR6.2) is a gentler introduction, quieter than the nearby 25 Fontes walk but equally rewarding. From the Paul da Serra plateau, the path follows a levada bordered by bright green moss and wildflowers, threading through rolling moorland and Laurissilva patches. At a junction you turn onto the PR6.3 for an out and back walk to the Lagoa do Vento waterfall. The sound of trickling water accompanies you until the trail reaches the Lagoa do Vento, where a natural pool forms beneath a waterfall spilling from cliffs above. From here you return back to the main path (PR6) and continue along the previous path ( PR6.2) onto Lagoa Dona Beja. This magical spot has water cascading over rocks into a calm pool, often surrounded by moss and ferns. It feels like a hidden gem compared to the more famous waterfalls. Retrace your steps along the levada, passing tranquil forest and valley views until you return to the Rabaçal car park where your driver will meet you. 

Overnight: Funchal

Meals: B

Madeira’s signature ridge hike links its highest summits via exposed, dramatic paths, though at the time of writing the through trail to Pico Ruivo is closed due to wildfire damage. Even with the closure, Pico do Arieiro (1,818 m) remains a gateway to Madeira’s mountain magic. Arriving at the Observatory station and cafe you often stand above a sea of clouds, as you look over the island with the jagged mountain plateau visible around you. The ‘Stairway to Heaven’ section is a 2.4km return walk with narrow ledges and sections of steep steps that begins the PR1 Arieiro-Ruivo route. The trail clings to ridgelines, zigzags through tunnels cut into rock and climbs steep staircases hewn from volcanic stone. Viewpoints open into deep valleys and nearby ridgelines rise and fall like waves of rock. Pico Ruivo, the island’s highest point, stands amidst the clouds opposite and the sense of scale is immense with peaks, deep ravines and shifting cloud layers all around you. 

In the afternoon you descend again and finish with a gentle walk on the Levada doe Balcoes, which begins at Ribeiro Frio, a mountain hamlet famous for its trout pools and laurel forest. The path immediately immerses you in the UNESCO-protected Laurissilva forest, where moss-draped trees, ferns, and dappled sunlight create a fairytale atmosphere. 

After a short, level stroll of about 1.5km, the forest suddenly opens onto the Balcões viewpoint – a natural balcony perched above the Ribeira da Metade valley. From here, on a clear day, you can see a dramatic amphitheatre of peaks where you go afterwards:  the Pico do Arieiro, Pico das Torres, and Pico Ruivo, often floating above a shifting sea of clouds. Birds such as Madeira firecrests and finches frequent the area, and are not shy coming close to visitors. Returning back the same way you can continue onwards up to the Mountain peaks which we just visited and the Pico do Areiro. 

Alternative from Pico Arerio – longer walk on the Vereda do Burro (PR3) 7.2km 

If you want to extend the kilometres today and don’t mind downhill walking there is a trail beginning from the Observatory that takes you for 7.2km on the Vereda do Burro (PR3) to the Funchal Ecological Park. (this would skip the  Levada doe Balcoes walk which is in a different location).

This trail offers a quieter, more solitary experience and its name “Burro” (donkey) comes from its historic role: this was once a mule and donkey path used to transport goods and ice between Pico do Arieiro and the lower villages. The first section is open and exposed, with wide views of volcanic ridges, before the trail gradually descends toward gentler slopes. A highlight along the way is the Poço da Neve, a stone-built ice house dating from the 19th century, where snow was once stored and later transported down to Funchal for cooling drinks and making ice cream for wealthy families.

As you descend further, the vegetation changes – open heathland gives way to pine forests and eventually to patches of Laurissilva woodland. You may hear birdsong (firecrests, chaffinches) and pass trickling streams. The atmosphere becomes more tranquil as you approach the Ecological Park, a protected area of 1,000 hectares dedicated to conserving native forest. The trail ends near the Casa do Burro Visitor Centre in the park, where exhibitions explain Madeira’s unique ecosystems. From here, you transfer back to Funchal.

