Hiking in Madeira: 6 Best Hikes & Levada Walks (+ Map & Tips)

Best hikes and levada walks on Madeira island in Portugal

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With a big variety of hiking trails for all levels Madeira is considered a true hikers’ paradise. But if you are visiting Madeira for just a few days, there is no way you can (or want to) do them all. So before our trip I was researching the best hikes and levada walks in Madeira and here’s my selection based on our experience hiking in Madeira.

This is in no way a complete list of hiking trails of Madeira. In fact, it’s a rather small selection of the very best hikes and walks of Madeira that bring you to some of the most beautiful places on the island. This selection includes a variety of the most beautiful hikes and walks that let you experience the incredible diversity of Madeira.

We visited Madeira with our three children (age 7 to 9) and so for each hike described below I also share our experience when hiking these trails with kids. At the end of this post you can also find a map of Madeira with the precise location of each hike.

TIP: If you are looking for more inspiration for your trip, check our guide to the best things to do in Funchal, the very best places to visit and things to do in Madeira, and our selection of some amazing hidden gems of Madeira. Also, don’t miss the chance to see whales and dolphins in the wild!

Hiking and trekking in Madeira Portugal

These are the best hikes in Madeira:

Vereda do Areeiro – PR 1

Without a doubt the most beautiful hike of Madeira, Vereda do Areeiro (PR1) connects two of the highest peaks of Madeira – Pico do Arieiro and Pico Ruivo. This trail takes you along the mountain peaks high above the clouds. The mountains here are so steep that you feel like walking on top of the world. The scenery is simply breathtaking!

Vereda do Arieiro is a strenuous long hike that will take even the most experienced hikers at least 6-8hrs. However, you don’t have to hike all the way to Pico Ruivo to experience the stunning landscapes. Even if you hike just a small part, you’ll be able to admire some of the most beautiful landscapes of Madeira.

Due to the weather (the clouds closing in the view) we walked just a small part of this hike. Even then, we all agreed that this was the most impressive hike we had ever done (and we have done quite a few truly stunning hikes all over the world: Oeschinensee in Switzerland, Pulpit Rock and Florli 4444 in Norway, Delicate Arch in the USA, just to name a few).

So if you are lucky with the weather and are in good shape, try to do this walk (or a part of it) when in Madeira. It’s an unforgettable experience!

Hiking Vereda do Areeiro in Madeira with kids
Walking above the clouds at Vereda do Areeiro

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Miradouro do Pico do Arieiro (arrive early as the parking lot fills up quickly and there are less clouds in the morning).
  • Accessibility: You’ll need a car to get to the starting point. If you can arrange transportation, it is possible to do this walk in one direction. After reaching Pico Ruivo continue on PR 1.2 to Achada do Teixera and have someone pick you up there. In this case, the walk will be about 3km shorter. However, both places are rather far from anything else and there isn’t public transport available. One of the best options I found is this guided hike with transfers from Funchal included.
  • Total distance: 12-14km depending on the side you take (and if you return to the same starting point).
  • Duration: 6-8 hrs (for the entire hike starting and ending at Pico do Areeiro).
  • Difficulty: Moderate/strenuous.
  • Biggest challenge: There are lots of stairs and sheer drops, so this is not a hike for those with a fear of heights. Also, this hike is not always possible due to the clouds covering the mountain peaks.
  • What to pack: Hiking shoes, hiking poles might come in handy as well, water, day backpack with a picnic, a sweater and a rain jacket, sun protection, and a pocket light or a headlamp for the tunnels.
  • Hiking with kids: This is not the best hikes for families with young kids. However, if your children are experienced hikers, I think it should be doable with kids from about 8-10 years. With younger kids you could try to walk just the first section, to Ninho da Manta viewpoint.
  • Facilities: Bathrooms and a café at Pico do Arieiro.

Vereda do Pico Ruivo – PR 1.2

Vereda do Pico Ruivo hike together with the nearby PR 1 described above is one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Madeira. It climbs to Pico Ruivo – the highest peak of Madeira (1,862m.) and if you are lucky with the weather you will be rewarded with a spectacular view above the clouds.

It’s not as difficult as the PR 1 walk and much shorter too, so can be a good alternative. On top of that, the views are said to be simply amazing.

