Circuits · Madeira

Madeira of the Levadas

Levada walks through laurel forest, peaks above the clouds and volcanic pools.

6 days13 stopsFunchal 4n · North of the island (São Vicente or Santana) 2nFly in, then hire a car
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Machico bay and the green mountains of Madeira

Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

DAY 1

Funchal

Night: Funchal
1

Mercado dos Lavradores (farmers' market)

Tropical fruit, flowers and black scabbardfish on the ground floor.

1hFreeAll year (best in the morning)
↓ a few minutes on foot
2

Funchal Old Town (Zona Velha)

Rua de Santa Maria, with its doors painted by artists.

1h30FreeAll year
↓ ≈ 5 min by road · 4 km
3

Monte and the Toboggan Rides (carros de cesto)

Ride the cable car up, visit the church and the tropical garden, then come down in the traditional wicker toboggans.

2hCable car and toboggans: paidAll year
DAY 2

Rabaçal

Night: Funchal
4

Levada das 25 Fontes and Risco

The best-known levada: through World Heritage Laurisilva forest to a pool fed by dozens of waterfalls.

3h30 (11 km)Free (shuttle: paid)All year (set off early)
DAY 3

Serra

Night: Funchal
5

Pico do Arieiro – Pico Ruivo

A spectacular ridge trail between the island's two highest peaks, often above the clouds.

4h (return)FreeAll year (check the weather; sunrise)
DAY 4

Câmara de Lobos · São Vicente · Porto Moniz

Night: North of the island
6

Cabo Girão

A glass platform over one of the highest cliffs in Europe, at 580 m.

30 minFreeAll year
↓ ≈ 25 min by road · 21 km
7

São Vicente Caves (Grutas de São Vicente)

Lava tubes formed by an eruption 890,000 years ago.

1hPaidAll year
↓ ≈ 10 min by road · 9 km
8

Seixal Beach

A black volcanic sand beach between green cliffs.

1hFreeSummer
↓ ≈ 10 min by road · 10 km
9

Porto Moniz Natural Pools

Volcanic rock pools filled by the sea.

2hPaidSummer
DAY 5

Santana

Night: North of the island
10

Santana Houses

Traditional A-shaped houses with thatched roofs.

45 minFreeAll year
↓ ≈ 5 min by road · 4 km
11

Levada do Caldeirão Verde

From Queimadas through the Laurisilva to a 100 m waterfall in a rocky amphitheatre.

5h (13 km)FreeAll year (bring a torch for the tunnels)
DAY 6

Caniçal · Câmara de Lobos

Night: Funchal
12

Ponta de São Lourenço

The island's eastern tip: a dry, red, almost lunar landscape between two seas.

3h (8 km)FreeAll year (little shade)
↓ ≈ 40 min by road · 37 km
13

Câmara de Lobosoptional

The fishing village that Churchill painted. Try the poncha.

1hFreeAll year