Overnight: Funchal

Meals: B

Today’s spectacular cliffside walk offers Madeira’s finest coastal scenery along a historical path that was once used to transport wine from Machico to Porto Da Cruz. Begin with a short transfer from your accommodation in Funchal to your hotel in Machico where you can drop your luggage before your walk. Then drive further up the valley to the trailhead, following an old path that rises gradually through farmland and terraces before meeting the ridge at Boca do Risco (known as ‘the perilous portal’)  a jaw-dropping viewpoint where cliffs plunge straight into the Atlantic. From here the trail threads along narrow paths high above the surf lashed coves below, with dramatic drops and sweeping vistas. (The route is safe to walk and secure with cable fencing at points but may cause anxiety for people who suffer badly from vertigo). It is a beautiful and breathtaking walk as the Laurissilva forest clings to the cliffsides, contrasting with the turquoise sea below. The route ends in Porto da Cruz, a sleepy coastal village known for its rum distillery and black-sand beach. From here you transfer back to your Machico hotel.

Overnight: Machico

Meals: B

The Caminho Real of São Jorge is a walk back in time. Before Madeira had modern roads, networks of cobbled “Royal Paths” criss-crossed the island, connecting coastal villages with inland settlements. This stretch in São Jorge descends through terraced hillsides, laurel forest, and farmland toward the sea. It is one of the best-preserved Caminhos Reals, showcasing Madeira’s combining rural farmland, laurel forest and dramatic ocean views. It is quiet, authentic and much less crowded than the popular levada walks.

The trail is paved with traditional basalt cobbles, worn smooth by centuries of mule traffic. On the way down, you’ll pass stone walls lined with wildflowers, old irrigation channels, and cultivated plots of bananas, sugarcane and vineyards. Views open onto the rugged north coast, with cliffs plunging into the Atlantic and the whitewashed houses of São Jorge perched high above the ocean.

Reaching the lower sections, you encounter fajãs – fertile terraces carved from the cliff base, where locals still farm. The path evokes a slower time, when these routes were the island’s lifelines for trade and communication. After today’s rewarding hike, your driver will meet you to transfer you back to your accommodation in Machico, where the remainder of your day is at leisure.  

Overnight: Machico

Meals: B

The Ponta de São Lourenço trail traverses a semi-arid peninsula of volcanic rock, starkly different from the lush levadas. Huge cliffs of red, gold and black banded rock rise above crashing waves, while jagged islets rise out of the sea. 

End your journey at the wild eastern tip of Madeira and arguably its most geologically interesting part. Walking the Ponta de São Lourenço trail feels like stepping into another world compared to the rest of Madeira. Instead of lush Laurissilva forest or levada corridors, here you traverse a narrow volcanic peninsula of rugged cliffs, wind-sculpted headlands and dry, semi-arid landscapes. The vegetation is sparse with low shrubs, hardy grasses, and endemic plants adapted to salt spray and wind. Along the way, you pass viewpoints where the cliffs plunge into the Atlantic, revealing dramatic rock formations in shades of red, brown and gold. This is one of the oldest exposed parts of Madeira’s volcanic structure. The barren, rocky terrain is a result of eroded volcanic tuffs and basalts, with dramatic evidence of the island’s fiery birth millions of years ago. Be warned that the path is fully exposed to sun and wind, winding up and down ridges with constant ocean views.

The peninsula is named after the shipowner’s wife São Lourenço, linked to the early Portuguese settlers of Madeira in the 15th century. The path meanders up and down over ridges, with sweeping ocean views on both sides; to the north, the rough Atlantic crashing against sheer cliffs, to the south, calmer turquoise waters and islets scattered offshore. 

At the far end, the Casa do Sardinha nature house offers a rest stop before returning. (We don’t recommend the climb to the peak above it as it is very accident prone with loose scree path and frayed fencing cables.)

The Ponta de São Lourenço is the perfect finale to your time on Madeira: a raw, elemental peninsula, surrounded by sea and sky. Return to Machico at the end of your walk for your last night’s stay.

Overnight: Machico

Meals: B

Your journey ends this morning after breakfast. in Machico. You will be transferred back to the airport for your onward flight. 

Meals: B

• Airport transfers
• 6 nights’ quality accommodation in hotels with private facilities (twin share)
• Daily breakfast
• Private transfers on Day 2 to Day 6 to get you to / from each day’s walk
• Private transfer with luggage from Funchal to Machico on Day 3
• RAW Travel app with maps of your hotel locations and emergency contact numbers
• RAW Travel hiker’s buff and luggage tag
• Pre-trip guidance and planning from experienced and dedicated RAW Travel staff
• Carbon offset and a native tree planted on your behalf

• Flights to/from destination
• Travel insurance
• Single room supplement $1295
• Solo traveller surcharge
• Trail fees on PR hiking trails
• Meals not included in the itinerary
• Expenses and items of a personal nature