We spent 9 days in Madeira and have attempted to do this hike three times. And every time we found it covered in clouds (we were visiting Portugal & Madeira in April). It’s really cold on top as well – while it was sunny with temperatures over 20°C in Funchal and other areas, the temperature at the starting point of the trail was just 4°C. On top of that, it was raining on top of the mountain and the wind was just too strong for us to even attempt this hike.

So even if the weather is really nice, you never really know how it is here till you actually get to the top. Keep an eye on the weather forecast specifically for Pico Ruivo as the nearby towns or mountain peaks have very different weather. If you see a day with nice sunny weather in the forecast, head straight here.

Hiking from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo - the most beautiful hike in Madeira
Hiking from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Achada do Teixera.
  • Accessibility: by car only. Or as a part of this hiking tour that visits Pico Ruivo.
  • Distance: 2.8 km one way, so 5.6 km there and back.
  • Duration: 3 hrs (1.5 hrs each way).
  • Difficulty: Moderate.
  • Biggest challenge: The weather. It can change any time, so be prepared (there are several shelters along the trail in case you get caught in really bad weather).
  • What to pack: Hiking shoes, water, day backpack with a picnic, a sweater and a rain jacket, sun protection.
  • Hiking with kids: This hike can be done with kids from around 6 years and older.
  • Facilities: There are no facilities here.

Vereda das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco – PR 6 – PR 6.1

Vereda das 25 Fontes – Levada do Risco hike deep inside the interior of the island is probably the most popular levada walk in Madeira. It follows the famous irrigation channels – levadas – and brings you to two different places in Rabaçal Valley: Risco waterfall and the lagoon of 25 Springs (Lagoa das 25 Fontes). 

Many travel guides and brochures say that this hike is a must-do in Madeira. It’s also one of the most popular hiking tours on the island because it’s quite easy and is suitable for all ages.

Vereda das 25 Fontes is so popular among the locals and tourists alike that by noon the hiking paths are crowded with big groups of tourists navigating the narrow path.

If you want to enjoy this hike, try to get here early in the morning. The only disadvantage of coming early is that the shuttle bus that brings people to the start of the hike from the parking lot doesn’t start running till 10 AM. On the other hand, the road goes down and in about 20 minutes walking you reach Rabaçal, which is the starting point of the hikes. So you don’t really need the shuttle bus.

The hike may look a bit confusing at first, with so many signs pointing to the trail from various starting points. Don’t worry – no matter which path you take, you’ll still get to the same hiking trail after a while. You can start your hike with a visit to Risco waterfall and then hike to the 25 Springs, or vice versa.

We started our hike with the longer section first – we hiked to the Lagoon of the 25 Springs. And luckily so, because there isn’t that much space there and we were lucky to experience this place pretty much alone. As we walked back towards the intersection to Risco waterfall, we passed at least 6-8 groups of 20-30 people each…

It seems that all the tour groups arrive here at around 10-11 AM. However, the levada trails are really narrow and not suitable for mass tourism. If you have to go with a group, try to at least look for a small group tour and avoid the days when the biggest cruise ships are in Funchal.

Vereda das 25 Fontes - 25 Springs walk in Madeira
Vereda das 25 Fontes

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Parking lot along E.R. 110 road near Rabaçal. From here you have to either walk down to the starting point of the hike or take a shuttle. You can also walk down and take the shuttle back up after the hike. Beware that shuttle busses only take 8 people and have a very peculiar schedule. We ended up waiting for almost an hour after one bus didn’t have enough place for our family and didn’t return to pick up the waiting passengers. We could have easily walked back up in that time.
  • Accessibility: You can only get here by car or with an organized tour.
  • Distance (not including the walk from and back to the parking lot): 9,2km.
  • Duration: 3-4 hours.
  • Difficulty: Moderate.
  • Biggest challenge: Narrow muddy paths and lots of tourists.
  • What to pack: Waterproof hiking shoes, water, day backpack with a picnic, a sweater and a rain jacket.
  • Hiking with kids: Kids from +-4 years old should be able to do this hike. Beware that the paths are narrow, there are some steep sections, and often you walk really close to the water. One of our boys slipped in the mud and fell in the levada. Luckily he wasn’t hurt, but he had to finish the hike with soaking wet clothes and shoes.
  • Facilities: there are bathrooms and a café at the starting point of the hike – Rabaçal.

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenco – PR 8

Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenco is a very different hike from anything else you will experience in Madeira. The trail follows the rocky coastline of the Easternmost peninsula of Madeira. Along the way, you pass many viewpoints with the most unexpected spectacular views behind every corner.

Numbers might make this hike look easy, but don’t be misled – it’s not a walk in the park. The biggest challenge here is the burning sun (there is no shade at all), strong winds (strong is an understatement – we were literally blown off the path several times), and a constant change in elevation (you go up and then again back down quite a lot).

The weather here changes constantly too. We were hiking in T-shirts and then a few minutes later we needed a sweater and a jacket, and then just a T-shirt again.

If you walk all the way to the end to Ponta do Furado you will be rewarded with the most unique view of Madeira. It’s definitely worth the effort!

Ponta do Furado viewpoint at Ponta de São Lourenco hike in Madeira
Ponta do Furado viewpoint

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Ponta de São Lourenco near Canical – parking lot at the end of the road.
  • Accessibility: By car, taxi, or bus 113 (Canical). You can also do this hike with a small group guided tour from Funchal.
  • Total distance: 8km.
  • Duration: 4-5hrs.
  • Difficulty: Moderate.
  • Biggest challenge: Wind, sun, and lots of stairs.
  • What to pack: Hiking shoes, water, day backpack with a picnic, a sweater, a rain jacket, and sun protection are a must.
  • Hiking with kids: We did this hike completely with our kids. While challenging, it’s definitely a hike that kids from 5-6 years should be able to complete.
  • Facilities: There is now a small cafe and bathroom facilities on this trail.

Levada do Caldeirao Verde – PR 9

Let’s be honest. The beginning of this trail doesn’t look as beautiful or as exciting as the other hikes in Madeira. Queimadas Forest Park itself is a really nice area with blooming azaleas, a small river, and a couple of ducks, but soon you find yourself walking on a muddy forest path with nothing interesting to see. Keep on going! You’ll be glad you did.

The biggest reward of the Levada do Caldeirao Verde hike is towards the end. As you pass a few smaller waterfalls, you reach four tunnels (bring a torch!) and from then it just gets better and better. We all loved hiking through these tunnels! Our kids thought it was the coolest and the most adventurous hike ever.

Towards the end of the hike, the path becomes really narrow. At a certain point, you walk in between the levada full of water to your left and a steep ravine to your right (luckily there are some railings here). Try to not look down and don’t fall into a levada! The views of the surrounding mountains are amazing, but it’s difficult to admire them and navigate this narrow path at the same time.

Finally, you reach the end of this hike – Caldeirao Verde waterfall that’s just mesmerizing. The sheer drop of the wall is so high that it seems that there is no end (or beginning) to this narrow stream of water in front of you. It’s a perfect place for a picnic and if it’s warm I think you could easily go for a swim here too.

It was raining and cold when we did this hike in April, so no swimming for us. But in a way the Levada do Caldeirao Verde is probably the best bad weather hike in Madeira. It can be easily done when it rains. The biggest part of the hike is in the forest and the trees protect you from the rain.

Levada do Caldeirao Verde levada walk in Madeira
Levada do Caldeirao Verde levada walk

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Queimadas Forest Park – this parking lot has been recently expanded and it’s now much easier to park here than when we visited. Alternatively, you can leave your car at the Pico das Pedras parking lot and start from there. You can also do this hike with an organized small group tour from Funchal.
  • Distance: 13km.
  • Duration: 5-6 hours.
  • Difficulty: Moderate.
  • Biggest challenge: Mud and narrow sections with steep drops. The hike itself doesn’t have much elevation so it’s quite easy (but long). However, muddy slippery paths and narrow paths make it really challenging at times.
  • What to pack: Waterproof hiking shoes, water, day backpack with a picnic, a sweater and a rain jacket, and a torch or a headlamp for the tunnels. In summer you may want to carry a swimsuit if you fancy a dip in cold water at the end of the walk.
  • Hiking with kids: This is one hike I found really quite dangerous to do with young kids. Our boys did it well, but you better hold on to your kids when the path gets really narrow. I wouldn’t take really small kids on this hike.
  • Facilities: There is a public bathroom and a small café at the start of the walk.

Vereda dos Balcoes – PR 11

Vereda dos Balcoes is by far the easiest and the shortest of all the most beautiful levada walks in Madeira. Furthermore, it lets you experience some of the best landscapes that Madeira has to offer AND walk along the levadas at the same time.

Wide forest paths follow a levada and lead to a stunning viewpoint overlooking the highest mountain peaks of Madeira. The views are well worth a short leisurely walk that can be done by anyone in a reasonable physical shape.

Vereda dos Balcoes is the easiest levada walk on Madeira island in Portugal
Vereda dos Balcoes viewpoint

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

  • Starting point: Ribeiro Frio (E.R. 103 road)
  • Accessibility: by car, a bus (56, 103, 138), or with this organized Madeira East Island tour.
  • Duration: 0,5-1hr.
  • Difficulty: Easy.
  • Biggest challenge: Parking. This hike is really popular and there is limited parking available next to the road.
  • What to pack: Walking shoes and some water.
  • Hiking with kids: This hike can be easily done with young kids.
  • Facilities: there is a public bathroom at the small restaurant nearby. There is a tiny café/ souvenir shop along the trail itself too.

Good to know: The times and distances shown in the practical information above are for the entire hike.

Map of Best Hikes in Madeira

As promised, here is a map of Madeira indicating the starting points for each of the hikes described in this article.

Unless done in an organized group (where sometimes they drop you off at one place and pick you up somewhere else), all these hikes start and end in the same place and are not circular walks.

So you walk the same path in two directions. The only exception is the 25 Springs – Risco waterfall hike where you have some alternatives for parts of the hike.

How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.

Where to Stay for Hiking in Madeira

Madeira is a rather small island, so if you have a car, you can stay pretty much anywhere and make day trips. Still, we recommend staying on the south coast and ideally not too far from the highway as that will make it so much easier and quicker to get everywhere.

Without a car, stay in Funchal, where most sightseeing and hiking tours will pick you up from your hotel.

Here are some of the best-rated resorts in Funchal. Staying in a resort is a perfect way to combine a relaxing holiday with some sightseeing and hiking.

TIP: If you are planning a trip to Madeira and are looking for a place to stay, take a look at this handy map below. Using it, you can compare hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rental accommodations in Madeira. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!

 

So, these are the most beautiful hikes in Madeira. Of course, there are many more walking trails and thousands of kilometers of levada walks on Madeira island. But if you are visiting Madeira for the first time and want to do the very best hikes, then pick any trail out of this selection and you won’t be disappointed.

Have you been hiking in Madeira? What was your favorite hike? Feel free to share your experiences by leaving a reply below.

READ ALSO: Hidden Gems of Madeira

More travel inspiration for Madeira and the Azores:

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Best hikes and trails in Madeira Portugal
Most beautiful hiking trails and levada walks on Madeira island in Portugal

Some travel inspiration for mainland Portugal:

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51 Comments

  1. I’ve done all of these except for the last one and they were suuuper nice hikes!!
    Great blog btw! I used a few of your Iceland articles to plan my winter trip to Iceland this year as well.

  2. Great article. Thanks for the recommendations and tips. Question- is cell phone coverage available at most the start and stops? I don’t want to rent a car and would like to do at my own pace, so ideally I could just take a taxi to the start but need to request a taxi at the end. Any thoughts?

    1. Hi Jody, I wouldn’t count on cell coverage being 100% everywhere on the island, but it’s not something I can help you with for the exact locations. It’s hard to tell – at some places, you are really in the middle of nowhere, and some others have much better facilities/ connectivity.
      Ponta de São Lourenço should be fine (it’s also busy enough and close to the ‘living world’). PR6 Levada das 25 Fontes is also extremely popular/busy so there will be more people, but not necessarily taxis.
      I really don’t know – it’s just not something we paid attention to. Good luck!
      Also, keep in mind that some of these hikes are very far away from Funchal, so taking a taxi even one-way can be much more expensive than taking a tour.

  3. Ačiū, Jurga. Netrukus, jau nuo vasario 5d. minsime jūsų rekomenduotais takais. Neramu tik dėl neprognozuojamo oro kalnuose. Bet jūsų patarimai išties naudingi.

    Sėkmės!
    Jurate, Lithuania

    1. Hi Jurate, glad to help, and I hope you don’t mind, but I’ll answer in English. That way, other readers can understand it too.
      I really wouldn’t worry about the weather too much. First, you can’t influence it. Second, Madeira has a great climate. And third, even if it rains on one side of the island, it’s usually nice and sunny somewhere else. So it’s usually very simple to adjust your plans based on the weather forecast if needed.
      When we visited, locals were complaining that the weather was bad, but it was really fine. With some changes to our plans on some days, in the end, we could visit all the places and do most of the things that we wanted.
      For that, be sure to check the forecast for the specific place you are going to that day and decide based on that. If it’s nice and sunny, head to the highest places first. The rest can be done/seen in any weather. And even if it rains everywhere else, Funchal seems to avoid the rain most of the time.
      Have a nice trip!

  4. Rashmi again. Just wanted to add that when we did the pr8, we returned to the mainland not by hiking back but taking a power boat ride!! The ride starts from near the cafe at the end of the trail and drops you back at the Marina from where it is a 20 min walk back to the car park. This is a good alternate as they take you near the tip of the peninsula and also explain about the landscape. Of course being a high speed ride it’s a thrilling way to get back after a tough hike!!

    1. Oh wow, this boat ride sounds like a great addition to that fabulous hike! It would certainly make things easier for many people – just doing the hike one way and coming back by boat. We might have to try it out next time we are in Madeira.
      Thanks for sharing this, Rashmi.

    2. @Rashmi, can you give me any more information about this? Boat company? How to hire them – do you do this at the cafe? We will be there in January! Thanks in advance 🙂

      1. Hi Rebecca, I doubt if the person who posted this will ever see your question. From what I understand, it’s simply something you arrange on the spot – if there are boats there.

  5. Hello Jurga.
    We just returned having spent a magical week in Madiera!!
    Your blog was super helpful. Since we too travel with kids, I have referred to your blog multiple times to plan our travels.
    We did all the hikes that you have listed except pr1. We did 1.2 though and it was an amazing experience. The first time we went it was completely foggy with no visibility and also rain. I was quite disappointed but then remembered that you too had faced bad weather there. That inspired us to spontaneously change plans next day from pr9 to pr1.2 since weather seemed better while we were driving near Santana. We did pr9 the next day.
    Thanks again and keep up the great work !!

  6. Great blog, I’m using it to help plan my itinerary while I’m in Madeira

    Quick facilities update for you, I did PR8 yesterday and there is now a small cafe at the base of Ponta do Furado. Prices are reasonable considering how hard it must be to stock the cafe, and it’s €1 to use the bathroom.

  7. Thanks for creating this!
    My partner and I used this as our basis for our week in Madeira and did 5 hikes over 6 days. We just swapped out PR11 and instead did the reopened walk down from Monte (which was slightly more challenging).

    My advice to add to this would be:
    Walk 1 & 2 you should combine for Pico Ruivo & Areeiro into one epic walk. Reason being is it’s a big day and effort to get up there as is, but it’s very easy and beautiful to combine. This is easier with a booked tour as you are not fixed to one location for parking (if you have a car obviously you can’t do this). But as it also can be extreamly dangerous, the most dangerous by far on the island due to unpredictable winds, I think the guided tours are the best way to go (unless you’re very experienced of course!).

    The most accessible (and easy) walk for those staying in Funchal is back open, Levada Bom Successo, so this is a great way to go up to Monte (bus, taxi, cable car), see the gardens or famous taboggan etc, and then walk down with great views.

    Finally for walking 25 Fontes (PR6) be aware it is insanely busy, it’s kinda of shocking. Unless you arrive super early and are up for the extra walk (as you can’t get the shuttle bus until it’s already busy) maybe consider one of the very small tour groups, like the Jeep one that takes a different route (huge shortcut that avoids the people traffic). Also, so you know the payoff is nowhere near as good as Caldeirao Verde (PR9), those water fountains and routes are much nicer, but it is more challenging. I think 25 Fontes is the most popular just because it is so easy, but I found it the worst (or least good) of these 6!

    For general advice, driving here is truly terrifying, I would only advice it if you have thousands of hours of experience with high speeds in narrow streets and steep hills. Madeira airport may be in the Top 10 most dangerous in the world, but I think the roads are worse. Don’t underestimate the comfort and reduction of stress by booking very small tour groups (if you have the money to!) or finding people to split taxi’s (e.g. Funchal to Sao Lourenco is €10 each by taxi if split between 4).

    1. Hi Jason, thanks for sharing your experience and additional hiking suggestions. I’m sure it will be useful to some of our readers.
      Happy travels!

  8. Amazing blog and very helpful indeed. All your information was spot on and it made planning a lot easier.

  9. Hi Jurga thanks for this – are the hiking trails signposted such that you can find your way around relatively easily or do you recommend a guide? thanks

    1. Hi Julius, we never really had a problem finding our way when hiking in Madeira. So no, it’s not really a must to go with a guide. That being said, it sure helps to go well prepared as some places have better indications than others.
      Have a great trip!

  10. Hi Jurga,

    Thank you very much for this post. It has helped me a lot in planning my trip to Madeira.

    My best regards,
    Grzegorz, Warsaw

  11. Hello! Thank you, this is a very helpful post. I used your information in my 1 week stay in Madeira in the beginning of December! Stunning views all over this island, I must say that 1-week didn’t feel enough, I would love to come back!

    1. Great, glad you found this helpful, Eli. Indeed, you could easily spend more time in Madeira, especially if you like hiking. A good excuse to go back 🙂

  12. Hi Jurga,

    Great blog, thank you. A friend and I will be in Madeira for a week in November. We love to hike and were wondering if there are 2-day hiking trails/tours which include an accommodation in the mountains (hut or tent or something). We would love to wake up in the mountains, have a nice breakfast, and then continue the tour. 🙂 Would you be able to advise?

    Thank you!
    Lisette

    1. Hi Listte, I haven’t heard of any multi-day hiking trips in Madeira. Researching what tours are available, this is the only 2-day camping tour that I was able to find in Madeira. But it’s not really a hiking trip…
      I think the reason is quite simple – it’s a small island and everything is so easy to do in a day, from anywhere on the island, so there is no need to camp in the mountains. Therefore, there is nothing foreseen for that.
      Sorry, I can’t help you any further.

  13. Hi Jurga,

    after I read that great tips from you, I am even more excited about my trip there (March 2020)

    I wanna propose my girlfriend there, can you please give me some recomendations for a nice places, I am searching for some place with nice view (sunset/sunrise, but can be anything. Thank you very much, for sharing your tips.

    Have a nice day

    1. Hi Lucas, I think that some of the nicest places for something like this are high in the mountains and without the crowds. I think that Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike is one of those, but you are dependant on the weather.
      Another really nice place that is the end of the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenco hike, but you probably won’t be alone unless you go early in the morning (it might be a good place for sunrise too since it’s on the Eastern side of the island).
      You may also want to check some of the places in our Madeira hidden gems list. I think that the beach near Illheus da Janela is a beautiful choice as well and it was really quiet there when we visited.
      Congratulations and how exciting to plan this so long in advance!

  14. Jurga,

    My wife and I will spend a full week in Madeira with a rented car.
    We want to start the hikes from the starting points you recommended, and walk back to the same starting points without depending on guided tours or taxis.
    Can you comment if this is possible in the Rabacal / 25 Fontes? And what about the Levada do Caldeirao Verde? And in general, regarding the othe hikes in your blog, is a partial back-and-forth feasible?

    Thanks

    Ben

    1. Hi Ben, we were also there by car and walked back to the same place where we started for each of these hikes. So yes, you can definitely do that.
      Enjoy your trip!

  15. Hi Jurga,

    after following your Iceland Winter 1 week Itinerary for most of our Iceland trip over Christmas just gone, I am now reading your Madeira guide for our trip at end of February.
    We are looking at the Miradouro do Pico do Arieiro hike (we run a number of half marathons a year so physically should manage) however, can you advise whether the 12km is one way ( Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo) or is the 12km the return distance?
    We will have a car so wishing to park in the car park and return to the same point

    Thanks
    Jessica

    1. Hi Jessica, glad to hear that you enjoy travel tips on our blog. Always so nice to hear from loyal readers!
      Pico do Arieiro hike is 12-14km in total if you go all the way to Pico Ruivo and back. We didn’t do the whole hike, just a part and it was truly stunning! You’ll love the scenery.
      Enjoy your trip!

    2. HI. AWESOME article thanx. we are planning our trip to Madeira this March and we would like to walk the Pico Ruvio – Pico Ruvio only in one direction. we have 2 kids ( 8 and 11) which are used to walk but probably not enough to walk the way back. How did you manage with your kids?
      We will rent a car so we could get to the starting point. do you think it will be possible to get a bus or a taxi to get back?

      thanx!

      1. Hi Davide, do you mean Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo hike? It’s quite a challenging hike, but if your kids are good hikers they can probably manage (hard for me to estimate this of course). As mentioned in the post, we didn’t to the entire hike as the clouds were closing in and you really don’t want to hike there in the mist. It’s not the easiest hike, but SO beautiful!
        The problem with you doing the hike in just one direction is that you’ll end up on the completely other side of the island and there is NOTHING there. Just a parking lot – no shops, no taxis, no busses… So if you want to do that, you’d have to arrange for a taxi to pick you up there and bring you back to Pico Arieiro. Keep in mind that it’s +-40km drive between the two places that takes more than an hour and I really don’t know how much a taxi would charge for this (see the map with the driving route here).
        A better way to do this is to book a guided hike. They pick you up in Funchal and drive you to the starting point of the hike. The the driver then comes to pick you up on the other side. But os course, you don’t have the same flexibility as when you go on your own.
        Alternatively, you can just hike a part of the trail and go back – it’s still really really worth it.

  16. Hello Jurga,
    Reading your post made us decide to buy tickets for Madeira for 25 days of visiting and hiking. We are planning on doing most of the hikes you recommend. As we would rather not spend too much time driving around, we are thinking of spending 5 nights in 5 different locations. I found a lovely one in Ponta do Pargo. I thought of spending 5 nights in Santo Antonio da Serra, May be in Ribeiro Frio and then on the north coast near Sao Vicente and also on the south coast near Ponta do Sol. Does this make sense??? Thank you so much! Johanne

    1. Hi Johanne, I really don’t know what to say as 25 days seems much too much for Madeira in my eyes. But then of course if you like walking, there are plenty of possibilities to keep you busy.
      I think that Ponta do Pargo will cover the West and the North-West of the island, Ponta do Sol is ok for the South and to visit Funchal. Ribeiro Frio is centrally located, but the roads there are crazy and I really have no idea what I’d do there for 5 days… Sao Vicente was really nice and we loved it, but it’s also very quiet. If you are looking for a place where you won’t feel alone, then maybe try Porto Moniz, which is more touristy, but also has nice natural pools where you could go for a soak in the evening when the day tourists are gone (in warm season only). But then it’s really close to the first place you’re planning to stay at, and I really think that 10 days is too much for North-West.
      We haven’t been to Santo Antonio da Serra, but it also looks like a place that’s hard to get to.
      If I can give you one piece of advice is try to stay within easy access to the main roads. Because it can be that the weather is bad in the area where you’re staying, but other places are ok and you might want to drive more than you now think. Also, research your locations really well so that you know for sure that you can keep yourselves busy at/near each place for 5 days… Maybe some areas need more time and others less, depending on the walks you plan to make.

      1. Thank you Jurga for your comments. Don’t worry about the duration of our stay. We are into “slow travel”, we enjoy just being there, we don’t mind doing the same hike again if it is beautiful. And then, yes, you are right, we tend to go where there are few tourists. We enjoy peace and solitude and surrounding beauty.
        Ribeiro Frio was for the hiking. I read there were good hikes there and there is a trio of lovely cottages that seem to go fast : )
        It is useful to read that Porto do Sol is a good location to visit Funchal
        But your comments are well received. I hear about the importance of remaining sort of close to the main
        Thank you for your enlightening answer. It was quite useful.

  17. Thanks for sharing.
    I am considering a trip to Madeira in April, and these are exactly the kind of hikes I am interested. in.
    I have considered the Azores also, and may do both, but now I am narrowing down my choice a bit.

    Take care

    1. Hi Richard, glad you found this info useful. We have been to the Azores as well, almost 10 years ago now, but we visited in August – beautiful. I’m not sue how the weather is there in April though. It’s also becoming such a popular destination, probably much busier now, so in that sense April might be a good choice.
      Happy travels!

  18. Hi Jurga,
    I’m so excited to visit Madeira now I have read your blog! We will be there for 7 full days and do a lot of hiking and get inspired by your hidden gems article. Where would you recommend to stay? Did you stay at the same place over your trip?
    Thanks 🙂
    Berenice

    1. Hi Berenice, Madeira isn’t big and it’s quite easy to visit everything by staying at just one location. Sometimes it means driving 1-1,5hrs, but it gives you flexibility to go hiking when the weather is beast, or visit the city when there are no cruise ships.
      Before our trip, we read people recommending to not stay in Funchal, rather to the West of the city.
      We stayed 9 nights at a beautiful house in the hills near Calheta. I can’t find it anymore, so maybe it’s not for rent at the moment, but anyway, there are many great choices there, including two really nice hotels from Savoy – perfect if you are traveling as a couple, not ideal for big families like ours (Savoy Calheta Beach and Savoy Saccharum).
      The location was good for many places, the only place I found really far to drive was Santana, and especially the starting point of PR1.2 Vereda do Pico Ruivo hike. Which we coulnd’t do in the end, because two times we tried, the place was covered in the clouds…
      Other nice location is in between the airport and Funchal. There are a few nice hotels there, and it’s somewhat easier and better located for everything than the West side of Funchal. At the same time, this area is also where tourist groups stay, so the hotels are much more meant for mass tourism. But location-wise, it’s great. If we would go back, I think I’d consider staying here, especially if hiking is your main objective. For this area, try Canico area. There are lots of accommodation options, so it’s also possible to avoid the biggest hotels if big groups and buffet dinners aren’t your thing.
      I would only stay in Funchal city if you are not planning to rent a car, as it’s obviously the easiest choice for people who like to take organised tours and day trips.
      Otherwise, just go there for a day. We parked our car at the Parking Plaza CR7, next to Christiano Ronaldo museum. From there it’s just a short walk to the town centre, and also for boat trips like whale watching.
      Hope this helps.
      Edited to add. After a long search I managed to retrace the place where we stayed. It’s apparently so popular that many dates are sold out, thus a bit hard to trace it back. It’s Villas Sao Antao in Arco da Calheta, just above Calheta village.

  19. Dear Jurga, thanks for sharing this. I have 12 full days in Portugal, would you suggest doing the 10 days as per your other post and adding 2 days for Madeira? Or would that be too cramped up and Madeira needs more?

    Thanks

    1. Hi Sanemate, if you are thinking of following our 10 day itinerary for Portugal, I’d say spend those extra days in Algarve. It would make much more sense than flying to Madeira for just 2 days. If you rather visit Madeira as well, I’d try to split your time 50/50, so lest say 5-7 days in mainland Portugal and 5-6 days in Madeira.
      Often you enjoy the trip more if you don’t try to squeeze too much in your itinerary, but also leave some time for unexpected finds along the way, a long lunch, a swim in the sea… rather than spend all your time driving and flying…
      Either way, you’ll love Portugal – it’s beautiful anywhere you go.

      1. Thanks a lot Jurga. Based on your recommendation, I have decided to do Algarve plus the 10 days plan. I am sure it will be worth it!

  20. Dear Jurga,

    thank you so much for sharing your tips and precious information on these hikes.

    really beautiful photos… I especially love the very first photo on the top of the blog post (with your son on the side walking).

    would you be kind to share where it was taken exactly?

    Thank you,

    Bernadett

    1. Hi Bernadett, glad you found this information useful. The featured image of this article was taken on the Vereda da Ponta de São Lourenco – PR 8 hiking trail.
      Hope this helps.